912 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIV. No. 1148 



it is for that reason that I have paid spe- 

 cial attention to the methods of experi- 

 mental attack which seem to give the most 

 concrete results in this connection. Hesi- 

 tant as we may be to accept in all its de- 

 tails a theory which asks us to abandon 

 laws upon which we have pinned our faith, 

 this theory, and the quantum theory as 

 well, may be the flashes of genius which 

 reveal incompletely the outlines of the 

 truth toward which we struggle along a 

 dimly lighted path. Fuller knowledge may 

 resolve some of our difficulties and recon- 

 cile apparent contradictions. Ptolemy's 

 theory of epicycles would appear wholly 

 irrational to one acquainted with Newton's 

 laws but ignorant of Kepler's conclusions, 

 yet it correctly described the facts as 

 Ptolemy saw them. Some day the Kepler 

 and the Newton of the atom may appear, 

 but their task will not be an easy one. If 

 the astronomer is baffled by the problem 

 of three bodies which he can see, how can 

 we expect to define the exact laws deter- 

 mining the motions of the invisible hosts 

 of electrons and positive charges in an 

 atomic system? How can we hope to cor- 

 rectly picture the mechanism which emits 

 radiations of almost infinite complexity, or 

 account for the additional complications 

 called forth by external forces? We may 

 be almost tempted to accept the pessimistic 

 view expressed by Planck in his Columbia 

 lectures, that nothing in the world entitles 

 us to believe that it will ever be possible to 

 represent completely through physical 

 formulas the inner structure of the atom. 

 And Kayser has said : 



A true theory must assume a complete knowl- 

 edge of electrical and optical processes, and there- 

 fore is an Utopia. 



But even if we never reach the goal, who 

 can set a limit to our approach to it? We 

 may never set foot upon the promised land, 

 but some day we may perceive its shadowy 

 outlines dimly from afar. 



University op California E. P. Lewis 



WILLIAM RANE LAZENBY 



William Pane Lazenby, professor of for- 

 estry in Ohio State University, died at Colum- 

 bus on September 14 of pneumonia. In the 

 passing of Professor Lazenby there is removed 

 from us one who has devoted his life with 

 marked success to the advancement of agri- 

 culture and agricultural education. 



He was born on a farm at Belona, Yates 

 County, N". T., December 5, 1850; he entered 

 Cornell University in the fall of 1870, and 

 graduated with his class in 18Y4. During this 

 period, he not only kept up his studies, but also 

 supported himself by labor, first, on the univer- 

 sity farm and campus, and later, in the botan- 

 ical department. This at times was an ex- 

 tremely difficult thing to do, as the compensa- 

 tion for such labor was small and the time 

 that he could spare for this work was limited. 

 At times he was greatly discouraged; but the 

 steadfastness of purpose, which was a promi- 

 nent characteristic of his entire career, kept 

 him at his self-imposed task. In spite of the 

 handicap of the necessity of self-support he 

 was so successful in his studies that he won 

 the Ezra Cornell prize in agriculture, and on 

 graduation he was made a member of the 

 teaching staff of the university. 



His first appointment was as instructor in 

 horticulture; later he was promoted to an 

 assistant professorship in horticulture, which 

 position he held till he was called to the Ohio 

 State University. As he was the first mem- 

 ber of the Cornell faculty whose duties were 

 limited to horticulture, he may be regarded as 

 the founder of the horticultural department 

 of this institution. 



He was called to the Ohio State University 

 as professor of botany and horticulture in 1881, 

 which position he held till 1892, when his title 

 was changed to professor of horticulture and 

 forestry; since 1910 his field has been re- 

 stricted to forestry. 



Professor Lazenby had published much on 

 the subjects that he taught. He spent many 

 of his summer vacations in studying horticul- 

 ture and forestry in Europe. He was a fellow 

 of the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, a founder and past president 

 of the Ohio Academy of Science and a life 



