890 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIX. No. 10] 6 



study the basis of life itself. Witness the 

 frequent investigation of living cells and 

 even the elements, such as chromosomes, of 

 which these are composed. Here the re- 

 searches of Mendel and his followers come 

 into play, revealing to us a new means 

 through which we may hope ultimately to 

 control even the character of those yet un- 

 born. Here also we have just begun a 

 conquest which we hope to carry on to 

 many fundamental results. 



There is one other mastery over things 

 in the small to which I wish to call your 

 attention, one having in it a great power 

 for the development of strong and vigorous 

 human beings, ready for the further ad- 

 vances of the future. I refer to our new 

 and increasing knowledge of disease-pro- 

 ducing germs. Here also we have just 

 begun a conquest which we hope to carry 

 on to many fundamental results. 



Thus there has been opened to us in a 

 short space of time a varied and un- 

 dreamed-of world in the small over which 

 we are now to gain the mastery. Our 

 analysis of previous progress shows that 

 we have here something vitally new. It 

 should therefore lead to important devel- 

 opment. Our confidence in this is great, 

 since a little reflection on the matter brings 

 out the fact that we now have converging 

 into one main stream many of the elements 

 which have characterized previous progress. 



The actual development which we thus 

 anticipate will be realized only if science 

 indeed makes the conquests which seem to 

 lie out before us. Why, then, may we feel 

 sure of such advance? Time will allow 

 only a brief answer. A slight examination 

 of the past will put in evidence the fact 

 that the fundamental discoveries of the 

 earlier ages came about mostly by chance. 

 Men were not seeking systematically to 

 know the secrets of nature. They learned 

 a few things in a haphazard way. They 



had not found out how to make a syste- 

 matic and all-embracing search through 

 fields either old or new. Fresh discoveries 

 continue to be made right up to the pres- 

 ent and with greater speed than ever be- 

 fore. New sorts of questions are asking 

 for an answer. This indicates that the un- 

 discovered regions yet to be found are vast 

 in extent. To-day an increased number 

 of persons are seeking the new. They have 

 learned better methods of research and are 

 able to go about their problem in a more 

 systematic way. Undoubtedly there is still 

 in human character the potentiality of 

 great power to be released through the 

 excitation of new discoveries. Therefore 

 one can not fail to have the best of confi- 

 dence that there is a long and important 

 line of advancement now to be followed 

 out. 



Thus we have at hand every means of 

 progress. The prospect is a pleasing one. 

 He who works at this builds something into 

 all subsequent human development. This 

 is a labor worthy the mettle of the noblest 

 intellect. The science of to-day is lighting 

 the way of progress ; and every real con- 

 tribution to its results will make brighter 

 the illumination of the future. I congrat- 

 ulate you that you have entered upon this 

 labor. May the flower of science blossom 

 at your touch and the vine of knowledge 

 bear luscious fruit under your hand and 

 the pure wine of its vintage flow forth to 

 swell the stream of progress. 



R. D. Carmichaeli 



DEFINITENESS OF APPOINTMENT AND 

 TENURE^ 



The college professor is rapidly being forced 

 to occupy a new and important position in 

 our public affairs and is receiving more of the 



1 Delivered before the College Section of the As- 

 sociation of American Agricultural Colleges and 

 Experiment Stations, Washington, D. C, Novem- 

 ber 13, 1913. 



