26 
TRANSACTIONS OP THE TEXAS ACADEMY OP SCIENCE. 
was at the beck and nod of a few who had only their passions or de¬ 
sires to influence their conduct. It has been a long and difficult pro¬ 
cess to bring about our present condition, but the progress of the world 
has been sure and steady since the first glimmer of the natural sciences 
was brought into Spain by the Moors. The Arabian academies in 
Spain were thronged by students from the rest of Europe, and of these 
Roger Bacon, by his discovery of gunpowder, furnished the first great 
lever to lift his fellow-men from darkness to light, from slavery to free¬ 
dom. From that time to this our conditions have been steadily im¬ 
proving, and as the sciences multiplied, and as men found other avenues 
for their intellects than the dead languages or metaphysics and the 
useless quibbling engendered by their study alone, they have been able 
to bring about an almost perfect realization of the dream of the early 
Christians. 
One of the most striking effects of the sciences is their influence on 
other branches of learning. They have not only grown themselves 
and have ameliorated the lot of mankind, but they have also revolu¬ 
tionized all other studies. The methods of thinking first used in 
science have been applied with great good to the study of languages, to 
the study of psychology and the like. More is now known of Latin 
and Greek than has been known of them since they existed as living 
languages. While physiology has given an impetus to psychology that 
has sent it forward further in the past few decades than it had moved 
in the past 2000 years. 
In short, science has opened up realms of thought that were former¬ 
ly undreamed of; it has thrown down barriers that were considered 
insurmountable, and it has given to man everything that he holds most 
dear. 
While the influence of science is felt everywhere in the world, yet 
some countries have been benefited by it more than others. On 
examination it will be found that those countries are most advanced 
intellectually and financially where the sciences are most cultivated. 
There is no doubt but that every trade and industry are the direct out¬ 
come of scientific discovery and invention. Nor can it be disputed 
that those countries are most advanced in every way where those trades 
and industries most do flourish. Wealth begets not only comfort for 
its possessors, but it also begets a higher degree of civilization and en¬ 
lightenment. 
It needs but a cursory glance at America to discover that the South 
is behind every other portion of the country in progress and pros¬ 
perity. This is not because of inferiority in her people intellectually 
or otherwise. Everyone who has taught the young men here must 
know that they will bear comparison with any others in the world. 
They are quick to learn, steady in their application to study, and 
capable of becoming well trained in- methods of thought. The climate 
