June 8, 19 16] 



NATURE 



307 



taught in our public schools far more thoroughly than 

 is done at present. 



We wish to point out that the classical training in 

 public schools is for the average boy a deplorable 

 waste of most valuable time, and though a small 

 minority doubtless derive advantages from the study 

 of the classics, yet we deprecate most strongly the 

 amount of time spent on them, and the prevalent 

 specialisation in them on antiquated lines, with an 

 adherence to conditions that no longer exist,, while 

 real essentials for our national success are dangerously 

 neglected. As it is, the public-school boy, who is doing 

 so splendidly, both as a man and a soldier, in the 

 great ordeal through which we are passing, suffers 

 a severe and unnecessary handicap, both in the mili- 

 tary and commercial professions, compared with our 

 present enemies and permanent trade competitors. 



It is intended to form a deputation to approach the 

 Conference of Headmasters, to ensure that our wishes 

 may be carried out. Kindly state if you are in sym- 

 pathy with this letter, and if you approve of such 

 deputation. This letter has been sent to the Times 

 and the parents of boys at one of the leading public 

 schools, the headmaster of which is in favour of 

 receiving the deputation. 



AvEBURY. Arthur Leetham. 



Desborough. J. E. Thorn YCROFT. 



Claud J. Hamilton. Charles Walpole. 



Jn. Jellicoe, Admiral. Philip H. Waterlow. 



NOTES. 



The tragic news that Lord Kitchener, the Secretary 

 of State for War, had been drowned off the Orkneys, 

 in the sinking, either by a mine or torpedo, of the 

 cruiser Ha^npshire, in which he was travelling with 

 a party on a special mission to the Emperor of 

 Russia, was received by the nation on Tuesday with 

 deep emotion. Lord Kitchener was born on June 24, 

 1850, entered the Royal Military Academy at Wool- 

 wich in 1868, and obtained a commission in the Royal 

 Engineers in 1871. In the early years of his professional 

 career he did notable surveying work for the Pales- 

 tine Exploration Fund. He was engaged from 1874 to 

 1878 in mapping 1600 square miles of Judah and 

 Philistia, and in surveying part of western Palestine. 

 Later, he did similar work for the construction of a 

 map of Cyprus, and also took part in the survey of 

 the Sinai Peninsula. In all the offices occupied by 

 Lord Kitchener, and enterprises undertaken by him, 

 he was strong with the strength of organised know- 

 ledge; and that was the secret of his success. While 

 British Agent and Consul-General in Egypt, a post 

 to which he was appointed in 1911, he had the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture transformed into a Ministry, and 

 promoted many movements to improve the agricultural 

 position of the country. He was also chiefly respon- 

 sible for the establishment of the fine Gordon Memo- 

 fial College at Khartum. His life was devoted to the 

 service of the State, and in that service it has been 

 lost at a time when the nation can ill afford to be 

 deprived of genius for organised administration in 

 every department. Two members of Lord Kitchener's 

 party, who were lost with him, were Sir H. F. Donald- 

 son and Mr. L. S. Robertson. Sir Frederick Donald- 

 son was formerly Chief Superintendent of the Royal 

 Ordnance Factories, and resigned that post in Sep- 

 tember last to become chief technical adviser to the 

 Ministry of Munitions. He was president of the Insti- 

 tution of Mechanical Engineers in 1913. Mr. Leslie S. 

 Robertson, assistant to the director of production in 

 the Ministry of Munitions, was secretary of the 

 Engineering Standards Committee. 



The list of honours conferred in celebration of the 

 King's birthday includes five new peerages, seven Priv}- 



NO. 2432, VOL. 97] 



Councillorships, twelve baronetcies, thirty-one knight- 

 hoods, and a number of other promotions and appoint- 

 ments. Arnong the names of men either distinguished 

 by their scientific work or associated closely with it, 

 we notice the following : — Knights : Dr. G. T. Beilby, 

 F.R.S. ; Dr. M. A. Ruffer, C.M.G., formerly pro- 

 fessor of bacteriology at Cairo Medical School ; Dr. 

 J. J. H. Teall, F.R.S. , late director of the Geological 

 Survey of Great Britain ; Mr. R. F. Stupart, director 

 of the Meteorological Service of Canada; and Dr. N. 

 Tirard, medical editor of the "British Pharmacopoeia" 

 (1914), and for twenty years' secretary of the Pharma- 

 ceutical Committee of the General Medical Council. 

 K.C.M.G. : Dr. W. Baldwin Spencer, C.M.G., F.R.S., 

 professor of biology in the University of Melbourne. 

 Privy Councillor : Dr. Christopher Addison, Parlia- 

 mentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, and 

 late professor of anatomy in the Universitv of Shef- 

 field. K.C.B. : Mr. R. H. Rew, C.B., assistant secre- 

 tary. Board of Agriculture. C.B. : Col. C. F. Close, 

 Director-General, Ordnance Survey ; Col. A. P. Blen- 

 kinsop. Assistant Director-General, Army Medical 

 Service ; Major P. S. Lelean, assistant professor. 

 Royal Army Medical College; Col. C. E. Nuthall, 

 Deputy Director-General, Army Veterinary Service. 

 M.V.O. : Dr. N. D. Bardswell, medical superintendent. 

 King Edward VII. 's Sanatorium, Midhurst, Sussex; 

 Dr. F. S. Hewett, Surgeon Apothecary to his Majesty 

 the King. Companion of the Imperial Service Order : 

 Mr. Edmund Burke, professor of surgery, Punjab 

 Veterinary- College, Lahore, Punjab. CLE. : Mr. 

 C. S. Middlemiss, superintendent of the Geological 

 Survey of India. 



An important question was asked by Mr. W. H. 

 Cowan in the House of Commons on May 23, and an 

 unsatisfactory answer was given to it. Mr. Cowan 

 asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies "whether 

 his attention has been called to a communication 

 received by the Colonial Office from the British 

 Science Guild, dated March 12, 1915, representing that 

 it would be proper and advisable for all departments 

 of the Imperial Government, or of municipalities 

 within the Empire, to make it their invariable rule 

 and practice to pay scientific experts of all kinds for 

 assistance rendered by them, either at committees, or 

 by letter, or in any other way, such payments to 

 include not only refunds for travelling expenses or 

 other out-of-pocket expenses or maintenance, but also 

 a proper fee for the professional assistance rendered; 

 and whether he will appoint a committee to consider 

 and report upon these proposals of the British Science 

 Guild with a view to an equitable settlement of the 

 matter." The answer of the Colonial Secretary was : — 

 " I have seen the communication in question, and, 

 so far as the Colonial Office is concerned, I agree 

 with my predecessor in thinking that there is no suffi- 

 cient ground for modifying existing arrangements. 

 The second part of the question does not, therefore, 

 arise." What we should like to knownow is why 

 the principle of gratuitous service is not applied to 

 legal as well as to scientific experts. The only reason 

 we can suggest is that men of science have been 

 willing to place their knowledge at the disposal of 

 Government departments without asking for fees, 

 whereas members of the legal and other professions 

 require payment for their opinions. The action of 

 the Government in making no provision for the pay- 

 ment of scientific men appointed to serve on com- 

 mittees, or otherwise called upon for advice, influ- 

 ences the attitude of municipal councils and other 

 public bodies throughout the country, and is thus 

 largely responsible for the common view that science 

 has no commercial value. What can be obtained for 



