294 GENERAL SCIENCE 



upon which the scientist must base his theories, and the 

 various other facts which business and professional men take 

 into consideration in formulating their procedure in the 

 affairs of life. It is as necessary to take them into account 

 in one's manner of living as it is for the scientist to take 

 account of the facts that affect his theories and his practice. 

 To ignore the realities of human existence, and to fail 

 to adjust conduct to them, is as if the scientist failed to make 

 his theories fit the facts to which they relate. 



There should be direct relationship between the training 

 of the laboratory in high school science, and a preparation 

 for those activities in which one may engage later in life. 

 This relationship can be wholly apart from any skill acquired 

 in handling apparatus and machines. In the affairs of life, 

 as in the laboratory and study room at school, the particular 

 difficulty or "problem" that demands attention at any time 

 requires ability to get the facts bearing upon it, and ability 

 to discriminate in the relative importance of these facts. 

 It is necessary to decide, too, the course to be pursued in 

 view of one's understanding of the facts so that labor of 

 hand and head shall count most. When any such plan of 

 action fails to give the results desired, then there must be 

 ability and willingness to review the whole situation, to 

 correct errors in fact and in judgment, and to undertake 

 anew the application of the changed plan. This in a simple 

 way is the procedure of the scientist in making advances in 

 learning. It is the course pursued by successful business 

 and professional men, and it is a course which begun in 

 school may be continued throughout life. It is to be remem- 

 bered that one's school days are but a beginning in becoming 

 educated. 



No acquaintanceship with books and their stores of human 

 learning is a substitute for industry. Health and efficiency at- 

 tend upon the combined exercise of body and brain. Habits 



