1892.] THE MICKOSCOPE. 123 



young people are deterred from learning to dance by religious and 

 other influences. There is no prejudice against science, and uni- 

 versal respect for it. 



The reason, then, why the better gives place so much to the 

 worse is simply that scientific men have not the tact or the philan- 

 thropy to make its study and practice as attractive as is the study 

 and practice of dancing. 



And why is this? Largely because of our indiflerence, some- 

 wdiat because of the mistaken notion, formerly rife and not vet 

 dead, that it were better to have a corner on scientific knowledge. 

 In order that the masses should not learn science there used to be 

 efforts to hem it in by unknown tongues and technical phrases. 

 There are still those who adhere to the customs created by the 

 exclusionist w^ithout intending to make scientific knowledge ex- 

 clusive. Their acts accomplish what they would deny to be their 

 intention. The distinguished professor whom we have quoted is 

 sometimes not understood by his audiences because of his having 

 run so far ahead of even the mass of scientists in the invention 

 and use of technical terms. Such use he deems a necessitv. Un- 

 til he can find a way to make himself understood by the dancers 

 they will dance instead of listening to him ; and whv should they 

 not.? 



If theology is to be for the few, keep it in Latin ; if science is 

 to be for the few, write it in the dead languages ; if dancing is to 

 be. for the few, invent as many technicalities and Latin names as 

 science has and it will be patronized by few^ The time was 

 when the professors of science knew so little of nature and of the 

 relations of organisms that it was perhaps pardonable to conceal that 

 little beneath w^ords not understood by the masses in order that they 

 might be looked up to as savants, but that day has gone. Let 

 knowledge throw^ oft' all masks and clogs and, plain and naked, 

 "challenge the favor of the masses; then will a scientific meeting 

 " draw" as well or better than a dance or a dinner. The pro- 

 fessor has sometimes sacrificed a dinner to the pursuit of science. 

 So will those who sacrifice a dinner for a horse race when they 

 have learned the relative value of each. 



We are negligent of our duty if we fail to put scientific knowl- 

 edge within the easy reach of the masses. The microscope is the 

 best instrument yet invented towards the accomplishment of this 

 end, but it is sufficiently complicated to require skill in its use 

 and study for its comprehension. These will be acquired by the 

 masses if we make the way easy instead of being indifferent to 

 their needs. 



The Cole Studies. — Referring to Qiiery No. 7, I w^ould add 

 that Mr. Arthur C. Cole has lately removed from Notting Hill, 

 W., to 74 Webb's Road, Wandsworth Common, London, S.W., 

 England.— R. H. W. 



