FURTHER PHYSICAL RESEARCH 69 



charge of Physical Departments with Laboratories in 

 different colleges. His efforts had not altogether been 

 in vain. 



Bose's attitude of detachment appeared quixotic 

 and unpractical to many, as other resolves had done 

 previously. Though he seems never to have evaded any 

 fight for principles, he was the more indifferent to personal 

 advantage. He answered the criticisms of his friends by 

 saying that he had long ago made up his mind to choose 

 not the easier but the more difficult path ; that appeared 

 to him the true scope for manhood. 



But, although abandoning the advantage derived from 

 general recognition of his work towards securing facilities 

 for his own research, he continued his dream of securing 

 these for his successors ; and thenceforth was more resolved 

 than ever to establish a Research Institute, as far as might 

 be through his own savings and efforts. Again he and his 

 wife curtailed their expenses, and religiously put aside a 

 portion of pay and other earnings, from University examina- 

 tions and from the proceeds of books and lectures. These 

 he invested in securities which fortunately for him trebled 

 in value after twenty years. A windfall also came, and in 

 an unexpected way. By seniority, and by the distinction 

 of his service, the highest appointment in the Educational 

 Service, the Directorship of Public Instruction, had come 

 within his reach. But he preferred to remain at the 

 Presidency College as a Professor of Science. Here too 

 seniority entitled him to the highest grade, with correspond- 

 ing rise of pay. Bose, with customary indifference, had never 

 consulted the Civil List. Had he done so, he would have 

 found that his promotion to the top of the Service had been 

 long overdue. For their own reasons the Department had 

 not informed the Government about this promotion : only 

 on the eve of his retirement the claim of a junior officer was 

 brought to the notice of the Government, which then 

 inquired why the question of the prior claims of Bose had 

 not been reported. As no satisfactory explanation was 



