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proceedings of the Academy of Science because of lack of practicality I If there 

 is one practical thing in these days of ours it is science; if there is one Jorm of 

 truth which more than all others underlies and jiervades all our industries, it is 

 scientific truth ; if there is one form of knowledge which more than any other seems 

 Ttj condition public prosperity — even to condition duration of life — it is scientific 

 knowledge. It is a startling commentary on the neglect of duty of men of science that 

 in these last years of this century of scientific achievements, achievements which year 

 by year become more marvelous, more wide-reaching in their effects; when achieve- 

 ment seems only limited by man's daring, to hear solemn discussion as to the 

 •practical value of scientific publication. The truths of science that are funda- 

 mental, the practical application of these truths, should be the common property 

 of every man and woman, of every school child, in the State. The scientist 

 should be nature's interpreter to the people. Too often he has merely striven to 

 interpret himself to others of his kind. I repeat that this Academy as a body, 

 and through its members, owes the duty to the State of disseminating scientific 

 itruth in a straightforward, clear-cut way, that the people may have put into their 

 hands all of the truths of science which have immediate practical bearing. If a 

 man who accumulates money hoards it he is a mean man, a miser. The man 

 who accumulates useful knowledge and hoards it is infinitely meaner than the 

 miser. 



Among the best intentioned educational movements in secondary schools 

 -during the last few years has been that which has introduced nature study into 

 the grades. Following the letter of the recommendation of the committee of ten, 

 the spirit of the recommendation has often been utterly overlooked. Nature 

 study has been so associated with language and number and form studies that 

 nature has llown out of the window, while number and language and form 

 •remained. Where the intention is most honest, the work is imperfectly co-ordi- 

 nated, without sequence, practically without purpose. The real aim of scientific 

 study seems often utterly misconceived, for science work consists not in the mere 

 .collection and pigeon-holing of facts, but in the development and strengthening of 

 certain specific intellectual powers. It is eviJent that this state of affairs exists 

 because scientists have not sufficiently concerned themselves in the movement to 

 bring it success. A movement which promises so much for the symmetrical 

 intellectual development of the youth of the State, which promises, so much for 

 ■science itself, is surely of sufficient importance to merit some attention from every 

 itrue scientist and sy.stematized and wisely directed efforts for its success by this 

 Academy as a body. My position is, that this Academy should stand for the 

 .combined wisdom of its members in all matters scientific which pertain to the 



