SIMON NEWCOMB. 
143 
volved, or of the mathematical intricacies entailed by at- 
tempts to interpret and to apply these principles. It should 
be said, in fact, that neither any peculiar conformity nor 
any peculiar deformity of mind is required to appreciate the 
far-reaching principles of physical science or the recondite 
researches of pure mathematics. What is required, however, 
in a peculiar and unusual degree, is capacity for concentrated 
mental effort and sustained investigation, often to the extent 
of a whole lifetime, in order to comprehend adequately the 
fundamental postulates of matter and motion and the ex- 
quisitely refined machinery of analysis used by the leaders 
in mathematico-physical research. 
A difficulty encountered in presenting anything like a 
just account of the achievements of our late colleague arises 
also from the wide range and from the vast quantity of work 
he accomplished. Much of this is so highly special, and 
requires for its interpretation so much time and attention, 
that only a few experts working along similar lines can be 
expected to be intimately acquainted with it. Hence what 
I may have to say to you in explanation of this work must 
be said mostly in general terms and from the points of view 
of one who has worked in closely adjacent fields rather than 
in the particular fields in which Professor Newcomb made 
so many weighty contributions. 
On the other hand, a certain peculiar interest attaches to 
the subject you have assigned to me tonight, since our col- 
league was not only one of the most eminent astronomers 
of all time, but he was also one of those who have helped to 
make the astronomers of America the leaders in this branch 
of inquiry during the past half century. In general, we are 
obliged to admit that our country has not in the past pro- 
duced its proper quota of eminent men in science, and 
amongst some of our fellow-countrymen it has been quite 
the fashion, ever since the publication a, half century ago 
of the prediction of Alexis de Tocqueville that the condi- 
tions of life in America would be inimical to the development 
of eminence in science, to disparage both our capacity and 
our performance in this regard. 
