IN THE LAST HALF-CENTURY. 21 



pher, sometimes intentionally, much more 

 often unintentionally, lights upon some- 

 thing which proves to be of practical 

 value. Great is the rejoicing of those 

 who are benefited thereby ; and, for the 

 moment, science is the Diana of all the 

 craftsmen. But, even while the cries of 

 jubilation resound and this floatsam and 

 jetsam of the tide of investigation is be- 

 ing turned into the wages of workmen and 

 the wealth of capitalists, the crest of the 

 wave of scientific investigation is far away 

 on its course over the illimitable ocean of 

 the unknown. 



Far be it from me to depreciate the 

 value of the gifts of science to practical 

 life, or to cast a doubt upon the propriety 

 of the course of action of those who follow 

 science in the hope of finding wealth along- 

 side truth, or even wealth alone. Such a 

 profession is as respectable as any other. 

 And quite as little do I desire to ignore it is, in 



.„.-,, i its turn, 



the fact that, if industry owes a heavy assisted 



