ELECTRICAL CONFERENCE AT PHILADELPHIA 621 



was right, but we cannot for a moment suppose that he foresaw, except 

 dimly, any so-called practical advantages from his discoveries. A thou- 

 sand times no! He preferred his geometrical labors because of a subtle 

 quality of his mind, an instinct toward that which was highest and 

 noblest and a faith that the pursuit of what is noble is the surest road 

 to the final happiness of the individual and of the world. Our highest 

 moral qualities are of this nature, and we despise as the lowest of the 

 low one who is honest because "honesty is the best policy," but esteem 

 him whose instincts lead him to honesty whatever the consequences. 



So we reverence the noble and lofty spirit of Archimedes, and yet we 

 do not at the present day quite agree with his estimate of the relative 

 value of his works. His military inventions were far from worthy of 

 being despised, even though the only reason were that they gave the 

 world three more years of Archimedes' life. The world is not formed 

 of disembodied spirits, but of men, in whom there is a wonderful com- 

 bination of mind and matter, and a sound mind in a sound body is the 

 highest type of manhood. But we also know that the mind is hampered 

 by many considerations connected with the body. Archimedes recog- 

 nized this, and his noble spirit revolted at it. But to-day we see that 

 no progress can come from this method of treatment; the body still re- 

 mains, however much we may despise it, and the buzzing of a fly can 

 disturb the most profound thought of the philosopher. 



We now study the laws of nature and seek thus to assist our bodies 

 in obeying the thoughts of our minds. Our railroads carry us hither 

 and thither on the earth with somewhat the facility of spirits, and our 

 thoughts pass with almost the speed of light to the uttermost portion 

 of the earth. The steam engine does our work, and labor-saving ma- 

 chinery takes the place of our hands. With a minimum amount of labor 

 we can to-day possess luxuries unknown even to kings in ancient times, 

 and our minds are free to study the order of nature or engage in any 

 intellectual pursuit we may desire. Instead of being the slaves of na- 

 ture and groveling in the dust before her to find the food which we 

 crave, we have now assumed the command, and find her a willing servant 

 to those who know her language. 



But here we reach the keystone of the problem. To command her we 

 must know her language. Knowledge, then, is the price of her service, 

 and she obeys not the ignorant or degraded, but grinds them into dust 

 beneath her heel. 



Knowledge, then, is power, and it is more than power; it is that 

 which the intellect most craves and is the object of many of our highest 



