152 Life ami Letter* of Francis Galton 



examine those treatises now, see that it most certiiinly was', ll does not 

 seem to me therefore that mucii can he learnt from this section, except that a 

 good many scientists of that day had discarded the reHji;iou8 faith of their 

 youth, and more had lost all faith in any doy;uiatic theology. 



Galton's third chapter is entitled "The Origin of Taste for Science," and 

 here the bulk of the answere attrihuted the origin to inborn tendency. Out 

 of 91 available answera, 50 said the tiuste was innate, only 11 said it was 

 not innate and 24 were doubtful. On the other hand Galton does not dog- 

 matically assert that innate taste of .science is necessarily inherited. It is 

 conceivable that the innate taste for science may arise from a combination of 

 mental characters providetl by otherwise unlike stocks '. Whatever the origin 



"a special taste for science seems frequently to be so ingrained in the constitution of scientific 

 men, that it asserts itself throughout their whole existence." (p. 193.) 



Other factore — fortunate accident, indirect opportunities, professional 

 duties, encouragement of home or teacher, travel — are discussed by Cial ton, but 

 are found to be rather auxiliary than primary sources of a love of science. 



Of the advantages of travel there is a paraCTaph, which may be cited 

 because, to a certain extent, it is autobiographical: 



"Men are too apt to accept as an axiomatic law, not capable of further explanation, what- 

 ever thej' see recurring day after day without fail. So the dog in the yard I<x)ks on the daily 

 arrival of the postman, butcher and baker a-s so many elementJiry phenomena, not to Ikj Iwirkod 

 at or wondereti about. Travel in distant countries, by unsettling tliese qua-si-axiomatic ideas, 

 restores to the educjited man the fre.shnes-s of childhood in observing new things and seeking 

 reasons for all he sees. I believe that a hand.sonie endowment of travelling fellowships, 

 thoroughly well paid with extra allowance for any special work all<)tte<l to their holders, given 

 only to young men of high qualifications, and la.sting for at least five years, would be money well 

 bestowed in the furtherance of science*." (p. 219.) 



Pp. 222-34 are some of the most interesting in the book, nay among 

 the wisest that Galton ever wrote. They point out clearly some of our 

 national difficulties, and the way that some have now l)een .solved, and that 

 others still seek solution. One is tempted to cite more than one has space 

 for, especially when one remembers that the book can no longer be purchased! 



"If we take a general survey of our national st<K'k of capabilities and their produce, we see 

 that the larger part is directed to gain daily bread and nece».sary luxuries, and to keep the 



' Stokes stat«d that he had a strong religious bias and Huxley that he had a "profound 

 religious tendency capable of fanaticism." Neither would admit that these characteristics 

 interfered with their scientific work. Yet Stokes wrot<! his Burnett Lectures to demonstrate 

 the evidence of design in the l)eneficial effects of light and Huxley wasted precious days that 

 should have been given to science in pounding Gladstone and Semitic myths as to the creation! 



' The author may, perhaps, claim an innatt^ taste for science as he felt impelled to give up 

 a proftwsion to return to it; but ho knows of no imme<liate ancestor or collateral with any 

 scientific U'lit. On the other hand the names of some of his constituent stocks, Peiirson, IJeilby, 

 Wharton, are not unfamiliar in science and distant links might l)e made if better data for tosting 

 the origin of innato scientific taste were not so e«.sily acceKsii)le. 



' The Cambridge and Oxford prize-fellowships are used, but not enough used, for travel. 

 London is sadly wanting in anything of the kind, the only available travelling fellowships are 

 the Albert Kahn. Five years work abroad is probably too long for all but young men of fortune 

 or great posh. Tlie more mfKlest are apt to be forgotton after a five years' absence — a common 

 experience of young men who accept colonial or Indian scientific appointments! 



