New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-18

rent effect on the freedom OF your researches u
there was an Oyerpowerng majority Of negatives.
One correspondent writes =" think whatever.
have had to overcome some prejudlces but my trio
religious life has been cognatc with my scientific
one and the former has stimulated rather tan crip-
ped the latter Another writes: Never deferred;
acts rs stmulaut since IL appears to me thatthe
cultivation ola naturally implanted intellectual tend
ency is religious duty. The most pcrheious
influence to which was subjected was that ARISING
from J. Stuart Mil. 1t took long time to work
through the sersatonalist, empirical philosophy, and
to come out at the other side" Another SAYS "The
Biblical faith prevented my getting good geological
views for many years. by having set my thoughts in
the old grooves, and thus limited them" Still
another: After about ten years careful consdera-
ton of le facts, calledby theology seeming con-
tradictions of science finally discarded the pcuta-
teuchal spcctacles through which had previously
looked at certain phenomena. | lay to theological
teaching 20 much hiuderance in the quest of the most
precious Of our possessiOns-tIuth." curiosity
about facts is mrch spoken Of i'll the replies to the
authors questions. la few cases, 1T is combined
with singular repugnance to works of fiction. A
hunger for truth il doubtless frequent element IN
the disposition Of the ADLER OF every career, but
il is probably most strongly felt, Mr. Cation sng-
cests, by men of science. 1.-The most clearly marked
characteristic of scientific society" he says, seems
to me to lie in the careful accuracy with which facts
and anecdotes of all kinds are related. have the
good fortune to be acquainted with a large family
circle whose curiosity about facts and practice of
scrupuols and so TO speak artistic truthfulncss,
tinually excite my admiration. 1t has not unfre
quently happened to me to hear remark or state
ment, which had made to one of its members
alluded to by another, in which case have been
usually astonishcd at the precision with which il
was repeated. The repetition of the statement re-
tanned the precise shade of sense that originally i'll
tended to convey, yet it always presented IN u
simpler aud more striking form. The essentials had
been trutfully adhered to; the non-essentials we're
pruned Off and the language improved"
The motives which have prompted scientific mon
TO engage in scientific pursuits form an interesting
study, and receive good deal Of light from the i'll
turns bear the marks Of cool and careful aaalys
and show few, if any, symptoms Of personal vanity
One writes my first start WAS reading cllild's
story, called the Ghost where philosophical elder
brother cures his younger brother Of superstition by
showing him experiments with phosphorus. electric
ity etc. This sat me making on electrical ma
chine with an al'otccafys vial, etc. | then
about twelve years old. My grandfather had scien-
tifc tastes TO some degree My Grandmothei's
brother . was rood amateur chemist and
astronomer. He was well known leader OF musical
and, TO extent, OF scientific society, at :"
Another: "a mathematical tendency, think, led
me first toward d. . inquiry, to which have
been faithful ever since. Professional duties and
civil engineering kept upa disposition TO appreciate
the material constituents OF the world, and led
through surveying in the direction Of physical geog
raphy The distinct origin Of my desire to place my
self among scientific students the wonderful n
preston Produced Oh ne by the aspect of Nature
as seen in the combined with what may
call the accident; OF my having been allowed 10 cX-
plore part OF IN an official capacity. Having thus
made rather large botanical and geological collec
tions, / came to England with them, and, while en-
ployed in arranging and distributing them. picked
up certain rather irregular and uusystematc scien
tiic education, in the company Of T.. . AID
others. Forced back into professional life special
scientific inquiry has not been possible; but have
had opportunities OF aiding the progress OF science,
which have endcavored to make the best OFF, An
other: IL always regarded mathematics the
method OF Oh aiming the best shapes and dimensions
OF things; and this meant not Only the most usen
and economical, bat chiefly the most harmonious and
the most beautiful. | was taken Ia see
. . :, and -, With the help Of BrcWster's Oli-
tics and .'lsziei's diaEond, worked at poiaiiz-
ton of light, cutting crystals, teinperng glass, ctr
should naturally have become advocate by pro-
GssOn, with scientific pIoc,tis, but the existence
OF exclusively scientific men, and Ia particular OF
. :, convinced my father and myself that pro-
iessOn not necessary t. useful He" Another:
cannot Iecolicct the time when not fond of
animals and Of knowing all | could lean about
them Living in the country, had abundant oppoi-
tunites for idul sing my TASTE, though of coIIsc,
was not allowed 10 keep hah the number OF pets
should have liked. The example OF iny father and
elder brothers, who were all pretty fra to field
sports was also followed by ne aud from field sports
TO field natural history is but STEP obtained. by
piece Of sheer good luck the travelling fellowship
Oh :; it tenable ior nine years, and its
income WAS sufficient TO keep me during that time
without being obliged to enter any profession
Though circumstances subsequently ntcriered with
my using This ASSISTANCE 10 the most advantage in
gratifying my taste for natural history, it was en0r-
mously furtherod thereby Another: TO love of
birds, their suiy, Their dissection. remember try
ing 10 ind out ia ie structure of the Oviduct the
cause of color and markings in the different eggs.
discovered bars sticking IN the cuckovB stomach,
arranged in spiral manner, before l knew that
Jonn Hunter had described the same Then took
to drawing skulls and skeletons, and my late was
sealed. That inherited a strong love of Nature IL
certain fro'u my father, who was devoted 10 iiori
culture, and very fond OF birds ana OF landscape
scenery; bat cannot trace any direct tendencies or
work on the part Of any member Of nay family
cept my brother. feel that mlstEayc lad taste
for science, independently of external circumstances.
AZ the age Of u or Is had diiae,tcd every new
Kind of bird that | met with. Later opportunities
were entirely made by myself, or perhaps rather,
taken advantage Of by mysciE'
The result Of Mir. Cations inquiries confirmed him
in tho opinion that strong aud nn8te taste FOR
science il prevailing characteristic Of scientific
men. This taste is usually permanent. The latter
popularity IL by tlc necessary consequence
of the former. On The contrary, mars ruling mo-