32 



DISCOVERY 



CH. 



In the discussion of political questions, prejudice 

 and party determine the view taken, and facts are selected 

 and exploited not so much with the object of arriving 

 at the truth as to confound the other side or support 

 a particular opinion. The vulgar abuse and vapid 

 sentiment which are the stock-in-trade of many political 

 writers and speakers provoke only contempt in the 

 minds of thinking men. A politician may place party 

 before truth, a diplomatist will conceal it on behalf of his 

 country, and an advocate in the interests of his client, 

 but it is the duty of a man of science to strive to 

 attain truth at all costs. 



In direct opposition to the narrowness of thought, which views 

 all subjects through the distorting mirage of party prejudice, 

 stands the absolute freedom of mind of the man of science, who 

 knows, or ought to know, nothing of party, and stands with open 

 arms to welcome truth in however strange or unexpected guise 

 she may present herself. In his writings the man of science 

 has no lower aim than the diffusion of truth so far as it is known, 

 and no desire to make converts to any opinion or party. As 

 opposed to the finality of party opinions, he proclaims that 

 truth is but very partially attained by man on any subject, for 

 we can see truth only imperfectly, as she appears altered by the 

 perspective of our own standpoint. Sir William Huggins. 



Most scientific work must be done without recognition 

 or expectation of reward. Many men who devote their 

 lives to the extension of knowledge .continually find 

 themselves without the means of obtaining the instru- 

 ments or other material necessary for the pursuit of 

 their researches. On the principle of " Nothing suc- 

 ceeds like success," assistance is offered when the work 

 for which it would have been of service has been 

 accomplished or to the man who is independent of it, 

 instead of to the earnest investigator whose limited 

 means leave little for science when social necessities 



