L THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
stars, as well as to the constitution of the sun and the variations in its 
emission of light and heat. While this last has an evident practical 
bearing, what results will come from the other researches it would be 
the height of rashness to attempt specifically to predict; but they are 
certain to illuminate many obscure places in the realm of thought. 
We speak of things as being inconceivably great or infinitesimally 
small. This is by comparison with the ordinary things we see about 
us. Is not the distinction largely a matter of scale, of the length of 
the measuring rod that we use? The same laws, we believe, operate 
upon both great and small. The knowledge of them which we derive 
from either great or small throws light upon the whole. 
Some people admit in a general way the value of abstract science 
to the world at large; but say that, in a new country like Canada, the 
opening up of the country for settlement and the development of its 
natural resources call for all available funds, and that expenditure on 
abstract science is a species of extravagance, which may well be left 
for older and wealthier countries. 
It is the new country, developing its resources, that most needs the 
services of trained scientific men to deal with the new problems that are 
continually arising in connection with the development, problems of 
engineering and construction, of conservation of natural resources, of 
increasing the yield of the lands and the waters. The less money a 
country has to spend on these things, the more necessary it is that what 
is spent shall be spent wisely. To solve the new problems or to improve 
the methods of dealing with the old, the services of men are needed 
who have a wide knowledge of the principles of the matters in question. 
To be unprepared to deal with questions as they arise leads to wasteful 
expenditure. A nation should not imitate the unscientific people in 
Charles Lamb’s story who, for the want of a little research, burnt their 
houses to roast their pigs. 
To assist in the progress of science the endowment of research 
has been advocated. Is the endowment of research, as such, practicable? 
It has been said, with much truth, that knowledge cannot be 
purchased, that the investigator is born, not made, that all great dis- 
coveries have been made by those who worked for the love of knowledge, 
and that those imbued with this spirit have worked, and will work, not 
only without encouragement, but even in spite of all discouragement. 
While for some minds a quiet atmosphere is best, to many the storm 
of adverse conditions is an incentive. In the latter case, if the endow- 
ment of research means merely providing leisure to work undisturbed, 
it may be doubted whether the desired results would follow. 
Shall we then leave science to its natural development? The 
accelerated pace cf progress in discovery and invention which is note- 
