THE ADVANCE OF SCIENCE 151 



of the neglect of science and the questionable treatment 

 of scientific men by the administrative departments of 

 Government might with advantage be undertaken by a 

 committee appointed by our great scientific societies 

 for the purpose. 



At the same time public attention should be drawn in 

 general terms to the fact that science is not gaining 

 ' advancement ' in public and official consideration and 

 support. The reason is, I think, to be found in the defec- 

 tive education, both at school and university, of our 

 governing class, as well as in a racial dislike among all 

 classes to the establishment and support by public funds 

 of posts which the average man may not expect to succeed 

 by popular clamour or class privilege in gaining for him- 

 self posts which must be held by men of special training 

 and mental gifts. Whatever the reason for the neglect, 

 the only remedy which we can possibly apply is that of 

 improved education for the upper classes, and the con- 

 tinued effort to spread a knowledge of the results of 

 science and a love for it amongst all members of the com- 

 munity. If believers in science took this matter seriously 

 to heart they might do a great deal by insisting that their 

 sons, and their daughters too, should have reasonable 

 instruction in science both at school and college. They 

 could, by their own initiative and example, do a good deal 

 to put an end to the trifling with classical literature and 

 the absorption in athletics which is considered by too 

 many schoolmasters as that which the British parent de- 

 sires as the education of his children. 



Within the past year a letter has been published by a 

 well-known nobleman, who is one of the Trustees of the 

 British Museum, holding up to public condemnation the 

 method in which the system laid down by the officials of 

 the Treasury and sanctioned by successive Governments, 



