THE PROBLEM OF A FLYING-MACHINE. 69 



choose, to establisli their own libraries and reading-rooms, to 

 build their OAvn tenement-honses, and to scorn charity as they now 

 have good reason to scorn such dispensers of charity. 



The basing of all so-called charitable and benevolent work up- 

 on such principles as have been indicated, or rather the substitu- 

 tion of right-seeking and right-doing (which is but the simple 

 practice of justice), will require earnest study and a great change 

 in our spirit and methods. Those who in preceding years have 

 here listened to outlines of work adapted for this section as pre- 

 sented by Professor Elliott and Major Alvord should notice that 

 the bounds will be much enlarged if we seek to solve the problems 

 which shall enable us to make our altruism economically benefi- 

 cial. This certainly should be the case. That we should pretend 

 to be doing. good to all men, and yet be deceiving both ourselves 

 and them, while really doing harm to both, needs only to be 

 demonstrated to secure our condemnation. And giving alms to 

 show even to ourselves our good motives, or in order to indulge 

 our benevolent impulses, is certainly the most deceitful form of 

 selfishness, since it appears in the form of altruism — is evil and 

 only evil. 



THE PROBLEM OF A FLYING-MACHINE. 



Br JOSEPH LE CONTE, 



PROFEPSOE OF GEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY XS THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 



IN "The Popular Science Monthly" for November, 1885 (vol. 

 xxviii, p. 1), Mr. Mather closes an excellent article on flying- 

 machines with the following weighty remark : " These are the 

 most important inventions of this class — i. e., self-raising, self- 

 propelling machines. It must be confessed that the results are 

 far from encouraging. But, there are the birds ; and they com- 

 pletely refute the argument of those who say that it is impossible 

 to make a fly ing -machine." 



Now, I wish to take issue with Mr. Mather in this conclusion. 

 I am one of those who think that a flying-machine, in the sense 

 indicated above — i. e., self-raising, self-propelling — is impossible, 

 in spite of the testimony of the birds. Of course, it is understood 

 that I am speaking of true flight, like that of a bird or an insect, 

 and not of ballooning nor any combination of ballooning with 

 flying. This is sufficiently implied in the words " self-raising 

 and self-propelling." I wish now to give, very briefly, a reason 

 for my faith. I can best do so with brevity and clearness by a 

 series of propositions which I hope will lead us, step by stej^, to 

 absolute demonstration. I believe this is important, in order to 

 check baseless expectations and limit effort to the right direction. 



