The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-10-07
the BRITISH SCIENriSTS-NO. 8.

THE BRITISH SGIENTlSTS-NO. 8.
We have not yet exhausted those
portions of Lord Rayleigh's opening
address which are capable of popular
elucidation. Upon the subject of
acoustics he said it had been proved
that when proper precautions are
taken we are unable to tell whether
q pure tone Gas from vibrating
tuning fork held over n suitable
resonator) comes to us from the
front or the rear; but it is easy and
instructive to discover whence almost
any other sort of sound, from n
clap of the hands to the clearest
vowel sound, comes. There is very
little difference between the rcspec-
tive degrees of ioudness with which
Il sound strikes the ear turned toward
it and the one turned from it. The
President warned students of science
against elevating phrases above
things, in the style of the doctor in
lie Malade Imasnaire," who eX-
plains the fact that opium sends one
to sleep by its soporilic virtue. 1t
was necessary, however, that scien-
tilic discoveries should be set forth
in books, or they would be lost. In
making oneself acquainted with what
has been done in any subject, he
said, it is good policy to consult first
the writers Of highest general repu-
tation. Although in scientific matters
we should aim mt independent judg-
ment, and not rely too much upon
authority, il remains true that q
good deal must often be taken upon
trust. Lord Rayleigh touched upon
question that is very much dis
cussed at the present time-the
utility of so much space being given
to the dead languages in Il liberal
education. Such an authority is
worthy of being fully quoted, and
therefore his observations on this
subject arc given entire:
TO the thorough-going advocates
of scientific education it appears
strange, and almost monstrous, that
the dead languages should hold the
place they do in general education;
and it can hardly be denied that
their supremacy is the result of
routine rather than of argument. |
do not, myself, take up the extreme
position. l doubt whether an eX-
clusively scientific training would be
satisfactory, and where there is
plenty of time and literary aptitude
can believe that Latin and Greek
may make good foundation. But
it is useless to discuss the question
upon the supposition that majority
of boys attain either to knowledge
OF the languages, or to an apprecia-
ton of the writings of the ancient
authors. The contrary is notoriously
the truth, and the defenders of the
existing system usually take their
stand upon the excellence of its dis
cipline. From this point of view
there is something to he said. The
LATEST boy must exert himself
little in puzzlng out a sentence
with grammar and dictionary, while
instruction aud supervision are easy
to organize and not too costly. But
when the case is stated plainly few
will agree that we can afford so
entirely to disregard results. In
after life the intellectual energies are
usually engrossed with business, and
no further opportunity is found for
attacking the difficulties which block
the gateways of knowledge. Mathe-
matics, especially, if not learned
young, are likely to remain unlearn-
ed. | will not further insist upon
the educational Importance of mathe-
matics and science, because with
respect to them shall probably be
supposed to be prejudiced. But of
modern languages | am IGNORANT,