GERMAN SCIENCE 115 



German industry, taken as a whole, exhibits a vastly greater 

 and more effective application of science than our own. 



It will be obvious to you that my account of science in 

 Germany has been very partial and imperfect. The whole 

 subject is, of course, far too large for one man and one hour. 

 I have chosen to speak of the science with which I have some 

 acquaintance. But I believe I am warranted in saying of all 

 science, that there exists in Germany the same regard for it 

 as for chemistry. It is believed in for its own worth as 

 knowledge ; it gains the suffrages of the people and abounding 

 support from the State. It is regarded as the ally and not 

 the enemy of practice, and it is turned to practical account 

 zealously in every way for the furtherance of material well- 

 being. 



Things are by no means so in England. We have, as I 

 have said, no lack of scientific genius. We have, and have 

 had, great men who initiate, men whose discoveries mark 

 epochs in the progress of scientific knowledge, men often 

 more celebrated in Germany than they are here. Many of 

 the ideas for the application of science to industry have come 

 from Englishmen, many of the industrial applications have 

 begun here. But the belief in science either for its own value 

 or for its material usefulness is greatly lacking. 



Science in Britain derives splendid support from certain 

 units and sections of the manufacturing world, but, broadly 

 speaking, the manufacturing world is not behind it and does 

 not use it as it might. I dislike nothing more than from my 

 position inside a university to seem to 'speak disrespectfully 

 of our leaders of industry. It is apt to be resented and it may 

 do more harm than good, but it is sometimes a duty to be 

 disagreeable, and I feel I should be keeping something back 

 that you are entitled to hear if I did not tell you that it has 

 happened repeatedly to me in my life to see individual in- 

 dustrial undertakings languish and sink when they might 



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