204 
CLARKE. 
stimulate individual students everywhere, and applied sci¬ 
ence, too, would receive its share of the benefit. There is 
today a growing commercial demand for accurately deter¬ 
mined constants, and no institution in which the demand 
may be adequately supplied. At Charlottenburg, in Ger¬ 
many, there is a beginning; in London the munificence of 
Ludwig Mond has made possible a similar start; hut nowhere 
is such a plan as I propose in full and perfect operation. 
The United States has great observatories, fine museums of 
natural history, and flourishing universities. Why should 
it not have institutions for physics and chemistry also ? 
These sciences touch many industries at many points; their 
applications have created wealth beyond all possibility of 
computation; now let that wealth do something for them 
in return. Half the sum that the nation spends in building 
one battle-ship would erect, equip, and endow a laboratory 
more complete than any now existing, whose influence would 
be felt throughout all civilized lands and endure as long as 
humanity. In this the United States might take the lead 
and set a great example to all other nations. The United 
States has long been a follower in science; may she soon 
take a higher place as teacher. 
