THE RESEARCH SPIRIT 77 



tell us about masses of steel weighing fifty tons ? " 

 The answer has been found in such matters as 

 those instanced here; that it is now universally 

 admitted is proved by the fact that the methods 

 of the New Metallurgy form part of the regular 

 equipment of every large metallurgical and 

 engineering establishment. The value of the 

 practical results which can be obtained from the 

 New Metallurgy has come to be recognised and 

 the young science has been taken up by the metal- 

 lurgical industries. It is to be hoped that, none the 

 less, it will be vigorously pursued by its votaries 

 as a pure science for its own sake. In that way 

 alone can we hope for a continuance of the great 

 gifts which it has already bestowed upon us. If 

 the practical spirit important and valuable as 

 that is in its right place is permitted to rule our 

 research laboratories, it would be apt to sterilise 

 our investigations and to rob us of the very fruit 

 at which we should be trying to snatch. There is 

 of course in this as in every branch of science 

 ample room for what may be termed the " applied" 

 laboratory and the corresponding investigations, 

 whose aim it is to render applicable to definite 

 industrial problems the results already achieved 

 by purely scientific investigation; but over and 

 above these we must if real progress is to be 

 maintained keep flowing the pure, bright source 

 of scientific enquiry carried on for its own sake. 



