NA TURE 



69 



THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 191 1. 



THE KAISER-WILHELM SOCIETY FOR THE 

 PROMOTION OF SCIENCE. 



/'"^ERMANY, and its head, the Emperor, have again 

 ^-^ shown the world their gratitude for the achieve- 

 ments of science ; if desired, the word gratitude may 

 be interpreted in the sense of "favours to come." Not 

 content with endowing the universities and technical 

 high schools from the Exchequer with what appear to us 

 relatively enormous sums, a society has been founded, 

 under the "protection" of the Emperor, for the ad- 

 vancement of science. It is instructive to note the 

 difference between their method and ours. Both 

 countries possess what is called " technical educa- 

 tion " ; but while we have founded schools in con- 

 siderable number, destined to capture the workmen 

 (who seldom attend) and the prospective foremen, 

 they have aimed at the education of the manufac- 

 turers and the works managers. Instead of numerous 

 institutions giving elementary science instruction, they 

 have a few, imparting the most advanced. Instead 

 of a system of small scholarships, intended to bribe 

 the clever children of the lower middle class, they 

 leave it to the parents to find out that their children, 

 suitably trained, are equipped for their lifework, and 

 will, if they are diligent, be certain of reasonable 

 incomes, and respectable positions. 



In this latest enterprise, too, the Germans have 

 appealed, not to the moderately well-off, but to the 

 rich. Membership of the new society may be acquired 

 by private persons, or by firms, on the condition of 

 an initial contribution of 20,000 marks (loooZ.), pay- 

 ment of which, by special resolution of the Senate, 

 may be distributed over several years, and besides 

 this, an annual contribution of 1000 marks a year, 

 commutable by a lump sum of 40,000 marks, or 2000Z. 

 The members are to be elected by the Senate, a body 

 chosen by themselves at a general meeting, which 

 must be held once each year, in February, but 

 may be summoned also at any time by the president, 

 or by any two members. Members of the Senate, 

 consisting of at least ten members chosen by the con- 

 tributors, hold ofTice for five years ; to it belong other 

 members, not necessarily donors but Gelehrte, i.e. 

 savants, or other persons who may be deemed useful, 

 nominated directly by the Protector, that is, by the 

 German Emperor. The election of members by 

 the Senate requires the Protector's confirmation before 

 it becomes absolute. Rules exist for the resignation 

 of members and for the removal of defaulting mem- 

 bers. The Senate meets twice a year, and holds a 

 statutory meeting in March ; it may also be sum- 

 moned at other times by the Protector, by its Executive 

 Committee, or by request from a third of its members. 

 It elects a president, two vice-presidents, two 

 treasurers, and two secretaries ; the election of the 

 three first also requires confirmation by the Protector. 

 These form the executive committee of the society. 



The object of the society is designated in its title, 

 and in its first statute ; it is " to promote the sciences, 

 especially by the foundation and support of scientific 

 institutes of research." 



NO. 2159, VOL. 86] 



Readers of Nature will have already read a trans- 

 lation of the address delivered at the opening of the 

 society in presence of its Protector, by Prof. Emil 

 Fischer, of Berlin, printed in the issue for February 

 23. The daily papers have informed us that at the 

 celebration of the centenary of the Berlin University 

 held last October the Emperor announced that this 

 society had at its disposal a capital of half a million 

 sterling. It is proposed to devote its income to the 

 equipment of institutes in which men already eminent 

 in their respective subjects will be installed. They 

 will have the right to take student-assistants, i.e. 

 young men, who wish to graduate in one or other 

 of the universities ; they will thus be able to pursue re- 

 search, aided as much or as little as they please. Such 

 a position was held, as member of the Berlin 

 Academy, by Prof, van't Hoff, whose recent re- 

 moval by death the whole scientific world deplores. 

 He had a free hand, was not obliged to give any 

 formal lectures, or to take part in the active manage- 

 ment of the University, but was allowed, with the help 

 of students, to work out his own problems in his own 

 way, and his work on Stassfurth salts has been of 

 great technical value. His words to the writer were, 

 many years ago, that he thought it right to 

 help his adopted country to solve its commercial 

 problems, and that he had attempted to do so. But 

 it must be understood that no such expectation is 

 necessarily entertained of the incumbents of chairs 

 at the proposed institutes ; the progress of science, 

 not necessarily of its industrial application, is con- 

 templated. Our neighbours have learned the lesson 

 that science, like virtue, brings its own reward. 



It is wonderful how deeply the spirit of trust in 

 science has penetrated the whole German nation. 

 When Prof. Ostwald, many years ago, appealed to 

 the Saxon Government for money to build his physico- 

 chemical laboratory, the Socialists in the Saxon Par- 

 liament voted for the grant to a man, believing that 

 greater expenditure on pure science would contribute 

 to greater industrial opportunities. This spirit, whicn 

 permeates the German people, from the Emperor on 

 his throne to the representatives of the peasants, 

 causes admiration ; would that it could inspire imita- 

 tion ! 



One is led to speculate on the cause of this. Why 

 is it that the people of Germany have such sympathy 

 for scientific endeavour? The reasons are many. 



First, and above all, is the discipline which the 

 German people have undergone by their military train- 

 ing; more are thus prepared for practical life in a 

 measure which cannot be otherwise attained. It has 

 its disadvantages; on the whole, the people are not 

 so self-reliant, but they become more trustworthy 

 machines. Second, there is a deeper understanding 

 of scientific achievements and their bearing on indus- 

 try. This manifests itself in many ways; the German 

 Government is not above asking for, and acting on, 

 scientific advice. The social position of the savants, 

 scientific and literary, is therefore assured, and the in- 

 comes of the higher posts compare favourably with 

 those earned by professional men and manufacturers. 

 This higher social standing secures attention to those 

 who tender advice. Third, there is a constant ex- 



