n; 



This criticism is not intended to be censorious nor unjust ; neither is it 

 directed against earnest work in specialties. There can be no valuable 

 results except by loving and exclusive efforts along chosen lines. 



It is not asked that the chemist by his compounds should seek for poetry 

 in his crucible: nor that the biologist with his dissecting tools create the 

 life which his search destroys, much less reproduce the higher life of 

 thought, of passion, and of hope, which breathe in the works of the dram- 

 atist and in the pages of the writer of fiction. 



But outside of our laboratories of books and blowpipes, in our hours of 

 ease, if you please, may not profitable relaxation be found in a better ac- 

 quaintance with our neighbors. 



The poet takes his walks alone that his communion with nature may 

 not be disturbed, but it is possible that he might find valuable assistance 

 in his translation of the "books in brooks" in the "drawing rooms" of 

 the hydraulic engineer. 



The geologist no less than the poet may find "sermons in stones," and 

 each may be benefited by contact with the other. 



Is it not possible to secure better results by the union of science and 

 literature than are now gotten by their separation and their too narrow 

 circle of fellowship ? 



Listen to this wail from the Editor's Study in Harper's Magazine for 

 September, 1892. and tell us what does it portend? 



" Books are being replaced by newspapers and periodicals. A book 

 shop used to be an intelligent center where readers met not only to keep 

 the run of the thought of the world, but to exchange ideas about it. Few 

 are so now. Book stalls have become shops of notions, of stationery, of 

 newspapers, of artists' materials, of various brie a brae, with an only occa- 

 sional real book that has attained exceptional notoriety. 



"It is no longer profitable to keep a stock of general literature, and 

 many of the brightest and best trained minds now are giving their entire 

 time and energy to the daily and weekly press. 



" In its swelling bulk the daily newspaper has become a magazine, and 

 the magazine in a generation that must run as it reads takes the place of 

 the book." 



From the scientific side of book making also comes remarkable confes- 

 sions of weakness. From the testimony of the writers themselves the 

 books of yesterday already have been consigned to the top shelf, where 

 indeed moth and dust do corrupt, but where thieves do not break through 



