12 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
hidden secrets of the universe and in turning them to man’s wants, 
whether sensual or intellectual. Between the unbalanced vapor- 
ings of the pseudo-scientific theorizer and the uninformed empiric 
who stumbles upon a discovery, there is the firm middle ground of 
logical induction and deduction, and true science can neither be 
exalted by its inapplicability, nor degraded by its subserviency to 
man’s material welfare. The best results follow when the pure and 
the applied go hand-in-hand—when theory and practice are wedded. 
Erstwhile the naturalist was honored in proportion as he dealt 
with the dry bones of his science. Pedantry and taxonomy over- 
shadowed biologic research. To-day, largely through Charles Dar- 
win’s influence, we recognize the necessity of drawing our inspira- 
tion more directly from the vital manifestations of nature in our - 
attempt to solve some of the many far-reaching problems which 
modern science presents. The fields of biology, morphology, physi- 
ology and psychology are more inviting than formerly. Nor is 
the lustre that glorifies the names of Stevenson, Watts, Faraday, 
Franklin, Morse, Henry, Siemens, and a host of yet living investi- 
gators dimmed because they made science useful. Goethe makes 
Wagner say: 
‘‘Ach wenn man so in sein Museum gebannt ist 
Und sieht die Welt kaum einen Feiertag 
Kaum durch ein Fernglas, nur yon Weiten 
Wie soll man sie durch Ueberredung leiten?’ 
“Tf to-day, right here in Washington, there is great activity in 
the field of original research; if the nation is encouraging it in a 
manner we may well be proud of, the fact is due in no small degree 
to the efforts of those, many of them members of this Society, who 
have made practical ends a means, rather than to those who would 
make science more exclusive, and who are indifferent to practical 
ends or popular sympathy. Such, at least, is my apology for the 
nature of this paper.” 
In response to an inquiry by Mr. White, Mr. Rrury said that 
the ox-eye daisy. had been subjected to a thorough test under his 
supervision and the result had shown that it has none of the insect- 
icide qualities of pyrethrum. 
os 
