JOSEPH HENRY. 361 



has any one been richer in its revelations to science than the child's 

 soap-bubble ? But where the child saw only an evanescent display of 

 colors, Newton read with mathematical clearness his celebrated theory 

 of fits of easy transmission and reflection, and Young measured the 

 constants of the undulations of light. To-day, the microscojjic molar 

 or molecular motions of the telephone-plate are translated into visible 

 speech by the colors of a sympathetic film of liquid in the phoneido- 

 scope. In 1844, Henry experimented with this ever ready minister to 

 the delight and instruction of all ages, so beautiful but apparently so 

 tender, and found that its cohesion and its contractile force were those 

 of a giant if its own thinness were made the standard of measure. 

 Thus was opened an avenue into the study of molecular action which 

 Plateau has extended and embellished with the most varied and origi- 

 nal experiments, not disheartened by the total loss of eyesight : find- 

 ing by the way a beautiful experimental illustration of the cosmogony 

 of La Place, and building architectural forms out of liquid films as if 

 they had the cohesion of marble. 



When, at the close of 1846, Professor Henry left the quiet walks 

 of the Academy for a more public career in Washington, in obedience 

 to the summons of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, though 

 all applauded the wisdom of the choice, not a few regretted the sad 

 interruption in his scientific life, already rich in performance and 

 bright with the promise of more and perhaps greater discoveries. 

 The sacrifice seemed to be too great to demand of science in a country 

 where the taste and the mental qualifications, combined with the oppor- 

 tunity, for original research are rare. If Professor Henry had re- 

 mained at Princeton, he would certainly have added other jewels to 

 his crown : would it, however, have shone more brightly than it now 

 shines ? When posterity makes up its verdict on his claim to its grat- 

 itude and remembrance, his discoveries will not be counted, but 

 weighed. 



On the other hand, no friend of science can contemplate with com- 

 placency the possible alternatives if the Regents had come to a dif- 

 ferent choice, or if they had been defeated in their first selection. 

 Literature or science ; popular lectures or original research ; the dif- 

 fusion of old truth or the discovery of new truth ; a national library, 

 a national university, or a national museum, — each had warm and 

 influential advocates. Professor Henry's plan of organization bears 

 the date of December 8, 1847, and was adopted by the Regents on 

 the 13th of December. It took its departure from the words of the 

 founder, viz. an establishment for the increase and diffusion of 



