% 
t Marcu 4, 1915] 

NATURE 5 

ta 
“neither contemptuous like Hegelianism nor de- 
_ graded to a servile co-ordinator as in the posi- 
_ tivism of Comte and Spencer, but is equal and 
_ friendly, bringing a new method of its own for 
the attainment of further truth. This intuitional 
method requires a great effort at the outset, he 
admits; for it involves a turning away from the 
intellectual methods of the last 2500 years. After 
reading this book of Mr. Carr’s and the whole of 
M. Bergson’s published writings, one reviewer 
at least feels that while M. Bergson is undoubt- 
edly trying to express what is very real and true 
to him—and doing it in beautiful language—the 
thing is difficult and almost impossible, because 
the philosophy consists of an attitude, so to speak 
—or of a vividness of personal experience, which 
is incommunicable. Mr. Carr denies that it 
mystical, and, taking some senses of that much- 
abused word, he is no doubt right; but it is mysti- 
_ cal in its anti-conceptualism, and is essentially 
allied to various Oriental systems. It is a graft- 
ing of East on West, including the excellences of 
both. Perhaps at bottom it is a release from old 
fetters rather than a new doctrine. A heterodoxy 
does its chief good not by bringing new truth, 
but by cancelling out old error, and allowing the 
mind to go forward unencumbered. J. A. H. 


is 

OUR BOOKSHELF. 
Panama, the Canal, the Country, and the People. 
By Arthur Bullard (Albert Edwards). Revised 
edition. Pp. xiv+6o1. (New York: The 
Macmillan Co.; London: Macmillan and Co., 
Ltd., 1914.) Price 8s. 6d. net. 
| 
| 
Mr. Buiiarp (Mr. Edwards of the first edition) 
has brought his sketch of Panama up-to-date by 
the addition of chapters describing the progress 
of the canal since 1911. The book consists 
chiefly of two parts, first a history of the State 
of Panama, and secondly a very pleasant descrip- 
tion of the life of the Americans during the last 
ten years in the huge construction camp on the 
canal line. This life was well worth description, 
being truly a remarkable phenomenon. In the 
midst of a tropical wilderness, far from their own 
country, and in a pestilential climate, a labour- 
camp of fifty thousand hands settled at once to 
an orderly and civilised life, and, under the pro- 
tection of a medical despotism, enjoyed on the 
whole excellent health. 
Mr. Bullard provides character sketches of the 
principal constructors—Colonel Goethals, Colonel 
Sibert, Doctor Gorgas, and the rest, including 
Mr. Comber, the dredging expert, who is respon- 
sible, under Colonel Goethals, for most of the 
work now going on. This consists in the re- 
moval of the material which comes into the 
Culebra cut from the breaking ground along a 
length of about two miles near the deepest part 
it in from 
of the excavation. Part of slides 
NO. 2366, VOL. 95] 


above, part of it squeezes up from below under 
pressure from the sides. It is this latter move- 
ment which is so disquieting. In one or two 
cases ships have gone aground before it was 
known that there had been an upheaval beneath 
the opaque and muddy waters of the canal. Some 
years may elapse before the Culebra cut is 
stable; meanwhile, the canal is used, though not 
without interruption, and the whole of the com- 
plicated lock machinery works without a hitch. 
MAG. 
Catalogue of Scientific Papers. Fourth Series. 
(1884-1900.) Compiled by the Royal Society 
of London. Vol. xiv. C—-Fittig. Pp. 1024. 
(Cambridge University Press, 1915.) Price 
2) OS eets 
THE first volume of the fourth series of the Royal 
Society’s Catalogue of Scientific Papers was 
noticed in the issue of NaTurE for August 20 last. 
It was pointed out on that occasion that this series 
comprises the titles of papers published or read 
during the period 1884-1900, and concludes the 
work undertaken by the Royal Society. The 
catalogue thus completed will contain titles of 
papers for the whole of the nineteenth century. 
It will be remembered that the continuation of 
the work is now undertaken by the authorities of 
the International Catalogue of Scientific Litera- 
ture. 
The present volume contains 24,994 entries of 
titles of papers by 4351 authors with the initial 
C, 17,665 entries by 3072 authors with the initial 
D, 7750 entries by 1368 authors with the initial E, 
and 6046 entries by 1230 authors under IF, as far 
as Fittig. The total for the first two volumes of 
the series is 108,775 entries by 18,950 authors. 
It is to be hoped that the series of volumes will 
be added to every reference library of importance 
throughout the world, so that the public-spirited 
conduct of the publishers, who have undertaken 
the complete risk of printing and publishing, may 
not result in financial loss. 
What do We Mean by Education? 
Welton. Pp. xii+257. (London: 
andmGos latdee mon5.))  bricerss. net. 
Pror. WELTON’s question has been heard in every 
direction since the war began; and perhaps the 
outstanding characteristic of the answers which 
have been offered is the almost complete disagree- 
ment among them. Most competent persons will 
agree with Prof. Welton that “an investigation 
into fundamental principles’ is necessary before 
a satisfactory reply to the question can be given. 
This book undertakes such an inquiry, and cer- 
tainly the reader who follows the argument to the 
end will leave the volume with much clearer ideas 
on the subject. The titles of the chapters in- 
dicate the trend of the discussion: ‘The end 
rules the means”; ‘‘ What should be the end? ’’; 
“Synthesis of liberty and authority ”; “ What are 
the means? ”; “Who are the agents?”’ Though 
difficult reading in parts, the volume deserves the 
careful attention of teachers and educational 
administrators. 
By Prof. J. 
Macmillan 
