68 Journal of the Mitchell Society [Nov. 



formal statement, accompanied by discriminating favor to- 

 ward the one or the other in the actual lines of work pursued, 

 does not meet that full responsibility which every university 

 bears to chemical research. 



And this brings the responsibility to the' individual lab- 

 oratory head, for in his own department he represents his 

 university. Whatever his ideal, rest assured it makes its 

 full imprint on those working under him. The joint plan- 

 ning of w^ork, the daily informal conference in the laboratory 

 and mutual presence at the dawn of new truth create natural- 

 ly in the student a strong bond of sympathy and loyal regard. 

 Ideals are unconsciously absorbed. Thus there are sent forth 

 each year from the laboratories young men impressed with 

 the ideals of the men in charge, and thus is the national 

 viewpoint in such matters largely determined. I speak now 

 of the average American university, fully conscious of the 

 necessity of differentiation of work in the staffs of the larger 

 institutions and equally conscious of the difficulties under 

 which men in the smaller institutions often w^ork. But the 

 ideal holds for one and all alike. 



The claims of research in pure chemistry in our univer- 

 sities need no urging on my part. The opportunities and in- 

 ducements for such work already abundantly exist. It is grati- 

 fying to note the change of popular sentiment toward such 

 work. The old question "Of what use ?" is gradually being 

 replaced by a sound conception of the fundamental function 

 of the science of chemistry and by a recognition that the ad- 

 vancement of this science is not effected by inspiration, but 

 by the contributions of many zealous, patient and enthusi- 

 astic workers. By slow process of accumulation the data are 

 supplied for new generalizations which bring us gradually 

 nearer and nearer full truth. 



The record in the Journal of this Society shows a steadily 

 increasing output of such work from university laboratories. 

 That the amount of this work will increase is a hope and a 

 belief fully justified by the attitude of university authorities 



