4 
i64 The American Geologist. September, 1902 
reference to certain subjects. The claim that this or that sub- 
ject is essential to a liberal education shows a lack of breadth 
and lack of capacity to see things in their proper proportions. 
No one language or science is essential to a liberal education. 
But while this is true, it does not follow that this or that sub- 
ject may not be essential for a particular career. Far be 
it from my purpose to speak in a derogatory way or to 
underestimate the A'alue of any line of knowledge. At 
the present day a man who is trained only in science 
or only in the humanities has but one hand ; that hand 
may be strong; but the man can never control the affair before 
liim with the power, with the nicety, with which does the man 
with two hands, one of which is the rich treasures of science, 
and the other the no less rich and important treasures of 
the humanities, each doing its part in liarmonv. with 
corresponding fullness of results. With a fundamental knowl-. 
edge of both the scholar of the future may choose as his chief 
occupation the clear, cold work of science or the attractive 
work of the humanities, which will always have more numer- 
ous followers, because of their direct personal interest. 
As I have already intimated, I hold that for the best liberal 
education one must pursue broadening studies from the first 
to the last, and also that one must begin early to specialize. If 
this be true, geology, may be said to be a very desirable part 
of a liberal education, for it is built upon the whole realm of 
pure science, /. e., the knowledge which applies not only to the 
earth and all it holds, including man, but to the universe as 
well. Because of the breadth of training combined with spec- 
ialization required of a geologist, it might be shown that geol- 
ogy is one of the most useful studies in giving a person a 
sense of proportion, ideas as to relative values, of perspective, 
qualities of the first order in this world. It might be held that 
the intellectual training of the geologist is of a kind which 
helps him in dealing with men and things, ard, therefore, for 
handling the world's work. But time does not suffice to devel- 
op this part of the subject. 
I shall now suppo'se that a geologist is adequately trained, 
that he has some power in generalization, and consider what 
should- be his method of work. It is assumed that the young 
geologist spends a part of each year in the field. This field 
