I30 



SCIENCE 



[Vol. XX. No. 500 



would be idle to inquire into their respective advantages. This 

 much, however, is evident enough, chemical work is extensive, 

 and there is immediate want of it. 



Various other branches of science are held back by the delay of 

 chemistry. TMany of the material resources of the world wait 

 upon its progress. In the century just before us the demands 

 upon the chemist are to be much greater than they have been. 

 All the interests of life are calling for better chemical informa- 

 tion. Men are wanting the truth. The biologist on the one 

 hand, and the geologist on the other, are shaming us with inter- 

 rogatories that ought to be answered. Philosophy lingers for the 

 results of molecular inquiry. Moreover the people are asking 

 direct questions about the food they are to eat, or not to eat, ask- 

 ing more in a day than the analyst is able to answer in a month. 

 The nutritive sources of bodily power are not safe, in the midst 

 of the reckless activity of commerce, unless a chemical safeguard 

 be kept, a guard who must the better prepare himself for his 

 duty. 



The Subsistence of Science. 



Now if the people at large can but gain a more true estimation 

 of the bearing of chemical knowledge, and of the extent of the 

 chemical undertaking, they will more liberally supply the sinews 

 of thorough-going toil. It must be more widely understood that 

 achievements of science, such as have already multiplied the 

 hands of industry, do not come by chances of invention, nor by 

 surprises of genius. It must be learned of these things that they 

 come by breadth of study, by patience in experiment, and by the 

 slow accumulations of numberless workers. And it must be 

 made to appear that the downright labor of science actually de- 

 pends upon means of daily subsistence. It must be brought 

 home to men of affairs, that laboratories of seclusion with deli- 

 cate apparatus, that libraries such as bring all workers together 

 in effect, that these really cost something in the same dollars by 

 which the products of industrial science are measured. Statistics 

 of chemical industry are often used to give point to the claims of 

 science. For instance, it can be said that this country, not mak- 

 ing enough chemical wood-pulp, has paid over a million dollars a 

 year for its importation; that Great Britain pays twelve mil- 

 lion dollars a year for artificial fertilizers from without; that 

 coal tar is no longer counted a by-product, having risen in its 

 value to a par with coal gas. But these instances, as striking as 

 numerous others, still tend to divert attention from the more 

 general service of chemistry as it should be known in all the 

 economies of civilization. 



It is not for me to say what supplies are wanted for the work 

 of chemists. These wants are stated, in quite definite terms, by 

 a sufficient number of those who can speak for themselves. But 

 if my voice could reach those who hold the supplies, I would 

 plead a most considerate hearing of all chemical requisitions, and 

 that a strong and generous policy may in all cases prevail in their 

 behalf. 



The Lesson of a Life. 



If any event of the year is able to compel the attention of the 

 world to the interests of research, it must be the notable close of 

 that life of fifty years of enlarged chemical labor, announced 

 from Berlin a few months ago. When thirty years of age. 

 August Wilhelm von Hofmann, a native of Giesseu and a pupil 

 of Liebig, was called to work in London. Taking hold of the 

 organic derivatives of ammonia, and presently adopting the new 

 discoveries of Wurtz, he began those masterly contributions that 

 appear to have been so many distinct steps toward a chemistry of 

 nitrosen, such as manufacture and agriculture and medicine 

 have thriven upon. In 1850 he opened a memoir in the Philo- 

 sophical Transactions with these words, " the light now begins 

 to dawn upon the chaos of collected facts." Since that time the 

 coal-tar industry has risen and matured, medicine has learned to 

 measure the treatment of disease, and agriculture to estimate the 

 fertility of the earth. It seems impossible that so late as March 

 of the present year, he was still sending his papers to the jour- 

 nals. If we could say something of what he has done, words 

 would fail to say what he has caused others to do. And yet, let 

 it be heard in these United States, without such a generous policy 



of expenditure for science as gave to Dr. Hofmann his training 

 in Giessen, or brought him to London in 1848, or built for him 

 laboratories in Bonn and Berlin, without such provision by the 

 State, the fruits of his service would have been lost to the 

 world. Aye, and for want of a like broad and prudent provision 

 for research with higher education, in this country, other men 

 of great love for science and great power of investigation every 

 year fail of their rightful career for the service of mankind. 



Endowments for Research. 



For the prosecution of research, in the larger questions now 

 before us, no training within the limitations of human life can 

 be too broad or too deep. No provision of revenue, so far as of 

 real use to science, can be too liberal. The truest investigation 

 is the most prudent expenditure that can be made. 



In respect to the support that is wanted for work in science, I 

 have reason for speaking with confidence. If I go beyond the 

 subject with which I began I do not go beyond the warrant of 

 the association. This body has lately defined what its members 

 may say, by creating a committee to receive endowments for the 

 support of research. 



There are men and women who have been so far rewarded, 

 that great means of progress are in their hands, to be vigorously 

 held for the best advantage. Strength is requii-ed to use large 

 means, as well as to accumulate them. It is inevitable to wealth, 

 that it shall be put to some sort of use, for without investment it 

 dies. By scattered investment wealth loses personal force. The 

 American association, in the conservative interests of learning, 

 proposes certain effective investments in science. If it be not 

 given to every plodding worker to be a promoter of discovery, 

 such at all events is the privilege of wealth, under the authority 

 of this association. If it be not the good fortune of every inves- 

 tigator to reach knowledge that is new, there are, every year, in 

 every section of this body, workers of whom it is clear that they 

 would reach some discovery of merit, if only the means of work 

 could be granted them. Whosoever supplies the means fairly 

 deserves and will receive a share in the results. It is quite with 

 justice that the name of Elizabeth Thompson, the first of the 

 patrons, has been associated with some twenty-one modest deter- 

 minations of merit recognized by this association. 



The Association as a Trustee. 



" To procure for the labors of scientific men increased facili- 

 ties" is one of the constitutional objects of this body. It is time 

 for effectiveness towards this object. The association has estab- 

 lished its character for sound judgment, for good working organi- 

 zation, and for representative public interest. It has earned its 

 responsibility as the American trustee of undertakings in science. 



" To give a stronger . . . iuipulse . . . to scientific research " 

 is another declaration of what we ought to do. To this end 

 larger endowments are necessary. And it will be strange if some 

 clear-seeing man or woman does not put ten thousand dollars, or 

 some multiple of it, into the charge of this body for some search- 

 ing experimental inquiry now waiting for the material aid. The 

 committee upon endowment is ready for consultation upon all re- 

 quired details. 



" To give . . . more systematic direction to scientific re- 

 search " is likewise stated as one of our objects. To this intent 

 the organization of sections affords opportunities not surpassed. 

 The discussions upon scientific papers give rise to a concord of 

 competent opinions as to the direction of immediate work. And 

 arrangements providing in advance for the discussion of vital 

 questions, as formally moved at the last meeting, will in one way 

 or another point out to suitable persons such lines of labor as will 

 indeed give systematic direction to research. 



In Fellowship. 



In conclusion I may mention another, the most happy of the 

 duties of the American association. It is to give the hand of hos- 

 pitable fellowship to the several societies which year by year gather 

 with us upon the same ground. Comrades in labor and in re- 

 freshment, their efforts reinforce us, their faces brighten our 

 way. May they join us more and more in the companionship 



