A PLEA FOR PURE SCIENCE 597 



approach to an explanation of the phenomenon of electricity? Light is 

 an undulatory motion,, and yet do we know what it is that undulates? 

 Heat is motion, yet do we know what it is that moves? Ordinary matter 

 is a common substance, and yet who shall fathom the mystery of its 

 internal constitution? 



There is room for all in the work, and the race has but commenced. 

 The problems are not to be solved in a moment, but need the best work 

 of the best minds, for an indefinite time. 



Shall our country be contented to stand by, while other countries lead 

 in the race? Shall we always grovel in the dust, and pick up the crumbs 

 which fall from the rich man's table, considering ourselves richer than 

 he because we have more crumbs, while we forget that he has the cake, 

 which is the source of all crumbs? Shall we be swine, to whom the 

 corn and husks are of more value than the pearls? If I read aright the 

 signs of the times, I think we shall not always be contented with our 

 inferior position. From looking down we have almost become blind, 

 but may recover. In a new country, the necessities of life must be 

 attended to first. The curse of Adam is upon us all, and we must earn 

 our bread. 



But it is the mission of applied science to render this easier for the 

 whole world. There is a story which I once read, which will illustrate 

 the true position of applied science in the world. A boy, more fond 

 of reading than of work, was employed, in the early days of the steam- 

 engine, to turn the valve at every stroke. Necessity was the mother of 

 invention in his case: his reading was disturbed by his work, and he 

 soon discovered that he might become free from his work by so tying 

 the valve to some movable portion of the engine, as to make it move its 

 own valve. So I consider that the true pursuit of mankind is intellec- 

 tual. The scientific study of nature in all its branches, of mathematics, 

 of mankind in its past and present, the pursuit of art, and the cultiva- 

 tion of all that is great and noble in the world, these are the highest 

 occupation of mankind. Commerce, the applications of science, the 

 accumulation of wealth, are necessities which are a curse to those with 

 high ideals, but a blessing to that portion of the world which has neither 

 the ability nor the taste for higher pursuits. 



As the applications of science multiply, living becomes easier, the 

 wealth necessary for the purchase of apparatus can be obtained, and 

 the pursuit of other things besides the necessities of life becomes 

 possible. 



But the moral qualities must also be cultivated in proportion to the 



