16 
Transactions Texas Academy of Science. 
OUR DUTY. 
I have spoken of the ideal Man of Science — of his ambition to add to 
the great fund of human learning ; I have spoken, too, of the charlatan 
who 'would bedeck himself with the garlands won by others; I have 
pointed out some of the misconceptions of the public and the evil conse- 
quences following, as exemplified by reference to medicine, chemistry, 
geology; and I have shown fhe calamitous results attendant oftentimes 
upon political appointments; I have dwelt especially upon the popular 
misunderstandings of science for the reason that the attention of the 
public should be emphatically called to them; I have briefiy considered 
science in its educational aspect for a. three-fold purpose : First, to cor- 
rect the impression that science can be taught without equipment ; sec- 
ond, to emphasize the high ambition and lofty aims of teachers of science; 
and third, to correct an opinion more or less prevalent in governing 
boards that the university professor is unproductive from choice, that 
he is content to teach ^Tor wages as a laborer. That we have a duty to 
perform is evident. As Men of Science we are to ever stand boldly — 
aggressively, if need there be — ^for the truth. To this end we must exert 
ourselves in every legitimate way to create a proper and wholsome scien- 
tific spirit among our people. Error must be exposed and misunder- 
standing corrected. The blare of the brazen is not science; the pretender 
is not genuine; misunderstanding is not reality! 
