12 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



which are to be shared equallj^ by these two corporations. The 

 design of Mr. Colburn in making this bequest is stated in his 

 own words thus: ''the intent in both cases being to have the 

 revenue appHed currently to original research in the physical 

 or psychic demonstrable sciences." In accordance with advice 

 expressed by him in his will, that the administration of his estate 

 be committed to a reputable trust company, the surrogate court 

 having jurisdiction has appointed the United States Trust 

 Company of New York to act in this capacity. 



While Mr. Colburn was primarily a man of affairs, interested 

 in many business enterprises, he was also a reflective student 

 of science and of contemporary social progress. He was a life 

 member of the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, and it was in connection with the annual meetings of 

 this Association that my acquaintance with him began about 

 fifteen years ago. He was interested especially in the economic 

 and sociological aspects of anthropology. He was a well-read 

 layman in the modern doctrine of evolution and an optimist 

 with regard to the possibilities for human advancement which 

 may come from a more general recognition of the principles and 

 the methods of science. It was this optimism, doubtless, along 

 with his appreciation of those principles and methods, that led 

 him to leave, without solicitation, the bulk of his estate for the 

 promotion of research. 



Progress toward stabler relations between the Institution and 

 other organizations, to which reference was made in the two 

 preceding reports, continues to be a noteworth t 

 Research Estab- daily experience. The numerous fallacies hitherto 

 hshments. prevalent with regard to the realizable functions 

 of a research establishment and the extravagant illusions with 

 respect to the capacities of the Institution's income are now 

 slowly disappearing. Even in the popular mind the lines of 

 demarcation which distinguish research from charity, education, 

 and other worthy objects, are coming to be more widely recog- 

 nized; while the arithmetical limitations of finite incomes, so 

 commonly overlooked in altruistic enterprises, give promise 

 of gradual restoration to their axiomatic integrity. 



