608 HENRY A. EOWLAND 



One could not be certain of getting the proper man every time, but 

 the means of appointment should be most carefully studied so as to 

 secure a good average. There can be no doubt that the appointment 

 should rest with a scientific body capable of judging the highest work 

 of each candidate. 



Should any popular element enter, the person chosen would be of the 

 literary-scientific order, or the dabbler on the outskirts who presents his 

 small discoveries in the most theatrical manner. What is required is 

 a man of depth, who has such an insight into physical science that he 

 can tell when blows will best tell for its advancement. 



Such a grand laboratory as I describe does not exist in the world, at 

 present, for the study of physics. But no trouble has ever been found 

 in obtaining means to endow astronomical science. Everybody can 

 appreciate, to some extent, the value of an observatory; as astronomy 

 is the simplest of scientific subjects, and has very quickly reached a 

 position where elaborate instruments and costly computations are neces- 

 sary to further advance. The whole domain of physics is so wide that 

 workers have hitherto found enough to do. But it cannot always be 

 so, and the time has even now arrived when such a grand laboratory 

 should be founded. Shall our country take the lead in this matter, or 

 shall we wait for foreign countries to go before? They will be built in 

 the future, but when and how is the question. 



Several institutions are now putting up laboratories for physics. 

 They are mostly for teaching, and we can expect only a comparatively 

 small amount of work from most of them. But they show progress; 

 and, if the progress be as quick in this direction as in others, we should 

 be able to see a great change before the end of our lives. 



As stated before, men are influenced by the sympathy of those with 

 whom they come in contact. It is impossible to change public opinion 

 in our favor immediately; and, indeed, we must always seek to lead it, 

 and not be guided by it. For pure science is the pioneer who must not 

 hover about cities and civilized countries, but must strike into unknown 

 forests, and climb the hitherto inaccessible mountains which lead to 

 and command a view of the promised land, the land which science 

 promises us in the future; which shall not only flow with milk and 

 honey, but shall give us a better and more glorious idea of this wonder- 

 ful universe. We must create a public opinion in our favor, but it need 

 not at first be the general public. We must be contented to stand aside, 

 and see the honors of the world for a time given to our inferiors; and 



