204 Canadian Record of Science. 



see at every point evidences of public appreciation, or at 

 least appropriation of scientific discovery ; and most of all, 

 when we observe the enlargement of older institutions of 

 learning to make room for instruction in science, and the 

 generous donations to found new technical and scientific 

 schools, together with an occasional endowment of research, 

 pure and simple ; in view of all these, I say, we are almost 

 constrained to believe that scientific men have only to ask, 

 that their facilities may be increased, and that their labors 

 could hardly have a wider usefulness. 



Unfortunately, this pleasing picture is not a true reflection 

 of the actual condition of things. The attentive observer can- 

 not fail to discover that the relation between men of science 

 and the general public, is not what it should be in the best 

 interests of either or both. In assemblages of the former. 

 it is common to hear complaints of a lack of appreciation, 

 and proper support on the part of the latter, from whom, in 

 turn, occasionally comes an expression of indifference, now 

 and then tinctured with contempt for men who devote their 

 lives and energies to study and research, the results of which 

 cannot always be readily converted into real estate or other 

 forms of taxable property. It cannot be denied that the man 

 of science is at some disadvantage as compared with his 

 neighbor, the successful lawyer or physician, when it comes 

 to that distribution of confidence with responsibility which 

 usually exists in any well ordered community, although the 

 latter may possess but a fraction of the intellectual power 

 and sound judgment which he can command. To his credit 

 it may be said that he is usually considered to be a harmless 

 creature, and to render him assistance and encouragement 

 is generally regarded as a virtue. The fact of his knowing 

 much about things which do not greatly concern the gen- 

 eral public, is accepted as proof that he knows little of mat- 

 ters which seriously affect the public welfare. 



It is true, that when the public is driven to extremities it 

 sometimes voluntarily calls upon the man of science, and in 

 this emergency it is often unpleasantly confronted with the 

 fact that it does not know where to find him. The scientific 



