May 16, 1913] 



SCIENCE 



743 



them being Laplace. If we follow this chain 

 further we shall find that celestial mechanics 

 became the model for an exact science of any 

 class of natural phenomena; and men sought 

 to fashion the whole of mathematical physios 

 after the same plan. It would be hard to 

 overestimate the influence exerted in this way 

 on modern science with all the practical con- 

 sequences which it has introduced. It is fair 

 to say that we are now reaping some of the 

 practical benefits of the old Greek theory of 

 conic sections, since this theory furnishes one 

 of the essential tools by means of which our 

 present body of science has actually been de- 

 veloped. 



Let us take from Greek mathematics another 

 example which illustrates the way in which 

 the value of research is cumulative. Con- 

 sider Euclid's geometry. It contains an ideal 

 body of doctrine whose form is evidently de- 

 termined by the author's delight in logical 

 consistency and coherence. It is even yet a 

 model according to which one fashions a care- 

 ful logical exposition. As is well knovm, the 

 ordered sequence of its propositions was the 

 guide of the English philosopher Hobbes in 

 constructing his body of philosophical doc- 

 trine. 



A more recent and totally different kind of 

 example of the value of research is afforded 

 by Mendel's theory of inheritance. About 

 fifty years ago Mendel was engaged in ascer- 

 taining the effect produced in various char- 

 acters by crossing two varieties of peas; for 

 the explanation of the facts which he gathered 

 he oSered a theory of inheritance which has 

 since had a remarkable influence on biological 

 thought. And now it appears as if results of 

 profound importance to human progress will 

 arise from the increased knowledge of heredity 

 which Mendel's laws afford. 



Examples of this kind might be multiplied 

 indefinitely. The way in which practical con- 

 sequences of great value have come unex- 

 pectedly from research in the past reminds us 

 indeed that specific prediction is useless. 

 When we notice the marvelous rapidity with 

 which scientific facts are now gathered and 



compare this with the experience of the past, 

 when we see the present magnificent conse- 

 quences from the relatively meager material 

 for work in the older time, we feel like asking. 

 What is to be the future of research? To 

 what grandeur will it attain? What blessing 

 wiU it not bring to the human race? One 

 does not dare to assign a limit to its possibil- 

 ity. How far short of the present marvels of 

 science would have been the boldest predic- 

 tions of the fathers of a hundred years ago! 



A work which in the past has proved itself 

 of so profound importance deserves adequate 

 support in the present. Whence is such sup- 

 port to be derived? I wish to answer this 

 question by saying that every unit in the 

 world community should contribute to it. 

 The state of Indiana should sustain her 

 proper share of men of research, and for the 

 further reasons which I am about to state. 



That community in which research of the 

 best quality and greatest amount is done will 

 profit most by the total research of the world. 

 Of course those communities which contribute 

 nothing will in the end receive great benefit 

 also. It will be later in coming to them and 

 it will not manifest that vitality which char- 

 acterizes it in more favored places ; but it will 

 come. A sense of fair play and a wish to 

 profit to the fullest extent require, however, 

 that each state shall properly support research 

 in its own borders. Otherwise it becomes a 

 sort of leech drawing its sustenance in part at 

 the expense of the world at large. And no 

 patriotic citizen can ever consent that his 

 state shall be a pensioner on the bounty of 

 others; it must do its part in the work of gen- 

 eral progress. 



E. D. Carmichael 



Indiana Univeesity 



THE TENTH INTEENATIONAL GEOGBAPH- 

 ICAL CONGRESS 



Undee the sunniest of Italian skies the tenth 

 International Geographical Congress was con- 

 vened on the morning of the twenty-seventh 

 of March in the historic Aula of the palace 

 of the Campidoglio in Eome. His Majesty, 



