&h!^i9'2":}    Obligations  and  Methods  of  Research.  149 
increase  of  comfort  and  enjoyment.  A  strong  contrast  is  to  be 
noted  between  the  relations  of  the  ancient  and  modern  scientists  to 
their  respective  communities.  In  ancient  times  the  scientist  stood 
apart  from  the  practical  life,  disdaining,  as  a  rule,  the  investigation 
of  agricultural  and  industrial  problems.  Socrates  rebuked  one  of 
his  disciples  for  suggesting  that  the  study  of  astronomy  might  have 
practical  value  in  navigation  or  otherwise.  It  is  pursued,  he  said, 
as  an  ennobling  influence.  To-day,  the  cause  of  science  is  urged 
upon  the  public  almost  wholly  on  the  basis  that  material  benefits 
will  result  from  it.  The  student  who  enters  upon  a  course  of  study 
in  any  science,  does  so  almost  always  with  a  practical  application  in 
view,  and  this  is  especially  true  of  the  students  at  professional 
schools.  Hence,  in  the  great  mass  of  cases,  we  pass  over  the  loftier 
aims  of  science,  "pure  science,"  as  it  is  called,  and  take  up  the  prac- 
tical side,  technically  known  as  "applied  science." 
There  is,  however,  one  sentimental  phase  that  must  not  be  for- 
gotten, namely,  that  there  rests  upon  every  scientific  worker  the 
duty  of  contributing  something  to  the  stock  of  knowledge.  The 
vast  mass  of  information  now  available  is  almost  wholly  the  free 
contribution  of  previous  workers,  and  every  one  who  practices  a  pro- 
fession that  applies  such  information,  or  who  pursues  the  study  of 
science  for  itself  alone,  should  bear  in  mind  the  previous  workers  who 
have  handed  the  torch  to  him,  and  should  feel  the  obligation  to 
pass  it  on  still  brighter  to  those  who  come  after  him. 
It  is  given,  it  is  true,  to  but  few  mortals  in  any  age,  to  be  possessed 
of  that  special  ability  which  we  call  genius.  It  is  a  term  difficult 
to  define.  Perhaps  the  only  definition  available  is  the  merely  epi- 
grammatic one  that  "genius  is  the  infinite  capacity  for  taking  trouble." 
It  is  a  great  mistake,  however,  to  assume  that  research  can  be  con- 
ducted only  by  a  favored  few.  Epoch-making  discoveries  constitute 
but  a  small  part  of  the  development  of  science,  the  greater  part  of 
its  literature  is  minor  detail,  the  value  of  which  is  cumulative.  It 
is,  therefore,  within  the  power  of  all  to  add  something  to  the  store. 
Let  me  indicate  some  of  the  lines  along  which  this  may  be  done. 
Every  investigation  should  be  preceded  by  a  search  in  the  litera- 
ture. It  will  often  appear  that  the  line  intended  to  be  followed  will 
be  found  to  have  been  already  surveyed  if  not  actually  opened. 
At  every  turn  in  science,  we  are  apt  to  be  impressed  by  the  truth  of 
Sydney  Smith's  remark  about  "those  confounded  ancients  who  an- 
ticipated everybody."    I  recall  that  some  years  ago  I  thought  I 
