Daily globe., 1883-08-16

way, telegraph and newspapers have
united each individual with the every in,
terest of the world. What was formerly
grand magnificent landscape has become
serene and peaceful. The depths
have been filed in mountains leveled. For
the average humanity it is possibly of
more utility. We wish, however, for some
thing above'dull mediocrity. For gener-
ations there have been some students of
science who possess the love of pure
nature. The greatest inventors die poor
men.
The essayist spoke of the universities
and colleges of the United States, and
claimed that they were cursed with being
mediocre. There were more such insti-
tutions of education than in all the rest
of the world, and they are so numerous
that it would be impossible for them to be
supported were they really frst-class.
For a university to have less than
$1,000,000 is advertising itself as
absurd in the eyes of the world. 1t may
be urged that all these institutions are do
ing good work in educating the youth. 1
do not object to this, but 1 do object to
their leveling the ideals of our country
through graduating from mediocre in
stitution calling itself an university.
have heard of board of trustees of one
university who objected to employing a
professor who made researches, because of
the time so wasted.
No one expects horse to win in a race
which has not been properly trained. To
bring our country to the realization of the
fact that mediocre is our curse, it will re-
quire tiresome and patient work. Our
country is young, and the whole universe
is before US to study. The problem of the
universe is yet unsolved.
The telegraphic operator with his limited
knowledge of electricity and its laws nat
urally turns his attention to the improve
ment of the only electrical instrument he
knows anything about and his researches
would be confined to the limited sphere of
his knowledge and to the simple laws
with which he is acquainted. But
as his knowledge increases and the field
broadens before him; as he studies the
mathematical theory of the subject,
the electro magnetic theory of light loses
the dimhaZe due to distance and becomes
his constant companion. The telegraph
instrument becomes to him toy, and his
efforts to discover something new becomes
research in pure science.
There are many physical problems, es-
pecially those requiring exact measure
ments, which cannot be carried out by Que
man and can only be successfully attacked
by the most elaborate apparatuses and
with full corps of assistants. Such are
Regunuts' experiments onthe fundamental
laws of gases and vapor made thirty eight
or forty years ago, by aid from the
French government and which are the
standards to this day. Although these
experiments were made with a view to the
practical calculation of the steam engine,
yet they were carried out in such broad
spirit that they have been of the greatest
theoretical use. Again what would
astronomy have done without the
endowment of observatories. By
their means that science has become the
most perfect of all branches of physics as
it should be from its simplicity. There is
no doubt in my mind that similar institu-
tions for other branches of ply
sizes or better to include the whole
of physics would be equally
successful. A large and perfectly equipped
physical laboratory with its large reve-
nues, its corps of professors and assis-
tants and its machine shop for the con-
struction of new apparatus would be able
to advance our science quite as much as
endowed obervatoris have astronomy.
The whole universe is before US to study.
The greatest labor of the greatest minds
have only given US few pearls and yet
the limitless ocean with Its hidden depths
filed with diamonds and precious stones
is before US.
SECTION "I.''
This section met at 2:30 p. M, with a
good attendance, and listened to an inter
esting address by DIR. Franklin B. Hough,
of Lowville, N. Y, vice-president of the
section, on Economic Sciencs and Statis-
tics" The essayist invited the attention of
his hearers to few thoughts upon the meth
DDS of statistics, using the term of sta
| tistics in its broadest sense as a statement
of facts, in which he divided the subject
into two distinct operations, the collection
of data and their classification. The paper
was thoughtful production, and it is to
be regretted that space will not allow a
lengthy synopsis.
El.011i