82 NATURAL SCIENCE. August, 



the unknown still exceeds the known, they would be the last to rashly 

 alter their conduct in obedience to each variation of belief that 

 appears to be necessitated by each fresh discovery. But they are 

 unable, even if they wished, to keep the new discoveries and the new 

 theories from affecting the larger public. Here a danger lies. This 

 public, vaguely expectant of some message or some new rule of 

 conduct, eagerly grasps at such fragments of scientific theory as are 

 conveyed to it in the diluted form of books like " The Ascent of 

 Man." Then, of a sudden, the vessel of science tacks, and the public, 

 seeing itself left behind, cries out that it is deceived and turns its 

 former praise into ridicule or contempt. Our hope of progress 

 then would seem to lie, not in refusing the laity such crumbs of 

 scientific fact as they may have a fancy for, but in giving them to 

 understand what is the true scientific spirit. 



Often enough in these pages we have dwelt upon the aid that can 

 be given to science, not merely by the scientific amateur, but by every 

 member of the public. Intimate relations are bound to exist between 

 the two sides, and instead of withdrawing ourselves into some 

 cloistered calm, we desire to promote those relations that they may 

 enter the phase of a cordial and intelligent affection. Still a warning 

 is needed. It is by no means desirable that those without a proper 

 training should attempt to engage in the more technical branches of 

 scientific work. No one has any objection to people amusing them- 

 selves with music or painting, but we do not wish to have our ear 

 distracted by immovable piano-organs or our eye affronted by glaring 

 crudities of advertisement. So with scientific work. There is too 

 much done by well-meaning people that has merely to be undone by 

 the despairing specialist. What we must aim at is to direct the 

 praiseworthy energy of these good folk into channels of more service 

 to us and of no less profit to themselves. 



The British Association. 



In extending the brotherhood of Science, not merely among the 

 workers themselves, but also, as just intimated, with the world at 

 large, one of the more important instruments is the British Associa- 

 tion. For this Association, unlike some others which have been 

 founded in imitation of it, has never forgotten that one of its chief 

 aims is to introduce the facts and principles of Science to those who 

 would otherwise pass them by as belonging to a sphere other than 

 their own. And this idea is really the explanation of much that some 

 of the more ascetic enthusiasts occasionally object to in the working 

 of this organisation. The popular lectures, the social gatherings, and 

 even the picnics play their own good part in the production of a 

 better understanding between the usually indifferent public and those 

 whom they welcome as dreary pedants, but part from as good fellows 

 like themselves. 



