New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-24
POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.

The September number opens with DIS
course on Scientific Culture by Professor J. r. Cooke.
delivered at the OF the Summer courses
OF instruction chemistry at Harvard University Pro-
fesor Cooke makes urgent appeal for the CULTIVATION
experimental science by educated men, at least for
practical knowledge OF its methods and results one is
70 be physician. his whole success Will depend on the
ski with which he these powerful Instruments
OF modern civilization. II he is TO be lawyer his adj
will be largely in proportion TO the acuteness
with which he criticse the of the same nstru
ents by his his opponents clients. IL he If to
be clergyman he must take sides in the great conflict
which Is raging in the world between theology aud
science and must the steel of his adverearies blades
unless he would make Don Quxote OF himself by fight
ing the phan.Oms of his brain. Not that many OF
our students should become professional OF science
There are but few places for their employment. The
career should be entered only by those who have nat
genius for the vocation But every educated man
should be familiar with the processes of scientific re-
search that when great discoveries proclaimed he
should be able to serutnize the methods by which the re-
suits been reached, and thus TO distinguish between
she and the false. Professor Cooke however, has
no quarrel with the ancient classical discipline In
his view, all culture has the same spirit ana
the same object. Indeed, if We obliged
10 choose between the two systems, he would give
the preference TO the classical The necessary command
OF language he admits not likely TO be obtained OK
eept the study OF the ancient languages He
himself indebted classical studies for the mental
which has enabled MIA 10 perform
Ifework with any degree Of But the classical
method not the only effective means OF culture AS
mental discipline scientific study has it's peculiar advan-
fages. Even moral influence II plays most import
part education OF it, votaries Professor Cooke
dwes with great emphasis on its tendency TO promote
habit Of intellectual ruthiulncss which one of the
rarest qualities of human character. Every lawyer
knows how difficult IL is TO find man whose testimony
Is colored by his interests. Indeed very large
OF selfdecepton Is compatible with conscious
honesty OF purpose SO among scientihe students the
power to observe Nature, without color from PROPOSES
son habual tendencies is of the rarest as IT is
one Of the nobest Of qualities But II is quality on
which all real scientific progress depends ObSer'at
are the data student Of science and unless they
are accurate every thing deduced from them must have
the faint Of deception We cannot deceive Nature, how
ever much we may deceive ourselves. Yet there Is
many a student who could not be guilty Of conscious
untrutn who is constantly untrathful to himself The
correction this evil is be found in the rigorous eul
tyatiOn Of the scientific habit An eloquent summary OF
the authors views presented in a single passage which
we may quote: d" Moreover hope my friends that you
will value scientific studies, not simply because
they cultivate the perceptve and reasoning faculties,
but also because they fiji the mind with lofty ideals,
elevated conceptions, and noble thoughts. Indeed,
claim that there is better school in which TO
train the sthetcal faculties Of the mind the tastes
and the imagination, than the study OF natural
science. The beauty of Nature il infinite, and the
more we study her works the more her loveliness
unfolds The upheaycd mountain with It's mantle OF
eternal snow majestic cataract, with its whr and
roar waters the sunset cloud, with its blending OF
gorgeous bues nothing Of their beauty for him who
the mystery they conceal On the contrary, they
become and ALL irradated by the Infinite Presence
which shines through them. and fill the mind with gIander
conceptions and nobleF ideas than your uncdncated
child Of Nature could ever attain. Remember that am
not recommending exclusive devotion to the natural |
sciences. only claiming for them their proper place
On the scheme Of education and do not OF course deny
Che value OF both the ancient and the
modern classics In cutvaDg pure and elevated taste
But do say that the poetsureae Of England has drawn
deeper inspiration from Nature Interpreted by science
than any his predecessors OF the classical school and
do also affirm that the pre- Raphaee school OF painting
with all Its gotesque mimicry OF Nature, embodes
truer and purer ideal than that Of Roman fable or
Grecisn dream And what shall we say Of tue nagina-
iionf Where you find wider field for its exercise
that opened by the discoveries Of modern science
the mind wander the vast expanse crossing
toundles. spaces, dwelling in imitable time, witness
cog the displays Of Unreasonable power, and studying
e adaptations Of OmBiscent Skill II lives ia realm OF
auty OF wonder and Of awe, such artist has ever
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