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SCIENCE. 



[X. S. Vol. XX. No. 504. 



dren may be coaxed, others require whip- 

 ping. 



It is useless to attempt to advance science until 

 one has mastered the science; he must step to 

 the front before his blows can tell in the strife. 

 Furthermore, I do not believe anybody can be 

 thorough in any department of science, without 

 wishing to advance it. In the study of what is 

 known, in the reading of the scientific journals, 

 and the discussions therein contained of the cur- 

 rent scientific questions, one would obtain an 

 impulse to work, even though it did not before 

 exist. And the same spirit which prompted him 

 to seek what was already known, would make 

 "him wish to know the unknown. And I may say 

 "that I never met a case of thorough knowledge in 

 my own science, except in the case of well-known 

 investigators. I have met men who talked well, 

 and I have sometimes asked myself why they did 

 not do something; but further knowledge of their 

 character has shown nie the superficiality of their 

 knowledge. I am no longer a believer in men 

 who could do something if they would, or would 

 do something if they had a chance. They are 

 imposters. If the true spirit is there, it will 

 show itself in spite of circumstances. 



Your speaker wishes to plead with his 

 southern colleagues for greater activity in 

 research. Many have told me they had no 

 appliances. Liebig had none at first and 

 later bought most of that which he had 

 from his slender stipend ; Priestley utilized 

 a lens and the sun's heat and discovered 

 oxygen; Wohler distilled potassium, using 

 a bent gun barrel as a condenser in Ber- 

 zelius 's laboratory. Where there 's a will, 

 there's a way. There is so much unknown, 

 so much to learn, and, as Victor Meyer has 

 said, then there is ' the gaining of gold from 

 rubbish. ' 



Yes, our equipment is meager; poorer 

 than it ought to be for states now far 

 richer than ever in their history; grown 

 rich, too, as a result of the progress of in- 

 dustries. Science sowed the seed of the 

 present prosperity and it is worthy of re- 

 membrance, thanks, reward. And these 

 will come. In a measure, they have come. 

 Every scientific man in the state takes pride 

 in the growth of the new biological build- 



ing at this institution, the beneficent gen- 

 erosity of a prominent trustee at Trinity 

 College in equipping the physics depart- 

 ment, the conduct of the soil survey under 

 the direction of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, the Beaufort laboratory, etc. 



The importance of promoting science as 

 the duty of the states was well known to 

 the ancients, especially to the Greeks and 

 Arabs. The Prince Consort, in an address 

 before the British Association in 1859, made 

 the following statement: 



We may be justified in hoping * * * that the 

 legislature and the state will more and more 

 recognize the claims of science to their attention; 

 so that it may no longer require the begging-box, 

 but speak to the state like a favored child to its 

 parents, sure of his paternal solicitude for its 

 welfare; that the state will recognize in science 

 one of its elements of strength and prosperity, to 

 foster which the clearest dictates of self-interest 

 demand. 



The endowment of any laboratory in any 

 institution of the state but helps the others. 

 There is no such thing as competition in 

 doing good. The blanket of ignorance may 

 be lifted a bit higher here than there, but 

 each lifts and gives the fresh air of knowl- 

 edge to those smothering beneath. 



So, my friends, in fulfilling the responsi- 

 bilities begotten of the honor, allow me in 

 closing to give my conception of the destiny 

 of this academy. 



Man depends much for his happiness 

 upon the sympathy of those around him; 

 'it is rare to find one with courage to pur- 

 sue his own ideals in spite of his surround- 

 ings. ' So science thrives best where socie- 

 ties exist for its advancement. Science 

 speaks a iiniversal language and knows no 

 geographical, political or social boundaries, 

 otherwise Humphry Davy would never 

 have been so cordially entertained by his 

 French colleagues when the shores of Eng- 

 land and France bristled with bayonets in 

 bloody antagonism. Then let us thank 

 God for the brotherhood of science, for 



