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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXVII. No. 



mercial, educational, governmental, polit- 

 ical, religious or social. Thus, in general, 

 it may be said that, as regards internal and 

 external relations and interrelations, the 

 institution in its chosen field of activity has 

 now reached a status approximating to 

 stability of adjustment, wherein definite- 

 ness of aim, continuity of effort and con- 

 centration of energy and resources may be 

 more productively applied than heretofore. 



But while the work proper of the insti- 

 tution, namely, work of research, is in a 

 satisfactory condition, as much may not be 

 said of the adventitious work incident espe- 

 cially to the administrative office. For 

 although this latter work is sometimes in- 

 structive and occasionally useful, it is gen- 

 erally fruitless and often excessively waste- 

 ful of time and energy which might other- 

 wise be turned to better account. This 

 work involves a vast correspondence con- 

 cerning an endless variety of subjects and 

 particularly concerning an endless variety 

 of objects for which funds might be spent. 

 In its higher phases it is the work of an 

 intelligence office and may be accepted as a 

 not unworthy though unintended function 

 of the institution ; in its lower phases it is 

 in need of curtailment in the interests 

 alike of all concerned. 



The time for a detailed, or even sum- 

 mary, account of this highly complex and 

 to some extent psychologically important 

 experience has not yet arrived. Such an 

 account must be left to historians inter- 

 ested in the evolution of institutions or to 

 analysts, like De Morgan, in search of a 

 mine of materials for a new "Budget of 

 Paradoxes. " It is plainly the part of wis- 

 dom, however, not to wait for verdicts of 

 the historian and the analyst, but to make 

 use of such inductions as may be safely 

 drawn, not only from the experience just 

 referred to, but also from that gained in 

 the work proper to the institution. Most 



of the theories, ideas and sentiments in- 

 volved are subject to the tests of statistical 

 treatment which determine with sufficient 

 accuracy the more fruitful methods of pro- 

 cedure. Of the many inductions which 

 may be thus drawn out of the experience 

 of the institution a few may be here set 

 down as indicative of existing conditions 

 and tendencies. 

 It is in evidence — 



1. That there are the amplest room and 

 the amplest opportunity for research es- 

 tablishments without danger of encroach- 

 ment on establishments founded for other 

 purposes; that it is not difficult for the 

 institution to find appropriate ways in 

 which to apply its income; that there are, 

 in fact, in plain sight, ten times as many 

 worthy, practicable subjects of research 

 and ten times as many worthy investiga- 

 tors as the income of the institution can 

 advantageously subsidize. 



2. That there are many investigations of 

 such magnitude and difficulty that they 

 can not be carried on economically and 

 effectively except by men untrammeled by 

 other occupations. The common notion 

 that research demands only a portion of 

 one's leisure from more absorbing duties 

 tends to turn the course of evolution back- 

 wards and to land us in the amateurism 

 and the dilettantism wherein science finds 

 its beginnings. 



3. That it is inimical alike to the inter- 

 ests of society and to those of the institu- 

 tion to look upon it as a mere disbursing 

 agency designed to meet emergencies or to 

 supply deficiencies of other institutions 

 and of individuals. The widely spread 

 impressions that the income of the institu- 

 tion is sufficient to meet the aggregate of 

 such emergencies and deficiencies, and that 

 the institution can undertake to play the 

 role of a special providence and thus an- 

 ticipate the collective needs of deserving 



