648 



SCIENCE 



[N. S, YoL. XLII. No. 108S 



thought essential in preparing the way for a 

 new era, but these institutions are seriously 

 hampered by a narrow provincialism and are 

 generally quite willing to sacrifice national 

 interests to the interests of their own alumni. 

 The following letter has been written in the 

 hope that those who read it may be induced to 

 express their views upon the methods available 

 for curing our universities of that infirmity of 

 spirit which is a symptom of the national 

 malady of general unpreparedness for either 

 war or peace. 



Pbixceton, N. J., October 1, 1915. 



Dear Sir: The present crisis in civilization has 

 brought this country face to face with many new 

 and grave responsibilities. 'SVe have suddenly 

 awakened to an increased sense of appreciation 

 of the need of adequate protection against in- 

 vasion, of greater facilities for insuring the scien- 

 tific development and extension of industry and 

 commerce, of promoting research and scholarship, 

 and of eventually developing a culture which will 

 contain dynamic power sufficient to hasten the 

 spread of the spirit of malice towards none and 

 charity for all. 



The people of the ITnited States are now vaguely 

 considering the possibility of making a contribu- 

 tion of permanent value to the cause of civiliza- 

 tion, but substantial progress in this direction 

 can only be gained under other standards of lead- 

 ership, and by the dissemination of higher ideals 

 than those hitherto exhibited by older civiliza- 

 tions. The task is an enormous one. Advance 

 towards a newer civilization will tax human intelli- 

 gence to the uttermost, 



TVhat active preparation are our universities 

 making to assume their share in this great move- 

 ment? 



An extraordinary opportunity exists — one rich 

 in possibilities, not only for coordinating but for 

 strengthening the intellectual forces of the nation. 

 TVorld-problems must be solved in a world-spirit. 

 Is not this the moment to break away from the 

 narrow provincialism which interferes with the 

 active participation of our universities in the gen- 

 eral advance? 



This provincialism is manifested in the form of 

 administration of university affairs which allows 

 the imposition of ideals entertained by those 

 alumni who appraise the value of their alma mater 

 in terms of sentimental attachments without con- 

 sidering the relation of the institution to the na- 

 tion and to the intellectual life of the people. 



For some years I have been trying to analyze 

 conditions which seem to handicap the universities 

 seriously in their effort to stimulate and direct 

 the thought of the nation. In this connection I 

 should consider it a favor if you would reply to 

 the following questions: 



1. Can you suggest a method by which a freer 

 interchange of opinion and criticism between uni- 

 versities might be effected? 



2. How can we combat the obsessions and over- 

 valued ideas that are the common accompani- 

 ments of emotional reactions associated with ath- 

 letic contests and which make it extremely diffi- 

 cult to substitute the national for the provincial 

 ideal in university administration? 



3. Do you believe that a broader and more in- 

 telligent spirit would be introduced into the ad- 

 ministration of affairs if the principle was car- 

 ried into practise of adding faculty representa- 

 tives, including those from other universities, to 

 each board of trustees or overseers? 



4. Have you any suggestion to offer in regard to 

 the changes in the present form of organization so 

 that the administration of the finances and the 

 formulation of the educational policy should not 

 be under the control of a single board of trustees? 



Thanking you for the courtesy of a reply, I am. 

 Respectfully, 



Stewaet Patok 

 Pkixcetox. N. J. 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 

 The Mutation Factor in Evolution with Partic- 

 ular Beference to (Enotliera. ByE. Ruggles 

 Gates, Ph.D., F.L.S. London, 1915, Mac- 

 miUan and Co. Pp. xiv + 353. Price $3.25. 

 Dr. Gates has been a prolific contributor to 

 the already very extensive literature on Oeno- 

 theras, and this book wiU be a welcome sum- 

 mary of his views as expressed and modified 

 through a long series of papers. 



Following the " Introduction " is a chapter, 

 accompanied by a map, on the '" Character and 

 Distribution of the CEnotheras," in which 

 structural features and life habits are described 

 and a list of twenty-eight species given with 

 synonymy and accounts of their distribution. 

 The fact that twelve species are appended to 

 this list without discussion indicates how rapid 

 is the progress being made, chiefly through the 

 studies of Bartlett, to our knowledge of the 



