82o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



opponents of our social progress — that by its operation the larger num- 

 ber are condemned to work in large factories, and that in the progressive 

 division of labor no room is left for the free exertion of individuals — 

 for this, also, the natural course of the advance of the scientific age 

 bears the remedy in itself. The necessity of large factories for the 

 cheap production of useful articles depends essentially on the present 

 imperfection of machine technics. Large machines just now give 

 cheaper effects than small ones, and the introduction of the latter into 

 the houses of workmen is still beset with great difficulties. But inge- 

 nuity will certainly succeed in overcoming the impediments in the way 

 of the return to competitive manual labor, by bringing cheapened 

 mechanical powers, the basis of all industry, into the smaller shops and 

 workmen's homes. Not a number of great factories in the hands of 

 rich capitalists, in which the " slaves of toil " shall wear out their hard 

 existence, is to be the ending of the development of the age of science, 

 but the return to individual labor, or, where the circumstances call for 

 it, the conduct of co-operative establishments by associations of work- 

 men, for which a sound basis has first been furnished by the general 

 spread of knowledge and training, and the possibility of a cheapened 

 supply of capital. 



The complaint is likewise unjust that the study of science, and 

 the application of the natural forces to the arts, give a material tend- 

 ency to men, making them vain in their knowledge and power, and 

 diverting them from ideal aims. 



The more deeply we look into the harmonious administration of 

 the powers of Nature, regulated by eternally unchangeable laws, yet 

 so profoundly veiled from our full understanding, the more, inversely, 

 we feel ourselves moved to an humble modesty ; the smaller appears 

 the scope of our knowledge, the more earnest is our effort to draw more 

 from this inexhaustible fountain of knowledge and power, and the 

 higher rises our admiration of the infinite regulating wisdom which 

 pervades the entire creation. And the admiration of this infinite 

 wisdom gives a new stimulus to that spirit of investigation, that devout 

 pure love of knowledge, which finds its final object in itself, Avhich has 

 been lifted to a position of high honor in the German scholar, where 

 it stands a hopeful mark to future generations. 



Hence we should not be disturbed in our faith that our zeal in 

 investigation and discovery will raise mankind to higher grades of 

 civilization, will ennoble it and make it more amenable to ideal efforts, 

 and that the dawning scientific age will diminish its suffering and 

 disease, heighten its enjoyment, and make it better, happier, and more 

 satisfied with its lot. And, although we may not always see clearly 

 the conviction that the light of truth which we are seeking for will not 

 lead us into error, and that the fullness of power which it gives to man 

 can not depress him, but must raise him to a higher degree of the way 

 that leads to these better conditions, we shall yet hold fast to being. 



