154 THE MICROSCOPE. 



devoted to putting the machine on the market, and spending 

 about fifty thousand dollars defending his claims, he sold all 

 his interests in the inventions, gaining financially very little. 

 After disposing of his patents he returned to educational work, 

 and became principal of the Young Ladies Seminary at Beth- 

 lehem, Pa. Resigning the position in 1881, he gave his entire 

 time to the study of botany, after which he became the author 

 of several botanical works. His busy and useful life ended 

 February 10, 1893. 



THE TARIFF ON SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 



By J. EDGAR BULL, 

 NEW YORK. 



In every controversy both sides are partly right and both are 

 partly wrong. This is the fundamental character of controver- 

 sies and a partisan who fails to see any justification for the con- 

 victions of his adversaries may safely write himself down as 

 unworthy of respect. A conclusion, if worth anything, is a bal- 

 ance struck between opposing reasons; and as to the wisdom of 

 imposing a tariff on scientific books, I, for one, have not yet 

 struck the balance. But I have some suggestions to make. 



Scientists as a class are public benefactors. They give far 

 more than they receive. Of course, to those who can see in the 

 tariff only a tax on scientists, the question is simple enough. 

 To those who see in it more, the question is rather complex. 

 Any plan that would increase scientific investigation in this 

 country should be adopted. But supposing that — as we are told 

 — owing to cheaper labor, cheaper material and lower rates of 

 interest, books published in London can be sold here for less 

 than those published in New York; might not our scientists 

 who wish to publish something, be deprived of some part of 

 their small incomes; if they are without protection might we not 

 miss the stimulus of individual and national effort; might not 

 American science suffer? I do not say it would — I merely ask 

 the question. Scientists must live and must earn dollars. If 

 their opportunity to publish be dimished, will American science 

 be the gainer or loser ? The effect of a national literature can- 

 not be estimated in dollars and cents, but it is not easy to overes- 

 timate it. 



