60 



♦ KNOVV^LEDGE ♦ 



[January 2, 1888. 



I could cite, \vitli names and dates in full and ample 

 documentary evidence, a case -n-liich for a while created a 

 good deal of excitement in the old country — where the sug- 

 gestion was definitely made to Government that, because X 

 had made several clever observations and a few intei-esting 

 discoveries, and because X's name had tlius (most men 

 scarcely knew Y) become widely known, he should have not 

 only a new observatory but a uew kind of observatory made 

 for him, whence he should make more observations, for 

 only 2,000/. (say 10,000 dols.) per annum. It was made 

 clear to those who for a while were rather pleased with the 

 thought, that if X were really zealous for astronomy, the 

 mere command of a telescope of greatly increased power 

 would be felt by him to be an ample reward for past work, 

 or that at least he would seek only for the means of sup- 

 porting himself in comfort, not to be paid a lavish salary 

 for a part only of his time. So — 



The scheme fell through, 

 It would not do. 



But thoughtful men noted the danger then escaped ; and 

 in England, at any rate, they will in future think twice 

 before they plan new observatories and provide new salai'ies 

 in pursuance even of the most plausible schemes for what 

 has been pleasantly called the " endowment of research." 



It is unfortunate that the question of making and using 

 large telescopes cannot be readily dealt with without the 

 introduction of questions so sordid (for though there is 

 nothing sordid about self-maintenance — while the mainte- 

 nance of family Ls a sacred duty — jobbery is always sordid) ; 

 but the fact remains. Those who wish to see great observa- 

 tories and fine telescopes doing the work of which they are 

 capable, have generously, though somewhat thoughtlessly, 

 concluded that the best way is to offer veiy high remunera- 

 tion in order that the services of the best men may be 

 secured. Unfortunately such generosity is apt to defeat its 

 own ends. The men who jump at such offers are not apt to 

 be the men most anxious to advance the cause of science. 



How would it be if a course the reverse of this were 

 adopted ? if instead of saying, " We will offer such and such 

 advantages, and salaries so high, that we may be sure of 

 securing the services of the best astronomers," those who 

 generously provide means for erecting great observatoi-ies 

 were to say, " We are sure to (jet the services of earnest and 

 zealous astronomers if we offer all that is wanted in the way 

 of scientific apjiliances — and notliimj more" 1 



Apropos of Mr. Lockyer's latest novelty, his " Preliminary 

 Note on the Spectra of Meteorites" summarised (!) in five 

 columns of the Times of November 18, and made the sub- 

 ject of a good advertising leader in the same issue, we must 

 express our surprise at the absence of any reference to the 

 remarkable phenomenon reported from Clayton (Ga.) in the 

 shape of an aerolite which fell there, and on the polished 

 surface of which was a deeply graven circle, within which 

 was a four-pointed star, a representation of a bird-re]itile, 

 resembling in a measure the extinct archseopteryx, and a 

 great number of smaller figures resembling those used in 

 modern shorthand I An analysis of a fragment reveals — 

 at least, so " H. Eandolph Stevens, analytical chemist," 

 tells us — the presence of a " new element." We can readily 

 believe this. There must be many " new elements " in the 

 matter, and we await with interest the promi-ied ofScial 

 report, which will probably be drawn up by Captain Law- 

 son, the author of " Wanderings in New Guinea," and his 

 friend, a descendant of Baron Munchausen. Really, INIr. 

 Lockyer must look to his laurels. 



ROYAL VICTORIA HALL. 



{To the Editor q/" Knowledge.) 

 TIE Tuesday Popular Lectures for the last 

 four weeks have presented much variety in 

 their subjects. First, Sir John Lubbock 

 gave his hearers an amusing collection of 

 the oddities of savage life. This was fol- 

 lowed by a mountaineering excursion to 

 Switzerland and the Caucasus, under the 

 guidance of Mr. Donkin, hon. sec. of the 

 Alpine Club. We say advisedly an excursion, for the 

 splendid photographs did all that was possible to bring snow 

 peaks and glaciers into the presence of Londoners who could 

 not go in search of them. Then Professor Boyd Dawkins 

 told the ever-marvellous story of our coalfields, and finally 

 Dr. W. D. Halliburton gave a lectm-e on "The Eye and 

 How we See." 



He gave a very clear and well-illusti-ated account of the 

 structure of the eye, then explained so much of refraction 

 as was necessary to understand the action of lenses, and the 

 passage of the rays of light to the retina. He alluded to 

 the long-standing puzzle of upright vision, and remarked 

 that there is some reason to think that we see in virtue of 

 a temporar)' photograph on the " visual purple," which is 

 for the time being bleached by light. If a frog ^the animal in 

 which this visual purple is most developed) is decapitated in 

 front of a window, a white inverted image of the window 

 v.'ill be found on the visual purple of his retina. Passing on 

 to defects of vision. Dr. Halliburton explained the causes 

 of long and short sight, and the action of the appropriate 

 spectacles, and insisted on the importance of attending to 

 inflammation of the eyelids in babies, lest opacity of the 

 cornea should result — the most frequent cause of blindness. 

 Finally, he spoke of so-called colour-blindness, or the in- 

 ability to distinguish between colours, especially red and 

 green, which proves on investigation to be so common that 

 it is a serious source of danger at sea and on the railway. 

 Possibly many unexplained collisions ma\' be due to mis- 

 reading of signals on this account. One narrow escape is 

 known to have taken place. Two vessels were nearing each 

 other at night, with the usual lights displayed. But it 

 happened that on board one of them both mate and steers- 

 man were colour-blind, and a collision must have tiiken 

 place had not the captain happily overheard the order given, 

 rushed on deck, and, knocking down the man at the wheel, 

 altered the ship's cour.se just in time. 



The lectures will be resumed, after the Christmas enter- 

 tainment, on January 10, when Mr. Stradling has promised 

 a lecture on " The Great Sea Serpent," illustrated by living 

 reptiles. He will be followed on successive Tuesdays by 

 INIr. Rudler (president of the Geologists' Association) on 

 " Caves and Cave Men " ; Professor Bonney on " Early 

 Modes of Burial in Bretagne " ; and Professor Ramsay on 

 " Early and Later Alphabets." 



C. A. Maetineau. 

 1 Clifton Place, Sussex Square, W. 



Causes of Idiocy. — Dr. T. Langdon Down, inquiring into the 

 causes of idiocy, has found that intemperance of parents is one of 

 the most considerable factors in producing the affection. His view 

 is confirmed by some French and German investigators, one of 

 whom, Dr. Delasiauve, has said that in the village of Careme, whose 

 riches were in its vineyards, ten years' comparative sobriet}-, en- 

 forced by vine disease, had a sensible effect in diminishing the 

 cases of idiocy. Nervous constitution and consumption exercise 

 important influence. Of the professions, lawyers furnish the 

 smallest proportion of idiots, while they are credited with the pro- 

 creation of a relatively very large number of men of eminence. 

 AV'ith the clergj- these proportions are more than reversed. The 

 infiuence of consanguineous marriage, per se, is insignificant, if 

 it crisis. 



