ASTRONOMY IN A WORLD AT WAR—DOUGLAS 163 
tified this with the number of particles in the universe. Since 1939 he 
has found that a question of nonintegrability in spherical space 
necessitates a reduction of 25 percent; so the number given in his 
1942 paper is 2.36 X 10”. 
This theortical approach has now reached a point where its author 
can write “I think the theory now deserves to be the accepted theory— 
my definition of an ‘accepted theory’ being that it is the theory which 
is so far right that everyone is interested in trying to discover what 
is wrong with it.” Can we wonder that he pauses in his work to refer 
to “the devastating beauty of quantum arithmetic.” This entire in- 
vestigation must surely rank as one of the great adventures of the 
human mind exemplifying Blake’s stately metaphor—“Imagination 
goes forth in its uncurbed glory.” 
vil 
This brief survey of a few fields of astronomical research, incom- 
plete as it obviously is, will serve nevertheless to indicate that pure 
science is not dormant, much less is it dead, during the terrible years 
when the vile demoniacal God of War stands astride the earth. For 
many years the International Astronomical Union has been an in- 
fluence for understanding, and for cooperation in the search for 
knowledge with mutual respect and trust. It is temporarily in abey- 
ance, but it will once again rise to carry on its good work. The 
lesson of astronomy down the centuries has been one of international 
interdependence and mutual indebtedness. 
The problems facing mankind are very complex—the dealings of 
man with man, the attitude of nation to nation. No solutions making 
for international good will and world peace will be achieved by men 
of narrow mind, myopic sight, and dwarfed soul. The far vision 
in time and space, the winged imagination that leaps the barrier 
of here and now—these are the qualities of mind and spirit needed in 
every walk of life and needed superlatively in the leaders of every 
nation if in the years just ahead of us progress is to be made toward 
the great ideal of international unity. How can the eyes of the 
blind be awakened to the dazzling vision of the City of God? For 
some it may be by the contagious enthusiasm of a great teacher or 
leader, for others the illumination from poetry, for some the spark 
is kindled by the study of history, or of philosophy, and for yet others 
it is through natural philosophy and astronomy. Mankind needs the 
perspective of the cosmic background. “The great values,” said 
Field Marshal Smuts, “retain their unfading glory and derive new 
meaning from a cosmic setting.” 
There is a challenge to the scientists and to the lovers of science 
to teach the boys and girls, the young men and women of today and 
