LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



numbers being now issued every other month. With 

 the third series, begun in 1871, it became a monthly. 

 The fourth series began in January, 1896, with Volume 

 151 of the entire series. 



" The scope of the Journal has been narrowed some- 

 what as the time has gone on. In its early years the ap- 

 plications of science to the arts were largely represented 

 in the subjects discussed in the papers ; later these took 

 a less prominent place and gradually the sphere was re- 

 stricted to pure science alone. In 1880 this change was 

 recognized by the omission of the words ' and Arts ' from 

 the title. 



' What the Journal has done for science during its 

 long life of nearly fourscore years, and to what extent it 

 has succeeded in placing before the scientific public the 

 results of the best work in science in this country, can be 

 most adequately estimated by referring to the 150 

 volumes bearing the name, on the shelves of the Univer- 

 sity Library. With the increase of the number of scien- 

 tific workers and the development of other centres of 

 intellectual activity, there has been naturally a tendency 

 to start other scientific journals, for the most part in 

 special lines, which now share with the A merican Journal 

 the privilege of publishing the results of American scien- 

 tific work. This has not, however, served to rob the 

 older periodical of the pre-eminent position it has so long 

 occupied. What the Journal has done and is doing for 

 the reputation and best interests of Yale may be readily 

 inferred without being specially enlarged upon. One re- 

 sult of its activity may be alluded to, that might otherwise 

 be overlooked, namely the part it has played in helping 

 on the development of the Yale Library. 



" Allusion has been made to the difficulties early found 

 in gaining for the Journal adequate pecuniary support, 

 and to the fact that these difficulties gradually disap- 

 peared as its age and reputation increased. It is still 

 true, however, as it has always been, that though able to 

 carry itself, it needs much more money with which to 

 meet its unusual expenses in the way of enlarging the 

 monthly numbers, and for work in the best and most 

 satisfactory manner. It is hoped that the time is not far 

 distant when it may have a fund to furnish a moderate 

 income for illustrations. 



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