608 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



college presidents did it for years — is to keep himself constantly in- 

 formed, in a general way, of every investigation that is going on in his 

 institution, and to encourage those who are doing this work, publicly 

 and privately. This sort of encouragement costs but little, but, coming 

 from him whose position and whose judgment command his highest 

 respect, is of incalculable help to the weary, sensitive investigator. He 

 needs to be cheered on by the knowledge that what he is doing is meet- 

 ing, not indifference, but active encouragement by those to whom he 

 is most responsible for what he does. The writer has known capable 

 men to be timidly engaged on investigations about which it was almost 

 impossible to get them to say anything at all. They acted as though 

 nature was a huge bungle for which they were responsible and of which 

 they therefore were heartily ashamed, or as if they were on the point 

 of making some wonderful discovery which if suddenly revealed in its 

 perfected form would startle the civilized world. 



This frame of mind, harmful alike to the man himself and to his 

 associates, is most unwholesome, and one from which the president, 

 more than any one else, can help to free him, since it often originates 

 in the real or supposed isolation of the victim in his work ; a condition, 

 as every scholar knows, inimical to creative activity, whether it be the 

 isolation of positive loneliness, or that worse form, the isolation of un- 

 congenial surroundings. And in this connection it should be remem- 

 bered that because of the intensity and exhausting nature of his work, 

 the research man needs pleasant surroundings and frequent diversions ; 

 conditions over which the president unfortunately has but little control, 

 and which therefore should be given all the more careful consideration, 

 if possible, in the original selection of the institution's location. The 

 faculty of an isolated institution is itself in great measure isolated, and 

 commonly the creative work one does in a desert, under the oppression 

 of ennui, bears but little relation to what he can do when agreeably 

 situated and surrounded by things intellectually stimulating. The in- 

 vestigator, imaginative like the poet, nervous and often overwrought, 

 is sensitive, and, while easily elated, just as easily depressed ; and there- 

 fore when no one takes an obvious interest in what he is doing, and 

 there are no ready means of diversion, he tends to become morose, and 

 keeps his thoughts to himself, where they are likely to find anything but 

 cheerful company. 



However, under all conditions let the investigator be encouraged to 

 talk, let him join with his colleagues in the formation of a local science 

 club for the free exchange of ideas, and there let him talk often and 

 talk freely. It will aid greatly to clear up his own ideas — this explain- 

 ing of things to others — and will help to keep him enthusiastic. In this 

 way his light will not be hid under a bushel, but shine, as it were, from a 

 hilltop where it will be of the greatest help to his neighbors. Because 

 of this sort of encouragement and this sort of united effort and material 



