February 9, 1922] 



NATURE 



183 



physically difficult, and he succeeded in delivering 

 the first course. The second course has been inter- 

 rupted by death, but the series of lectures is written 

 and about to be published under the title " A 

 Faith that Enquires." 



Sir Henry Jones was born in 1852 in North 

 Wales. In his twenty-third year he obtained the 

 means to enter as a student in the University of 

 Glasgow, and there came under the influence of 

 Edward Caird, from whom he learnt the Hegelian 

 idealism of which he was throughout his life an 

 enthusiastic and consistent exponent. In 1878 he 

 graduated with first class honours in philosophy 

 and became Prof. Caird 's assistant. After various 

 appointments, and when Prof. Caird became Master 

 of Balliol in 1894, he was appointed his successor 

 and has held the chair since. He was an LL.D. of 

 the University of St. Andrews, a D.Litt. of the 

 University of Wales, and a fellow of the British 

 Academy. He was knighted in 1912. He served 

 on the Commission of Inquiry which preceded the 

 Act for the Disestablishment of the Church in 

 Wales. His name was included in the last New 

 Year's honours list. 



It is as a teacher that Sir Henry Jones will live 

 in the memory of the many students who were in- 

 spired by him. As an author the value of his 

 work is literary and social rather than scientific or 

 philosophical. His books are popular expositions, 

 marked, indeed, by keen appreciation and insight, 

 but motived by strong moral enthusiasm rather than 

 by any theoretical interest in investigating scientific 

 Dr philosophic problems. His most important work 

 in philosophy was a small volume on " The Philo- 

 sophy of Lotze," published in 1894, which was 



for many years the chief source for English readers 

 of their knowledge of the philosophy of the German 

 professor. 



Prof. V. Giuffrida-Ruggeri. 

 Dr. Vincenzo Giuffrida-Ruggeri, professor of 

 anthropology in the University of Naples, one of the 

 leading anthropologists in Europe, died on Decem- 

 ber 21, after a brief illness. He was born at 

 Catania, Sicily, in 1872, became a doctor of medicine 

 in the University of Rome, 1896, and was thereafter 

 appointed assistant to the professor of anthropology 

 in that university, G. Sergi. He then commenced a 

 career of extraordinary industry, contributing year 

 after year some eight or ten original papers to the 

 current literature of his chosen subject. Although 

 Prof. Giuffrida-Ruggeri neither initiated any form 

 of revolutionary idea nor opened any new 

 chapter, yet his voluminous writings reflect 

 more fully than those of any other writer the 

 anthropological problems discussed by his con- 

 temporaries in Europe and America. The papers 

 of his earlier years were devoted to studies of the 

 skull, particularly of the face, but as time went on 

 they broadened out into a study of human races in 

 all parts of the world. He made a close study of 

 the fossil remains of man, and in more recent years 

 devoted himself to the evolution of man and to 

 the origin and relationship of modern human races. 

 The conclusions he had reached are set forth in two 

 of his more recent books, " L'Uomo Attuale, Una 

 Specie Collettiva " (1913), and " Su I'Origine dell' 

 Uomo," 1 92 1. By his death modern anthropology 

 loses one of its most imposing and interesting figures. 



A. K. 



Current Topics 



Mme, Curie was elected a free associate member of 

 the French Academy on Tuesday — an event which 

 marks a red-letter day in the history of feminism, and 

 is a richly merited recognition of the memorable 

 achievements of a woman who, although not French 

 by birth, has conferred imperishable lustre on French 

 science. So signal a distinction — unique in the his- 

 tory of that particular section of the Academy of 

 which Mme. Curie becomes a member — is but the Just 

 reward for services rendered, not only to France, but 

 also to the whole world, and brings honour to the illus- 

 trious body that has bestowed it. It was significant of 

 the universal sentiment of approval with which Mme. 

 Curie's candidature was greeted that her several male 

 competitors should, ere after the other, have waived 

 their claims in her favour — a circumstance which adds 

 a measure of grace to her triumph. On behalf of 

 British workers in science — men and women — we beg 

 to tender our warm congratulations to the new 

 Academician, and trust she may long enjoy her well- 

 earned fauteuil among the Immortals. 



The address of the president of the Paris Academy 

 of Sciences, M. Georges Lemoine, published in 

 Comptes rendus of December 12 last, refers to 



and Events. 



matters which must be kept in mind in England also. 

 After pointing out the growing necessity for costly 

 apparatus and laboratories In the progress of physical 

 and natural science, M. Lemoine deplored the fact 

 that the most important factor of all, namely, the 

 man of science himself, is being more and more 

 tempted to forsake the domain of science and to 

 devote himself to industrial pursuits. Although the 

 general rise of prices may partly account for this 

 fact, it does not justify it. The supply of research 

 workers from the universities and colleges is insuffi- 

 cient for national needs. It is absolutely necessary 

 for the production of good work that the material 

 conditions of existence should be assured for a much 

 larger number of young men of science, at all events 

 for a period of a few years. But there must also be 

 an adequate number of posts, teaching and otherwise, 

 free from anxiety as to the supple' of daily needs and 

 affording time for individual work, to which the 

 young investigator can look foiward as a future 

 career. The address closes with an eloquent appeal 

 to young people not to place too high a value on 

 material wealth, but to remembei the incomparable 

 satisfaction which awaits the discoverer of new know- 

 ledge. 



NO. 2728, VOL. 109] 



