WILLIAM B. D WIGHT. 59 



necessitate expensive experimentation, our country has 

 been recently declared, on high authority, to lead the 

 world. When generous patrons shall be found to make 

 the needed provisions for copious research and experi- 

 mentation, it is not unlikely that our nation may soon be 

 able to claim the leadership also in other sciences. 

 Meanwhile, it will be best and profitable to make every 

 possible effort in original work with whatever means are 

 at our disposal. Let us diligently collect the .facts of 

 nature ; but if we would do the best work for science, 

 let us aim to do much more ; to use and study these facts 

 so as to evolve from them general j>rinciples. 



Lord Rayleigh, in the address above quoted, says very 

 justly : " Science is nothing without generalization. 

 Detached and ill-assorted facts are only raw material ; 

 and, in the absence of a theoretical solvent, have but 

 little nutritive value. At the present time, and in some 

 departments, the accumulation of material is so rapid 

 that there is danger of indigestion." 



It is evident, therefore, that what the advancement of 

 Natural Science urgently needs, and has a right to de- 

 mand, is the very best use of our highest powers. In 

 return it will bestow upon us the most valuable results. 

 If not always material results, at least more or less of 

 a culture w T hich, from its nature, is a priceless posses- 

 sion. 



43 



