OcrToBER 26, 1916] 
the research was carried out with the object of 
finding how best to anneal blocks of optical glass, 
the apparatus is available for testing any glass, 
chemical or otherwise, and Messrs. Hilger, having 
_the apparatus set up in their laboratory, are pre- 
pared to test specimens of glass for the trade, 
and thus provide the valuable information which 
they are able so easily to obtain. , 
Cc. V. Boys. 
UNIVERSITY AND HIGHER TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION IN- FRANCE. 
‘Bae of the principal articles in the Revue 
générale des Sciences for June 30 is that 
by Prof. Paul Janet, of the Sorbonne, director of 
the Higher School of Electricity, concerning the 
v6le of the universities in higher technical instruc- 
tion, especially in relation to the Bill before the 
French Senate, at the instance of M. le Goy, to 
sanction the establishment of faculties of applied 
science in the universities. The proposed measure 
is exciting considerable interest, not only amongst 
the learned bodies in France, but also amongst 
those engaged in scientific industries. The ques- 
tion has assumed a deeper interest in view of the 
problems raised by the war and of the position 
and means of development at its close of the 
national industries, especially those closely de- 
pendent upon chemical and electrical science. 
Incidentally the question raised by M. le Goy 
in his project embraces other deep considerations 
relating to economic problems, including the right 
direction and utilisation of capital, the question 
of tariffs and raw materials, a closer union of 
capital and labour, and especially the creation of 
a better educated industrial personnel in the scien- | 
tific control and administration of industry, to- 
gether with measures for the amelioration of in- 
dustrial conditions. It is urged with considerable 
force that there is need of. a much closer undeér- | 
standing between men devoted to pure science and 
those engaged in the higher technical industries. 
The former are often ignorant of the difficulties 
which beset the engineer and manufacturer, de- 
spite the systematic methods he employs in the 
actual production of commodities; whilst the 
latter, resenting the accusation that they lack all 
scientific spirit, do not hesitate to apply derisively 
the epithet “Sorbonnique” to the science which 
is incontinently thrust upon them. 
Only when this antagonism is entirely removed 
by a closer sympathy, understanding, and appre- 
ciation, on the one hand, of the potentialities of 
pure science, and on the other of the difficulties 
which beset its translation into terms of produc- 
tion, can there come that union of effort upon which 
the successful development of industry depends. 
In the case of the electrical industry it is freely ad- 
mitted by all concerned that it finds its solid base in | 
electrical science; nor is it now possible to pre- 
tend that any man can hope to become a com- 
petent engineer whose technical skill is not 
founded upon a sound training in science. 
NO. 2452, VOL. 98] 
NATURE 
{51 
The article goes on to consider the existing 
resources for the training of the expert engineer, - 
and passes in rapid review the faculties of science 
existing in the universities of France and their 
competence to train the future technologist; the 
technical institutes, such as the Chemical Institute 
at Nancy, founded in 1890, and the Electro- 
Technical Institute at Grenoble, founded in 1892; 
the Ecole Polytechnique and the Central School of 
Arts and Manufactures at Paris, and other special 
schools in France. An unfavourable view is 
taken, however, as to the competence of the facul- 
ties of science, which have never shown any ap- 
preciation of the needs of industry, adequately to 
train the men, who in fact do not really seek 
them, destined for industrial pursuits. A firm 
distinction is drawn between the ideals and aims 
of the university and the functions of the schools 
of practical science. The former need for their 
realisation absolute freedom and long: leisure, 
since their purpose is the exploration and dis- 
covery of natural laws, the attainment of exact 
knowledge as the grand end of their existence, 
and the moral rather than the material progress 
of humanity. Research is with them the end, and 
teaching only the means. The latter, to achieve 
their purpose, require direct contact with indus- 
trial problems, and the due and serious employ- 
ment of the time of their students, with strict 
discipline and method and supervised work. 
In order to bring the universities into closer 
touch with industry, it is suggested that they 
should, with the collaboration of practical men, 
establish scientific institutes preparatory to in- 
dustry. It is further proposed to found a very 
| few higher technical schools for more advanced 
'-industrial training and research, established and 
controlled directly by men eminent in industry, yet 
aided by the State and directly linked with the 
Ministry of Public Instruction. 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHERS. 
PUNCH ” of September 27, under the title of 
“Public Schools,” prints a poem of which 
the last two verses are as follows :— 
Spite of the anti-classicists’ arraigning, 
Spite of the ink so petulantly spilt, 
Not by exact laboratory training, 
Not by the test-tube character is built. 
Only in fields of emulous endeavour, 
Fired by the teaching of the famous dead, 
Public-school boys, who play the game for ever, 
Grow into leaders and inspire the led. 
Puspiic ScHoots: AN ANSWER. 
Dear Punch, your poet praises public schools, 
Not well, nor wisely, nor by half enough. 
Their modern Army Classes, “mostly fools,’ 
Have shed his “grand old fortifying ’”’ stuff. 
Their “labs,” which he accentuates so oddly, 
| Seem just as formative, and just as godly. 
