August 7, 1903.] 



SCIENCE. 



175 



repute— know that we have nothing to 

 compare with them. Suppose we make ob- 

 servation for a time in the mechanical sec- 

 tion, where accurate models may be even 

 seen at work. There the sehoolboj- lingers 

 inquiringly before them, and he thus forms 

 great conceptions of man's inventive rela- 

 tion to the world forces around him. The 

 factory worker learns how his machines 

 have grown, have been evolved, and how 

 he may possibly perfect them further. For 

 the college and university teacher these 

 collections furnish comparative and con- 

 crete illustrations by which a lasting pic- 

 ture is fixed in the mind. Such institu- 

 tions are costly to erect, to furnish, to man, 

 and to support annually. Their high edu- 

 cational worth must be gauged not by the 

 fruits of years, but of decades and cen- 

 turies, for the mental stimuhis they afford^ 

 is often hidden away and silent. The ques- 

 tion of cost should be a minor considera- 

 tion in planning such undertakings, amid 

 the corporate and individual wealth that 

 characterizes such centers as our own. 

 Civic pride and loyalty, national pride and 

 loyalty, pride in and loyalty to our highest 

 human development should be sufficient 

 impelling force. Here let me say, with all 

 caution and reserve, but yet with pei'fect 

 conviction of purpose, that when we read 

 or learn of lavish individual expenditures, 

 for individual gratification alone, it should 

 arouse in every one of us the desire to so 

 mold public opinion that such superfluous 

 ostentations shall cease. If the owner of 

 the wealth thus diverted can be shown that 

 his wealth can most patriotically be ex- 

 pended in building up the country's insti- 

 tutions, then we have successfully done 

 battle for the right. If history has lessons 

 for us, does it not remind us that at one 

 l>hase of Rome's history the poet could 

 truthfully say, 



" For Romans in Rome's quarrel, spared neither 

 land nor gold, 

 Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, in the brave 

 clays of old," 



and that a later time came when Rome's 

 matrons had few if any robust sons to 

 fight, when the patricians had largely 

 squandered their patrimony in sensual in- 

 dulgence, when— with decayed institutions 

 — none were 'so poor as to do her rever- 

 ence. ' 



Let me suggest another need or couple of 

 needs, easy of fulfilment, and which it be- 

 hooves us as members of the Sigma Xi to 

 supply. I refer to a graduate and under- 

 graduate society or branch of this one, for 

 general scientific improvement and infor- 

 mation. We as graduates and teachers 

 are, or unfortunately in some respects must 

 be, specialists living and working along 

 narrow grooves. A vigorously and com- 

 prehensively planned meeting, held once 

 a month, would refresh and expand us 

 all. Picture to yourselves a meeting such 

 as we might have had during the past few 

 weeks with an intellectual bill of fare such 

 as the following: 'The Separation and 

 Properties of Radium,' 'The Biology of 

 Laziness,' 'The Dotter in Naval Practice,' 

 'The Organism of Smallpox,' 'The Physi- 

 cal Principles involved in the Formation 

 of Mountains' and 'Luminous Bacteria as 

 a New Illuminant.' To finish these in a 

 night would afford a meal worthy of men- 

 tal digestion for a month. Such meetings 

 would also promote that esjyrit de corps, 

 that common effort, that contagious en- 

 thusiasm, that self-sacrificing spirit, which 

 when combined ensure an institution's 

 progress. 



Equally would I urge the need for under- 

 graduate organization, though largely for 

 other reasons. Our developing scientists 

 and aspirants to the honors of Sigma Xi 

 should have fullest opportunity for debate, 

 discussion and presentation of views. A 



