AMERICA'S INFERIOR POSITION 



have a complete theory of solutions, we shall have 

 a complete theory of life. We may be able to 

 answer without embarrassment the old, old ques- 

 tion, What is life? 



The astonishing development of this province of 

 knowledge within a space of time so brief, a de- 

 velopment thoroughly international in character, is 

 a striking example of that admirable organization 

 of modern society which permits a degree of co- 

 operation and an ease of communication, coupled 

 with the stimulus of friendly rivalry, which would 

 have been impossible a few centuries ago. No- 

 where is this splendid solidarity, this intelligent 

 "community of interest," so much in evidence as 

 in this especial field; nowhere is the remarkable 

 isolation of the United States from the rest of the 

 scientific world more clearly illustrated. A list 

 which would include the names of even the lesser 

 builders of this imposing fabric would hardly in- 

 clude that of one American. 



It would be easy to multiply examples. Here 

 is the far-reaching theory of the ether, explaining, 

 or at least offering, the only existing explanation 

 of the phenomena of light, heat, electricity, and 

 magnetism, of the Marconi telegraph and X-ray 

 photography. Whether it stand, or whether a 

 simpler and better theory shall replace it later, it 

 is assuredly the most brilliant example we possess 



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