256 THE NEW KNOWLEDGE. 



theoretical interpretations of the new knowledge there is 

 a great body of newly perceived phenomena called " facts." 

 These " i acts," independently of any theory connecting them, 

 are also useful, so useful, indeed, that they will never be 

 forgotten nor neglected so long as thought endures. Such 

 are the ascertained facts of, and measurements of, radio- 

 activity, of the new physics, the new chemistry, and the 

 new astronomy new pawns on the chessboard of man's 

 struggle with nature and forever useful. 



In addition, there are certain new conceptions which 

 while we can hardly say they are ascertained truths, shadow 

 themselves as such. 



It is in the realization of two of these conceptions that 

 during the next two hundred years the great work of the 

 world will lie. 



The first is the transmutability of the elements. Our 

 reason bids us assent to its actual accomplishment, not with 

 our aid but in spite of it, in the case of the heavy elements. 

 Our hopes lead us to feel that we may aspire to accomplish 

 it for ourselves. In this connection Sir William Ramsay's 

 speech at the Waldorf-Astoria banquet is significant. 



" Experiments are in progress with radio-active substances 

 the results of which seem to show that we are on the brink 

 of discovering the synthesis of atoms. This may lead us to 

 the discovery of the ordinary elements.' 7 A record of his 

 experiments certainly confirms his hopeful attitude. Hav- 

 ing accomplished atomic synthesis we shall then strive to 

 subordinate it to our needs, and having done this we shall 

 be well on our way to a transformed world. 



Still another conception of the new knowledge is that of 

 the vast stores of inter-elemental energy of which we live but 

 on the fringe a store of energy so great that every breath 

 we draw has within it sufficient power to drive the work- 



