64 BIOLOGY AND THE STATE II 



science to which Section D is dedicated — namely, 

 Biology. 



I am aware that it is usual for those who speak of 

 men of science and their pursuits to ignore altogether 

 such sordid topics as the one which I have chosen to 

 bring forward. A certain pride on the one hand, and 

 a willing acquiescence on the other hand, usually pre- 

 vent those who are professionally concerned with 

 scientific pursuits from exposing to the public the 

 pecuniary destitution and the consequent crippling 

 and languor of scientific research in this country. 

 Those Englishmen who take an interest in the progress 

 of science are apt to suppose that, in some way which 

 they have never clearly understood, the pursuit of 

 scientific truth is not only its own reward, but also a 

 sufiicient source of food, drink, and clothing. Whilst 

 they are interested and amused by the remarkable 

 discoveries of scientific men, they are astonished when- 

 ever a ]3roposal is mentioned to assign salaries to a 

 few such persons sufiicient to enable them to live 

 decently while devoting their time and strength to 

 investigation. The public are becoming more and 

 more anxious to have the opinion or re23ort of scientific 

 men upon matters of commercial importance, or in 

 relation to the public health ; and yet in ninety-nine 

 cases out of a hundred they expect to have that 

 opinion for the asking, although accustomed to ]3ay 

 other professional men handsomely for similar service. 

 There is, it appears, in the public mind a vague belief 

 that men who occupy their time with the endeavour 

 to add to knowledge in this or that branch of science 



