292 The American Geologist. November, isne 
will gain a beginning of that accomplishment too often neglected, 
even in college, how to use books. 
The library is a necessity of the laboratory. Indeed, there is 
much in common between what is called the laboratory method, 
and what might be called the library method, in college training. 
The educational laboratory was instituted by cliemistry, first tak- 
ing form under Liebig at Giessen only about fifty years ago. 
Experimental study has been adopted in one subject after an- 
other until, now. the " laboratory method " is advocated in lan- 
guage and literature, in philosophy and law. It is to lie hoped 
that chemistry will not fall behind in the later applications of 
"the new education" in which she took so early a part. 
The advancement of chemical science is not confined to discov- 
ery, nor to education, nor to Economic use. All of those interests 
it should embrace. To disparage one of them is injurious to the 
others. Indeed, they ought to have equal support. It would be 
idle to inquire into their respective advantages. This much, how- 
ever, is evident enough, chemical work is extensive and there is 
immediate want of it. 
Various other branches of science are held back by the delay 
of chemistry. Many of the material resources of the world wait 
upon its progress. In the century just before us the demands 
upon the chemist are to be much greater than they have been. 
All the interests of life are calling for lietter chemical informa- 
tion. Men are wanting the truth. The biologist on the one 
hand, and the geologist on the other, are shaming us with inter- 
rogatories that ought to be answered. Philosophy lingers for the 
results of molecular inquiry. Moreover the people are asking 
direct questions about the food they are to eat, or not to eat, asking 
more in a day than the analyst is able to answer in a month. The 
nutritive sources of bodily power are not safe, in the midst of 
the reckless activity of commerce, unless a chemical safeguard be 
kept, a guard who must the better prepare himself for his duty. 
Now if the people at large can but gain a more true estimation 
of the bearing of chemical knowledge, and of the extent of the 
chemical undertaking, they will more liberally supply the sinews 
of thorough-going toil. It must be more widely understood that 
achievements of science, such as have already multiplied the 
hands of industry, do not come by chances of invention, nor by 
surprises of genius. It must be learned of these* things that they 
