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I have described for actuating the levers or eccentrics. Of course, 

 the model could not be got to act as it was wanted, and no wonder, 

 yet its maker could not see the reason why ; but a very small 

 amount of theoretical knowledge would have told him that when 

 the cage was detached from the rope it would fall as fast as his 

 weights, and therefore they could not by any means bring the lever 

 or eccentrics into action. I might go on and give you scores of 

 such examples as these, but time will not permit. I trust, how- 

 ever, that I have already said sufficient to show you that practice 

 to be successful must be guided by theory. The two operations 

 — mental and physical — must be united to secure complete and 

 efficient action. Undoubtedly they have not been united to the 

 extent they should have been, probably for the reason that good 

 thinkers are not often good workers, and vice versa ; but I believe 

 that the day is not far distant when men professing to be practical 

 men will guide their practice by theory. 



\ 



Mr. W. it. KITCHIX'S PAPER. 



In the consideration of the relations between theory and 

 practice, it is necessary in the first place to have a clear idea of 

 the meaning conveyed by the terms, otherwise it will be impossible 

 rightly to value the bearing which one has upon the other. Of the 

 \i 0x6. practice, it is easy to conceive that the definition which occurs 

 to every one will sufficiently cover and explain the term. It is 

 understood to mean the working out of an operation which has 

 previously been designed, or conduct which is guided by previously 

 established rules. This view will in the main agree with that 

 stated in the previous paper, and will suffice for the purpose of 

 this discussion. 



As regards the term " theory," considerable difficulty arises in 

 making clear what it conveys. Under different conditions and 

 relations the meanings which it bears may be widely separate. 



