558 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XIX. No 490 



THE TEXAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE.^ 



BY DR. EVERHAET. 



Foe some time past there has been a feeling on the part 

 of some of those here present that the time was ripe for the 

 formation of a Scientific Association in this State. This 

 feeling needed but a word to find expression of appro 'al and 

 to inaugurate the movement. This word was spoken a little 

 over a month ago, and immediate steps were taken to bring 

 about the present result. The professors of science, natural 

 and exact, in this university, held an informal meeting in 

 the early part of January and decided to send to various 

 men engaged or interested in scientific work in Texas invi- 

 tations to meet here on the ninth of January for the pur- 

 pose of organizing a Scientific Society. These invitations 

 met with a most cordial response from everyone. The 

 meeting was held at the time named and organization per- 

 fected. 



The plan and scope of the Texas Academy of Science are 

 intended to be somewhat similar to those of the National 

 Academy of Sciences at Washington. 



As will be seen in the constitution already adopted, the 

 object of the academy is threefold. In the first place it is 

 intended that an opportunity should be given to the scien- 

 tists of the State to have personal intercourse with each 

 other, to exchange ideas, and to discuss scientific questions 

 of the day. Were this the only object of the academy, still 

 its organization would be well worth the effort, for by this 

 personal intercourse between men of different or kindred 

 pursuits, and by this interchange of thought, and by the 

 consequent regarding various questions from many different 

 standpoints, men become less rusty in those branches of 

 science other than their own, they become more tolerant of 

 the opinions of others, and are compelled to leave those ruts 

 fostered by isolation and freedom from contradiction. To 

 the teacher especially is this feature of the academy valu- 

 able. He, necessarily, has always to speak ex cathedra. In 

 presenting subjects to his classes he is lawyer, judge, and 

 jury. To such a man discussions with his equals are a ne- 

 cessity. It is urged upon the members of this academy, there- 

 fore, that they not only contribute to its success by scientific 

 papers, but that they will also further its aims and their 

 own advantage by attendance on the meetings. 



The second object of this association is to investigate and 

 report on any subject pertaining to the natural or exact sci- 

 ences, when called upon by any of the departments of the 

 State government. It is intended that this should always 

 occupy a prominent place among the objects of the academy. 

 Apart from our obligations as citizens of Texas, many, per- 

 haps even the majority of us, are particularly indebted to 

 the State. The furthering of her interests, therefore, is of 

 paramount importance, and the development of her re- 

 sources will promote not only her welfare, but also the wel- 

 fare of science. We trust that in the near future this 

 Academy of Science will be legally recognized by the Slate, 

 and that a union profitable to both will be consummated. 



The chief idea, however, in forming this association is the 

 promotion of science, natural and exact. To this end it is 

 contemplated that at all regular meetings of the academy 

 original papers or well-digested reports on scientific topics 

 will be presented and discussed. With the present member- 

 ship, and with the present status of science in Texas, it can 

 hardly be expected that original memoirs will always be on 



' Introductory Address, by Dr. Everhart, President of the Academy, Feb. 

 6, 1892. 



hand, still if the members of the academy will interest them- 

 selves in its aims, there is no reason to doubt that we will 

 have during the course of each year at least a respectable 

 number of valuable contributions to science. Our incentives 

 to this desirable result are our duty to the academy, to- 

 Texas, and to science. 



The chief aims of this organization are, I repeat, the cultiva- 

 tion and promotion of science. By science I mean true sci- 

 ence, the search after truth in nature. Science in its practi- 

 cal applications will have no difficulty in finding followers j 

 the question of how much money a scientific law or fact will 

 produce is the prime object of the many, but there is a much 

 more exalted side of science, and it is to this side that I in- 

 vite your attention for a few moments. 



I do not mean to depreciate the motives or the usefulness^ 

 of those who devote their time and energy to the practical 

 utilization of science in our everyday life, but I do mean 

 that there is something higher and nobler than that in sci- 

 ence, and that the one who cultivates this side of science- 

 has the nobler aim in life. The true scientist is not re- 

 stricted by the narrow limits of practical utility; his domaitt 

 is wider and his investigations freer. The discovery of a 

 new law in science can not be measured by money; its in- 

 fluence is exerted on all mankind and lasts forever. In the- 

 past century many scientific laws have been discovered, any 

 one of which has done more towards the amelioration of the- 

 lot of man than all the alms and charities since the begin- 

 ning of time. 



The practical scientific man is always the follower of his 

 master in theoretical or pure science, and is entirely depen- 

 dent on the latter for his inventions. There have been given 

 but few inventions to the world that were not based oo 

 previous discoveries made by men who neither expected noi- 

 cared to make money out of their chosen science. The prac- 

 tical scientist adapts laws to commercial purposes, but he- 

 never discovers laws. 



One sometimes reads of indexes of civilization and pros- 

 perity proposed for various nations. For example, an Eng- 

 lish writer has said that the civilization of a land might he- 

 measured by the amount of sulphuric acid it manufactures. 

 Another has proposed iron, still another soap, as an ind-ex,, 

 but it strikes me that the civilization and progress of a coun- 

 try may be much more accurately gauged by the amount oi" 

 attention it pays to pure science. There is no doubt but 

 that Germany stands at the head of all nations in practical 

 science of all kinds, and equally certain is it that no coun- 

 try is so thoroughly impregnated with a pure scientific 

 spirit or is so prolific of men who devote their lives to scieucfe 

 in its highest aspects. These are the men who really giv& 

 to the world those ideas the practical utilization of which 

 has given us our present advancement. These men may be 

 but little known except to students. How many of us, for 

 instance, know even by name Kolbe, Lothar Meyer, Hof- 

 mann, Kekule, Wislicenus, or Ostwald ? Yet these chem- 

 ists, by their discoveries, have opened and are now opening 

 vast avenues to trade and commerce and otherwise contribu- 

 ting to the welfare of their fellow-men. These are the real 

 benefactors of mankind, and their example should be emu- 

 lated by all scientists who have the love of science in their- 

 hearts. There is no nobler life than that of a man who de- 

 votes himself to science. It is unselfish, it is a search after 

 truth, and it benefits mankind. No higher attributes can 

 be assigned to any other calling. 



Very often one is asked what this or that experiment is: 

 good for. It is sometimes difficult to make the questioner 



