60 SCIENCE AND THE PRESS 



and I remember that at one of the first lectures I gave in Leeds, 

 the Chairman said he did not think any man in the room would 

 live to see electricity become a general source of illumination. 

 In those days the majority of people felt no difficulty in 

 believing in spontaneous generation ; bacteriology was at its 

 birth, and antiseptic surgery was just beginning to command the 

 attention of the medical profession. We forget, I think, the 

 pace at which we are progressing, and the rapidity with which 

 the applications of science are transforming the conditions of life. 

 When we come to view the industries of the country we see 

 a like transformation. I cannot attempt to summarize the 

 changes that have taken place, but we all know that to-day the 

 word * manufacture ' is almost a misnomer. Hands, indeed, are 

 still necessary, but it is now the brain that tells. Our indus- 

 tries assume more and more the character of applied sciences, 

 and if they are to be conducted intelligently and to be pro- 

 gressive they must invest liberally in scientific brains. This is 

 a subject on which I have preached in season and out of season, 

 and occasionally I have got into trouble for it. People say it 

 does no good it merely irritates ; they are tired of this ever- 

 lasting talk about the Germans and their coal-tar colours. Is 

 not the Englishman as good a man as any other ? Has he not 

 risen to the summit of industrial and political eminence in 

 spite of his alleged neglect of science ? Are there not many 

 other things besides science which are indispensable for success 

 in manufacture certain deeply ingrained elemental qualities 

 in which the Englishman is supreme ? I give a ready affirmative 

 to all these questions, and yet and yet I do most firmly and 

 profoundly believe that our greatest material danger lies in the 

 neglect of science in relation to industry. This was eloquently 

 pleaded in a memorable letter by Professor Huxley many years 

 ago. Things have improved since then undoubtedly ; but that 

 there is still tremendous leeway to make up I venture to say 

 I am certain. I could enumerate to you, if it were permissible, 



