284 



NA TURE 



[January 22, 1903 



We must have observatories where accurate and continuous 

 observations are made. Our country is well situated to supple- 

 ment the work of Europe, and we hope it will never fail to add 

 its contribution to the annals of astronomy. American astron- 

 omers should keep pace in the improvements for increasing the 

 ease and accuracy of making observations. The spectroscope 

 has given a new element in the motions of the stars, not to 

 speak of the interesting physical results obtained by its use. 

 Photography will give great aid in determining the relative posi- 

 tions of the stars and in forming maps of the heavens. All new 

 methods, however, will need examination and criticism, since 

 they bring new sources of error. Fifty years ago, it was thought 

 the chronograph would increase very much the accuracy of right 

 ascensions. It has not done this directly to any great extent, 

 but it has increased the ease and rapidity of observing. We 

 must remember that astronomical results finally depend on 

 meridian observations, and that it is the duty of astronomers to 

 make these continuous from generation to generation. In this 

 way, we shall gain the powerful influence of time to help control 

 and solve our problems. There is one point where a reform may 

 be needed from the dead weight of the large and expanding 

 volumes sent forlh by observatories and scientific institutions. 

 The desire for publication is great, but the results should be well 

 discussed and arranged, so that the printing may be shortened. 

 Otherwise our publications may become burdensome, and when 

 they are piled up in libraries some future Caliph Omar may be 

 tempted to burn them. Even mathematics appears to labour 

 under a similar oppression, and much of its printed matter may 

 be destined to moulder to useless dust. 



In the not distant future, stellar astronomy will become a great 

 and interesting field of research. The data for the motions of 

 the stars are becoming better known, but these motions are slow, 

 and the astronomer of to-day looks with envy on the astronomer 

 of a thousand years hence, when time will have developed these 

 motions. Much may be done by the steady and careful work of 

 observation and discussion, and the accumulation of accurate 

 data. Here each one of us can add his mite. But the great steps 

 of progress in science have come from the efforts of individuals. 

 Schools and universities help forward knowledge by giving to 

 man)' students opportunities to learn the present conditions, and 

 from them some genius like Lagrange or Gauss may come forth 

 to solve hard questions and to break the paths for future progress. 

 This is about all the schools can do. We need a body of men 

 who can give their lives to quiet and continuous study. When 

 the young Laplace was helped to a position where he could de- 

 vote his life to research, D'Alembert did more for the progress 

 of astronomy than all the universities of Europe. 



One needs only to glance at history to see how useful astronomy 

 has been in the life of the world. It has wonderfully enlarged 

 the universe and widened the views of men. It shows how 

 law and order pervade the world in which we live ; and by the 

 knowledge it has disseminated and by its predictions it has 

 banished many superstitions and fears. The sciences will con- 

 tinue to grow, and they will exert the same influence. The 

 erroneous and dogmatic assertions of men will be pushed aside. 

 In our new country, the energies of the people are devoted chiefly 

 to commercial and political ends, but wealth is accumulating, 

 leisure and opportunity will come, and we may look forward to 

 a great development of scientific activity. We must be patient. 

 Men do not change much from generation to generation. 

 Nations that have spent centuries in robbery and pillage retain 

 their dispositions and make it necessary for other nations to 

 stand armed. No one knows when a specious plea for extend- 

 ing the area of civilisation may be put forth, or when some 

 fanatic may see the hand of God beckoning him to seize a 

 country. The progress of science and invention will render it 

 more difficult for such people to execute their designs. A century 

 hence it may be impossible for brutal power, however rich and 

 great, to destroy a resolute people. It is in this direction that 

 we may look for international harmony and peace, simply be- 

 cause science will make war too dangerous and too costly. 



The influence of the sciences in bringing men of different 

 nationalities into harmony is great. This is done largely by the 

 common languages that are formed in each science. In mathe- 

 matics, the language is so well formed and generally adopted 

 that mathematicians all over the world have no trouble in 

 understanding one another. It may be difficult to read Russian, 

 but everyone can read the formulas of Tchebitchef and 

 Lobaschewsky. In astronomy, the common language is nearly 

 as well established, so that there is little difficulty in under- 



standing the astronomy of different nations. A similar process 

 is going on in chemistry, botany and in the other sciences. 

 When men are striving for the discovery of truth in its various 

 manifestations, they learn that it is by correcting the mistakes of 

 preceding investigators that progress is made, and they have 

 charity lor criticism. Hence persecution for difference of 

 opinion becomes an absurdity. The labours of scientific men- 

 are forming a great body of doctrine that can be appealed to 

 with confidence in all countries. Such labours bring people 

 together, and tend to break down national barriers and restric- 

 tions. The scientific creed is constantly growing and expanding,, 

 and we have no fears, but rejoice at its growth. We need no 

 consistory of bishops, or synod of ministers, to tell us what to 

 believe. Everything is open to investigation and criticism. 



In our country we have one of the gteatest theatres for 

 national life that the world has ever seen. Stretching three 

 thousand miles from ocean to ocean, and covering the rich 

 valleys of the great rivers, we have a land of immense resources. 

 Here is a vast field for scientific work of various kinds. No 

 doubt the men of the future will be competent to solve the 

 problems that will arise. Let us hope that our national 

 character will be just and humane, and that we may depart 

 from the old custom of robbing and devouring weak peoples. 

 Anyone who saw the confusion and waste in this city in 1S62 

 might well have despaired of the Republic ; and he who saw 

 the armies of Grant and Sherman pass through the city in 1S65 

 felt that he need fear no foreign foe : neither French emperor, 

 nor English nobleman nor the sneers of Carlyle. To destroy a 

 democracy by external force, the blows must be quick and hard, 

 because its power of recuperation is great. The danger will 

 come from internal forces produced by false political and social 

 theories, since we offer such a great field for the action of char- 

 latans. Our schools and colleges send forth every year many 

 educated people, and it is sometimes disheartening to see 

 how little influence these people have in public life. Those 

 who are trained in the humanities and churches ought to be 

 humane in dealing with other people, ready to meet great 

 emergencies and powerful to control bad tendencies in national 

 affairs. But this is rarely the case. On the other hand, the most 

 unscrupulous apologists and persecutors have been educated 

 men, and the heroes of humanity have come from the common 

 people. This anomaly points to something wrong in the system 

 of education, which should disappear. The increase and 

 teaching of scientific ideas will be the best means of establishing 

 simple and natural rules of lite. Nature, and science her inter- 

 preter, teach us to be honest and true, and they lead us to the 

 Golden Rule. 



THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL 

 SCIENCE MASTERS. 



(~)N Saturday last, the Association of Public School Science 

 ^^ Masters held its annual meeting at the University of 

 London. Sir A. W. Rticker, the president, took the chair, 

 and in the morning the proceedings were of a business 

 character. Rules were revised, officers and committee elected 

 and reports read. It was decided that, in order to preserve the 

 original intentions of the society, its members should consist of 

 teachers of natural science in secondary schools and of not more 

 than twenty others interested in such teaching. It transpired 

 that the present membership is ninety-six and that the only 

 large public school still unrepresented is St. Paul's. 



The report of the subcommittee appointed to consider the 

 question of entrance scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge was 

 presented, and Mr. II. B. Baker announced that the suggestions 

 to be offered to the universities, by invitation at a very early 

 date, had been submitted to every member of the Association, 

 with the result that an objection had been raised by but one 

 member. 



Prof. Tilden was elected president for the year 1904, Mr. 

 C. E. Ashford was re-appointed secretary, while in order to 

 lessen his work a new office of treasurer was created and filled 

 by the election of Mr. J. Talbot, one of Mr. Ashford's colleagues, 

 who will be able to render him useful assistance. It wasarranged 

 that the members of committee should retire by rotation and are 

 not eligible to re-election until three years afterwards, this step 

 being taken in order that the smaller schools might be repre- 

 sented upon the committee. 



It will be remembered that the Association grew out of a 



NO. I 734, VOL. 67] 



