ISO SCIENCE PROGRESS 



She would want raw materials, and for these she must come to the British Empire 

 every nook and corner of which would be stimulated. If we refused this trade 

 after the war, or raised special tariffs, the trade would go to neutral countries — 

 Scandinavia and the United States. This would deal a blow at our shipping by 

 stimulating neutral and enemy shipping. Next to our Army and Navy, we shall 

 owe victory in this war to our mercantile marine, and the adoption of tariffs, in 

 addition to being a cowardly policy, would strike a blow at our shipping interests, 

 which were our vitals." 



The Shakespeare Tercentenary 



When the Royal Society held its meetings in 191 2 to celebrate its 250th 

 anniversary, several distinguished foreigners who were present remarked upon the 

 fact that the principal speakers at most of the functions were not the distinguished 

 men of science of Britain, but the politicians, the lawyers, and the parsons. 

 Apparently mere persons who affect science or literature and do not belong to 

 these denominations are scarcely worthy of hearing, even when their own subjects 

 are under discussion or commemoration. So also in connection with the great 

 Tercentenary of Shakespeare held on the 1st of May. Some of us were present 

 at a meeting at the Mansion House at which the Lord Mayor presided, and 

 presided well. We have no fault to find with the conduct of the meeting, except 

 that there was scarcely enough enthusiasm to impress the foreigners who had 

 come to England in order to do honour to one of the greatest of Englishmen ; 

 but here again we noted the same defect. One would naturally have expected 

 that our competent Poet Laureate would have given the principal address, 

 and that he would have been followed by all our most distinguished poets 

 and writers. But, as usual, the addresses were delivered by party politicians, an 

 archbishop, colonial politicians, and other gentlemen of the same category. In 

 this case, however, the principal politician was certainly also a poet of some dis- 

 tinction, but he only took the place which should have been occupied by another 

 politician who is nothing but a lawyer and, many think, about as poor a statesman 

 as ever lived. The literary foreigners who attended were allowed to say a few 

 words towards the end of the meeting ; and the only literary contribution was the 

 speech of Prof. Gollancz in which he handed over his Book of Homage to the Lord 

 Mayor— this book consisting of writings by a large number of eminent men, 

 extracts from which he read. So the world goes. What would Shakespeare have 

 said ? It rather reminded one of the play so admirably performed at the end of 

 the Midsummer Nights Dream, and Bottom the Weaver, who could do everything, 

 was evidently on the spot ! This is the net result of our system of education 

 which, although Greek is taught more than science, merely leads to politics and 

 dogma, and pushes science, literature, and learning together into the background. 

 Many people think that if Britain wishes to hold its place in the world (which it is 

 now losing) it must change its attitude towards the very much higher forms of 

 intellectual life. At any rate, let us make a change when we ask foreigners to 

 attend our commemorations. Otherwise we become merely contemptible in 

 the eyes of the outer world. 



On the other hand, it is with the warmest feelings that we welcome the honour 

 which the King has given to Sir Frank Benson — the actor who by his genius and 

 energy has done more than any one else to keep the works of our great poet 

 before the mass of people in Britain. For his ideal he has given up much, 

 including a larger popularity which he might easily have won by the performance 



