A PLEA FOR PURE SCIENCE 605 



dishonored by being thrust down lower, yet these institutions have thrust 

 themselves into the highest seats, and cannot probably be dislodged. 



But would it not be possible so to change public opinion that no 

 college could be founded with a less endowment than say $1,000,000, 

 or no university with less than three or four times that amount. From 

 the report of the commissioner of education, I learn that such a thing 

 is taking place; that the tendency towards large institutions is increas- 

 ing, and that it is principally in the west and southwest that the multi- 

 plication of small institutions with big names is to be feared most, and 

 that the east is almost ready for the great coming university. 



The total wealth of the four hundred colleges and universities in 1880 

 was about $40,000,000 in buildings, and $43,000,000 in productive 

 i'unds. This would be sufficient for one great university of $10,000,000, 

 four of $5,000,000, and twenty-six colleges of $2,000,000 each. But 

 such an idea can of course never be carried out. Government appro- 

 priations are out of the question, because no political trickery must be 

 allowed around the ideal institution. 



In the year 1880 the private bequests to all schools and colleges 

 amounted to about $5,500,000; and, although there was one bequest of 

 $1,250,000, yet the amount does not appear to be phenomenal. It 

 would thus seem that the total amount was about five million dollars in 

 one year, of which more than half is given to so-called colleges and 

 universities. It would be very difficult to regulate these bequests so 

 that they might be concentrated sufficiently to produce an immediate 

 result. But the figures show that generosity is a prominent feature of 

 the American people, and that the needs of the country only have to 

 be appreciated to have the funds forthcoming. We must make the 

 need of research and of pure science felt in the country. "We must live 

 such lives of pure devotion to our science, that all shall see that we ask 

 for money, not that we may live in indolent ease at the expense of 

 charity, but that we may work for that which has advanced and will 

 advance the world more than any other subject, both intellectually and 

 physically. We must live such lives as to neutralize the influence of 

 those who in high places have degraded their profession, or have given 

 themselves over to ease, and do nothing for the science which they 

 represent. Let us do what we can with the present means at our dis- 

 posal. There is not one of us who is situated in the position best 

 adapted to bring out all his powers, and to allow him to do most for 

 his science. All have their difficulties, and I do not think that circum- 

 stances will ever radically change a man. If a man has the instinct of 



