NATIONAL LIFE 



FROM THE STANDPOINT OF 

 SCIENCE 



IN the fore-part of this year,* when I was 

 asked to give a lecture in Newcastle, the 

 minds of men were not inclined to be in- 

 terested in the fascinating problems of pure 

 science. The spirits of one and all, what- 

 ever their political party or their opinions on 

 the rights or wrongs of British action in 

 South Africa might be, were depressed in a 

 manner probably never before experienced 

 by those of our countrymen now living. We 

 can, in the light of what has happened since, 

 afford, perhaps, to admit the truth now. We 

 had been defeated, I may even venture to 



* 1900. 

 ii 



