ON POPULAR SCIENCE LECTURES. 349 



Mr. J. Fairgrieve, who has given particular attention to the use of 

 the kinematograph in geographical teaching, says in reply to an inquiry : 

 ' The only really extensive detailed catalogue of geographical films for 

 sale is that published by the Charles Urban Trading Co. , Ltd. There 

 are a few short films of 50 or 60 feet taking approximately a minute 

 to run through, such as Old Street, Colombo, or Camel Caravans cross- 

 ing the Nile Bridge, Caii'o, and there are a few long composite films 

 of 800 feet, such as Cairo to Khartum, but the usual length is from 

 300 to 400 feet. Such scenic pictures are Yellowstone National Park 

 (350 ft.); From Salonica to Smyrna (365 ft.); Eailway Trip in the 

 Tyrol (400 ft.); Railway over the Andes (400 ft.). Some films dealing 

 with processes are Slate Mining in North Wales (360 ft.); Trapping 

 Salmon (75 ft.); Distilling (900 ft.); Logging in Norway (180 ft.). 



* Messrs. Pathe Freres have an enormous stock of valuable geo- 

 graphical films, many on a non-flam base, both for sale or hire, but 

 the absence of a published catalogue makes it extremely difficult to 

 find out what films are really suitable for geographical work. Among 

 many others the following should be of considerable use: Pau from a 

 Dirigible (412 ft.); The Eubber Industry in Malaysia (360 ft.); Culti- 

 vation of Coffee at Santos (480 ft.). 



' Jury's Imperial Pictures, 7a Upper St. Martin's Lane, and M. P. 

 Sales Agency, 86 Wardour Street, also supply films. 



' The High Commissioners for the Commonwealth of Australia, 

 72 Victoria Street, S.W., and for New Zealand, 13 Victoria Street, 

 liave films illustrating the life industries and scenery of these lands, 

 which are lent free of charge to lecturers or societies of repute.' 



(3) There is especial need at the present time of lectures showing 

 I he relation of science to many aspects of national life. Science and 

 scientific method mean progress and efficiency, and the more this is 

 recognised the greater will be the interest taken in the promotion of 

 scientific study and investigation. The majority of the people in these 

 islands regard science as a thing apart from their everyday lives ; and 

 even when they admire devotion to it or appreciate the advantages given 

 tliem by scientific research, they think it is outside the world of prac- 

 tical affairs, whether commercial, industrial, or administrative. It is 

 time that a systematic effort was made to remove this common im- 

 pression and to bring science into close touch with social and political 

 movements. By this means alone can a large body of opinion be 

 created in support of the claims of science to an influential position in 

 tlie State. The people as a whole will remain untouched by descriptive 

 science lectures, however good the lecturer or important the subject, 

 but they are ready to respond to a call for national efficiency associated 

 with science in the place of the opportunisms of political parties of the 

 past. What is particularly wanted to gain this end is lectures by 

 advocates of science and scientific method, whether they are themselves 

 professional men of science or not. The lecturers need not be original 

 investigators or distinguished professors, provided tHat they are good 

 speakers and have sufficient knowledge of the history of science and 

 industry to show to an audience the debt which civilisation owes to 



