SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol.. XVII No. 418. 



suits obtained by its use. Photography 

 will give great aid in determining the rela- 

 tive positions of the stars and in form- 

 ing maps of the heavens. All new methods, 

 however, will need examination and criti- 

 cism, since they bring new sources of error. 

 Fifty years ago it was thought the chrono- 

 graph would increase very much the ac- 

 curacy of right ascensions. It has not 

 done this directly to any great extent, but 

 it, has increased the ease and rapidity of 

 obsei'ving. We must remember that as- 

 tronomical results finally depend on 

 meridian observations, and that it is the 

 duty of astronomers to make these con- 

 tinuous from generation to generation. 

 In this way we shall gain the powerful in- 

 fluence of time to help control and solve 

 our problems. There is one point Mdiere 

 a reform may be needed from the dead 

 weight of the large and expanding vol- 

 umes sent forth by observatories and sci- 

 entific institutions. The desire for publi- 

 cation is great, but the results should be 

 well discussed and arranged, so that the 

 printing may be shortened. Otherwise 

 our publications may become burdensome, 

 and when they are piled up in libraries 

 some future Caliph Omar may be tempted 

 to burn them. Even mathematics appears 

 to labor under a similar oppression, and 

 much of its printed matter may be destined 

 to moulder to useless dust. 



In the not distant future stellar astron- 

 omy will become a great and interesting 

 field of research. The data for the mo- 

 tions of the stars are becoming better 

 known, but these motions are slow, and the 

 astronomer of to-day looks with envy on 

 the astronomer of a thousand years hence, 

 when time will have developed these mo- 

 tions. Much may be done by the steady 

 and careful work of observation and dis- 

 cussion, and the accumiilation of accurate 

 data. Here each one of us can add his 



mite. But the great steps of progress in 

 science have come from the efforts of indi- 

 viduals. Schools and universities help 

 forward knowledge by giving to many 

 students opportunities to learn the present 

 conditions, and from them some genius 

 like Lagrange or Gauss may come forth to 

 solve hard questions, and to break the 

 paths for future progress. This is about 

 all the schools can do. We need a body 

 of men who can give their lives to quiet 

 and continuous study. When the young 

 Laplace was helped to a position where he 

 could devote his life to research D'Alem- 

 bert did more for the progress of astron- 

 omy than all the universities of Europe. 



One needs only to glance at history to 

 see how useful astronomy has been in 

 the life of the world. It has wonderfully 

 enlarged the universe, and widened the 

 views of men. It shows how law and 

 order pervade the world in which we live; 

 and by the knowledge it has disseminated 

 and by its predictions it has banished 

 many superstitions and fears. The sci- 

 ences will continue to grow; and they will 

 exert the same influence. The erroneous 

 and dogmatic assertions of men will be 

 pushed aside. In our new country the 

 energies of the people are devoted chiefly 

 to commercial and political ends, but 

 wealth is accumulating, leisure and op- 

 portunity will come, and we may look for- 

 ward to a great development of scientific 

 activity. We must be patient. Men do 

 not change much from generation to gener- 

 ation. Nations that have spent centuries 

 in robbery and pillage retain their dis- 

 positions and make it necessary for other 

 nations to stand armed. No one knows 

 when a specious plea for extending the 

 area of civilization may be put forth, or 

 when some fanatic may see the hand of 

 God beckoning him to seize a country. The 

 progress of science and invention will 



