LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 29 



can " smell out the truth," this deductive activity may be too 

 brief for outside detection, and may even be subconscious. Those 

 so gifted may pass without visible discontinuity from one result 

 to another. When the genius consists of " an infinite capacity 

 for taking pains," deduction is deliberate and the intervals between 

 its results are obvious. The activities of genius of this type are 

 usually directed to one object. Sometimes that object is further 

 discovery; at others it is the application of knowledge to the 

 business of life. In the latter case it may be intended to sub- 

 serve practical application only, or it may be meant to yield 

 doctrinal results. When deduction is applied in doctrine, this 

 may be in the form of instruction designed to train a new 

 generation in scientific method ; or in the form of education, so 

 that others may appreciate tlie bearing of scientific study on the 

 business of life. Finally, when genius of the second type is 

 accompanied by the inborn gift of co-ordination, its object may 

 be merely to determine the relationship between new facts and 

 old knowledge. The history of science shows that this self- 

 denying activity is often as conducive to progress as the discovery 

 which I'enders it necessary ; it has the merit of enabling others 

 " to enter into its labours." 



However knowledge be used the method of its employment 

 must involve reasoned experiment, trained observation, or a 

 combination of these. The syllogistic relationship between 

 experiment and observation I'eoalls that of tlie 'chick and the 

 egg." When man first ate unforbidden fruit, we do not know 

 whether the experiment were made to test a theory of his own 

 or to vei'ify an experiment by some creature of prior evolution. 

 Curiosity and ingenuity are so intimately related that observation 

 and experiment are usually blended. It may be that till curiosity 

 be aroused, ingenuity is not exercised. J'ut it is the effect of the 

 latter which is first apparent to the onlooker. Our instinct for 

 experiment leads us to break our first toy and tear our first 

 lesson-book, so that the precedence given to experiment in the 

 XVII. Century is natural. This instinct is restrained by our 

 parents ; observation of its consequences is inculcated. Later, 

 our guardians discourage " dabbling about " and regard " fool 

 experiment " with disfavour. They try to discipline tlie instinct, 

 and train our ingenuity to devise technique. 



Curiosity may similarly develop into observation, a faculty with 

 which we are less equally endowed. Sometimes the facidty is 

 suppressed; it is one that can easily be inhibited. Usually it 

 may be trained to perceive the obvious ; sometimes it can be 

 educated to appreciate what the ordinary onlooker misses. The 

 extent to which it may be educated varies with our temperament. 

 Many are eventually able to see what is under their noses ; some 

 come to perceive what lies ahead ; a few can look beyond the 

 fence. Those who develop this threefold vision may discriminate 

 between ends and their means. The favoured few who can also 

 look inwards may detect not only what happens in the green tree 

 but what may occur in the dry. 



