1885.] 



MICKOSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



19 



are too readily confirmed in their 

 already firmly rooted belief that Amer- 

 icans are still almost barbarians. 



When we read some of these things, 

 and consider that the papers which 

 publish them apparently receive the 

 support of American readers, we are 

 prone to think there must be a de- 

 graded taste that tolerates them ; but 

 reason, coming to our aid, dispels such 

 an un)ust conclusion, for it becomes 

 evident that such papers cannot pos- 

 sibly be conducted by persons imbued 

 with the spirit of true science, and 

 therefore cannot hope to be sustained 

 by scientific readers, but must rely 

 almost entirely upon advertising pa- 

 tronage for support. 



These thoughts have been called 

 forth by reading an article by Prof. 

 E. L. Youmans, in Popular Science 

 Monthly, in which the spirit of pure 

 science, which should, and, indeed, 

 must actuate every earnest student in 

 the pursuit of truth, is expressed. Let 

 us draw a contrast in our minds be- 

 tween the petty jealousies, the mean 

 subterfuges, and the bold pretensions 

 which the critical reader may find 

 under the guise of science, whether 

 among professors, writers, or editors, 

 and the thoughts expressed below, 

 how small and narrow is the mental 

 calibre of the one class, how broad 

 and pure and noble is the spirit of 

 science as thus expressed. Professor 

 Youmans says : — 



' The dominant ideas of the past 

 have been confining and restrictive. 

 National feelings are diverse and an- 

 tagonizing ; religions are hostile, and 

 politics local and exclusive ; but sci- 

 ence is as universal as Nature, its 

 devotees are one in spirit and in pur- 

 pose, and it is undoubtedly the su- 

 preme unifying element of the modern 

 social state. It studies phenomena of 

 every kind, and is equally at home in 

 every place. Its perpetual aim is the 

 dispassionate consideration of facts, 

 and the generalization of wider and 

 more comprehensive truths. Eschew- 

 ing all narrowness and prejudice, by 

 the very nature of its discipline it 



tends to break down factitious limita- 

 tions, it cultivates the spirit of large- 

 mindedness, and is the great teacher 

 or toleration, liberality, and catholi- 

 city. By leading to profounder agree- 

 ments, by awakening broader sympa- 

 thies, and making possible more har- 

 monious co-operations in the further 

 progress of civilization, the extension 

 of science is full of hopeful encour- 

 agement for the best interests of man- 

 kind. Under its influence men emerge 

 into the light of new intellectual rela- 

 tions, new opportunities, and new 

 responsibilities. The elevated senti- 

 ments by which men of science are 

 more and more animated were thus 

 eloquently expressed by one of the 

 distinguished presidents of the British 

 Association, Sir John Herschel. He 

 said : " Let selfish interests divide the 

 worldly, let jealousies torment the 

 envious ; we breathe a purer empy- 

 rean. The common pursuit of truth 

 is of itself a brotherhood. In these 

 meetings we have a source of delight 

 which draws us together, and inspires 

 us with a sense of unity. That as- 

 tronomers should congregate to talk 

 of the stars and planets ; chemists, of 

 atoms ; geologists, of strata, is natu- 

 ral enough ; but what is there, equally 

 per\^ading all, which causes their 

 hearts to burn within them for mu- 

 tual unbosoming.'' Surely the an- 

 swer of each and all — the chemist, 

 the astronomer, the physiologist, the 

 electrician, the biologist, the geolo- 

 gist — all with one accord, and each 

 in the language of his own science, 

 would answer, not only the wonderful 

 works of God, and the delight their 

 disclOvSure aftbrds, but the privilege 

 he feels to have aided in the disclo- 

 sure. We are further led to look on- 

 ward through the vista of time with 

 chastened assurance that Science has 

 still other and nobler work to do than 

 any she has yet attempted." ' 



NOTES. 



— There seems to be a considerable de- 

 mand for mounted specimens of properly 



