WILLIAM B. DWIGHT. 53 



fields. The example of long and patient investigation 

 of nature by ascertaining and carrying out her laws, has 

 prompted many a man who is not a scientist, to patient 

 experiments with material things which have often re- 

 sulted in advantage. It is true the process in such a 

 case is not at all scientific but empirical — the mere ex- 

 perimental collation of facts and things, under no guiding 

 principle ; but it has not been without its value. One of 

 the most important discoveries of the century — that of 

 vulcanized rubber — was made in just this way. It is 

 true, however, that (xoodyear, who bravely carried on 

 for years these almost hopeless trials, occasionally was 

 enabled to make a short cut to the truth, through the 

 kindly suggestions of his firm friend, the great chemist, 

 Professor Benjamin Silliman. 



It is also a stimulus, outside of scientific circles, not 

 only to experimentation, but to thought in fields of 

 literature and general philosophy. It provides subjects 

 and illustrations worthy of the highest skill of the ready 

 writer. Even to poetry it furnishes truthful facts of 

 aesthetic or romantic power which may serve the poet's 

 purpose better than the creatures of mere fiction — the 

 dragons, unicorns, and maelstroms of past ages. In 

 Joseph Rodman Drake's charming poem, " The Culprit 

 Fay," whose scene is laid upon the neighboring height 

 of Crow Nest, every flower and plant so deftly inwrought 

 into the legend is true to science, and had been located 

 by botanists on that very mountain slope. Also, the 

 " Epic of an Alp," which has so recently awakened in- 

 terest in literary circles, is an apt proof of the extent to 

 which a close study of scientific subjects may furnish in- 

 spiration for the loftiest efforts of the poet. 



Still, beyond all these influences is the fact that the 

 exact method of scientific study, and the evidence of 

 their excellent results, have given a needed stimulus to 

 the more general application of methods of scientific ex- 



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