The Man and His Work. 383 



original discussion, showing the need for wider and later 

 training in science, and protesting against the excess of 

 time and energy that is spent in classical education where 

 it is merely the following of an old tradition. 



As a crown to all this useful work Mr. Youmans estab- 

 lished, in 1872, The Popular Science Monthly, which has 

 unquestionably been of high educational value to the 

 general public. It was not the aim of this magazine to 

 give an account of every theory expounded, every fact 

 observed, every discovery made from year to year, whether 

 significant or insignificant. The mind of the people is not 

 educated by dumping a great, unshapely mass of facts into 

 it. It needs to be stimulated rather than crammed. Edu- 

 cation in science should lead one to tliink for one's self. 

 The scientific magazine, therefore, should present articles 

 from all quarters that deal with the essential conceptions of 

 science or discuss problems of real theoretical or practical 

 interest, no matter whether every particular asteroid or the 

 last new species of barnacle receives full attention or not. 

 The Popular Science Monthly has now been with us 

 eighteen years ; its character has always been of the 

 highest, and it must have exerted an excellent influence not 

 only as a diffuser of valuable knowledge, but in training 

 its readers to scientific habits of tliought in so far as mere 

 reading can contribute to such a result. 



In concluding our survey of this useful and noble life, 

 what impresses us most, I think, is the broad, democratic 

 spirit and the absolute unselfishness which it reveals at 

 every moment and in every act. To Edward Youmans the 

 imperative need for educating the great mass of the people 

 so as to use their mental powers to the best advantage 

 came home as a living, ever-present fact. He saw all that 

 it meant and means in the raising of mankind to a higher 

 level of thought and action than that upon which they now 

 live. To this end he consecrated himself with unalloyed 

 devotion ; and we who mourn his loss look back upon his 

 noble career with a sense of victory, knowing how the 

 good that such a man does lives after him and can never 

 die. 



