November 7, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



733 



tional sentimentalism, but because we know 

 it means the acceptance of one or the other 

 of nature's two alternative penalties for 

 such relief: death or the transformation 

 into a new species. For neither of these 

 are we ready. 



But the trustees understand all this. It 

 is not because they need instruction con- 

 cerning their duties in this regard that so 

 many of the scientific workers voice the 

 conviction here emphasized. Rather it is 

 because we hope it may be assuring to them 

 to have our own declaration that we do 

 not want to be relieved from the efforts 

 we are now constantly making to obtain the 

 means for pushing on our scientific enter- 

 prises, but that what we should like would 

 be such a dispensation that our worthy 

 efforts might count for something — might 

 count for as much as they deserve. 



Without making the rule a hard and fast 

 one, I should certainly say that aid should 

 be granted on condition that the sum 

 granted be duplicated by those asking it. 

 Professor Branner makes the objection that 

 this condition would usually bar the possi- 

 bility of getting the needed help since sci- 

 entific men are rarely in touch with busi- 

 ness men of wealth. My reply to this is 

 let us get into touch with such men. It 

 will do both us and them good, whether we 

 succeed in getting their financial assistance 

 or not. I speak from considerable experi- 

 ence here. 



For the present I believe the aiding of 

 researches already well planned, frequently 

 far on the way to results, but which are 

 struggling against hope almost for the 

 funds necessary to carry them forward, 

 might advantageously compass the aims of 

 the institution. It is just in the midst of 

 such undertakings that the exceptional man 

 whom Mr. Carnegie is after will be found. 



Of course many difficulties beset the way 

 here, such as that of deciding on the merits 

 of the undertakings for which aid is so- 



licited ; and of making sure that the money 

 is being used to the very best advantage 

 after it has been granted. But these diffi- 

 culties are far from insurmountable. The 

 institution might well profit by the expe- 

 rience and methods of the scientific depart- 

 ments of the national government in send- 

 ing experts to the localities to get informa- 

 tion as to the merits of particular schemes 

 by actual inspection and conference. 



It may be noted incidentally that a stren- 

 uous application of the helping hand policy 

 would almost inevitably carry with it the 

 making more available for investigators the 

 treasures of material and literature at the 

 national capital. It seems, however, as 

 though the government itself might do this. 

 But if it will not, the institution would 

 have to do it to the extent of its ability. 

 "Wm. E. Ritter. 



Universitt of Califobnia, 

 October 14, 1902. 



I HAVE already, in a written communi- 

 cation to its trustees, partially expressed 

 my views upon this subject, having sug- 

 gested that it be made a center for the sys- 

 tematic collection and classification of sci- 

 entific literature. In brief that suggestion 

 was that there be organized at once a 

 working force, drawn largely from the 

 needy and worthy post-graduate students 

 of our leading universities (who, while 

 doing this work at Washington, and there- 

 by becoming self-supporting, could also 

 avail themselves of the many opportunities 

 there offered for advanced study both by 

 day and night), and that this particular 

 undertaking should be the preparation of 

 an extended series of scrap books, or rather 

 special binder files, into which could be 

 inserted clippings and excerpts from the 

 various text-books, periodicals, transactions 

 of learned societies, etc., classified as to 

 chemistry both by the individual chemical 

 bodies, and also by some suitable subject- 



