The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-02
THE sKEPT1oAL AMERICAN MIND.

Notwithstanding the marvellous dis
coveries that have been made in nearly
every branch of science during the cent
ury, and their adaptation to practical
uses; Notwithstanding the wonderful in
v%entions and improvements that have
made modern life O fairy tale compared
with that of a hundred years ago-with
all these and the knowledge that prog
ress has but fairly begun. the common
attitude of the American mind toward
experiments in new directions is that of
doubt. the comments upon them those
of ridicule. This is the more n0ticea-
BILE because the American, as a rule, is
not of the conservative order. Let a
man advance the widest of social, po-
litical or religious vagaries and he will
not lack respectful hearing and is
likely to find himself presently with an
army of followers. But let him declare
that he has an invention that will revO.
~lutionize any department of labor or i'm
prove upon existing conditions of exist
ence in any novel way, and he can con-
fidently count upon derision rather than
encouragement. There were peoplewh no
declared that steam could not be used as
a motive power to propel boats and rail-
road trains, but the traffic of the earth
nov answers their unbelief. The idea
that electricity could carry messages
across a continent or around the world
was received with jeers when first an
nounced, but a network of telegraph
wires is spread over the land and under
the sea. When Edison declared that he
had amachine that would carry the voice
long distances he was not believed,
yet the telephone is now an %indispens-
able convenience. Wisacres in plenty
denied that electricity could be used as
a motive power, and they now ride to
and from business in electric cars. These
sands that have made the century q tri-
umphal march of science and skill.
Considering the revolution they have
wrought it might be expected that any
new steps proposed would be regarded
with respectful interest. but not so. It
may or may not be possible to condense
the moisture in the sky by artificial
means and produce rain falls for parched
lands. but there is no inherent incredible
ity in the suggestion. In fact, it is more
than likely that, ooner or later, some
means will be devised for securing
such rain-fails. 1t may not be
Dyrenforth's method, or Melbourne's,
or the Kansas dust-thrower's, but
the combination of American ingenuity
and scientific lore has effected more
wonderful results than this, and, once
begun, the scheme is certain to be tested
in every way. Despite all this, a great
number of the newspapers of the coun
try, echoing public sentiment. speak
slightingly and in terms of contempt of
all experiments in this direction. Should
the efforts of the scientists finally sue
ceed these critics will be swift enough
to accept the benefits and to ignore their
former comments, but they will not learn
to recognize the next discovery in its
incipiency. This constant skepticism
and adverse comment is the more I'M
fortunate in that it discharges invcn-
ton and progress. With all that the
wcrld owes to invention, and particu-
larry to American inventions, the in
veDtOr rarely receives the slightest en-
couragement or aid until his discoveries
or devices are fixed facts and he needs
no help. The American mind should be
broader and more receptive than this to
now ideas. 1t need not accept i'm ad-
vance of proof, but neither should it
reject.
PROF. T. c. MENDENHALL, of the