New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-06
John TINDiLL.

In these days Of economic disturbance ana
acrid political discussion the record Of life
like that of John Tyndal is full of inspiration
and speaks calming words Of peace II was
prr-cmncnty IN intellectual life. He was Il
professor of science with IN unriyallcd repuia-
ton: he was Il book writer of inimitable lucidty
and charm of style: and he was popular lcct-
urcr whose talents were always marketable:
but he disClaincd to work for mcrccnary ends
in professional spirit. He once remarked that
if Faraday had been willing To employ his tai
cnts i'm analytical chemistry for business pur-
noses he might have made FORUM" of Sob.Wo
That was not FardayS conception of IN IN
tcllcctual life devoted to the enlargement of
human knowledge: nor was il TyndallH. Thcy
did not look upon the world rs markct-placc
where their genius and intellectual force were
10 be- expended In profitable trade. If they h;id
done SO. they could never have done their high
est work for the world ordinarily pays for what
il happcns to want. and not fer what Is best
in the worker. Each could say with the
Apostle: Silver and gold have | none but
such as have give thee"
There was perhaps no other great man i'll the
United Kingdom who owed little To the
social and educational institutions of his country.
or SO much TO hcrrlity and his own resources
Of scfdcyclopmcnt as John Tyndall. The
son of IN irish policeman. he had IN Indifferent
education in the public schools. and was only
deferred from cmigrnting 10 America by the
circumstances Of his friends. After nine years
Of dcSultory employment rs draughtsman,
surveyor. railway engineer ana teacher ne
went 10 Germany in his twcnty-ninth year win
FARMLAND 10 educate himself for his life-work.
When he returned in ISL after studying chem
istry. physics and mathematics under Bunsen,
Knoblauch and other masters OF science, ne
found no immediate opening for Il career ana
made fruitlcss efforts 10 secure Il profcssorship
in Canada. Recognition came to him and to
FARMLAND ultimately. when the great schools
of the Continent had proclaimed them leaders
Of modern science: but England. which had
lacked facilities for training them for the high
est work in chemistry and physics. was slow
and unsympaihctic in discerning what manner
Of men they were II was his sense Of personal
obligation to the foreign schools. where he had
been enabled 10 discover what there was III
him. that lch Tyndall 10 devote the profits al
his lectures in America to scholarships for as
sstng students to attend European university
courses
If England with lis mildlc-cass schools and
lis universities absorbed IN classical and thop-
logical studies had little Ia do with the making
Of John Tyndal hcr,Hlty and Inherent fore"
Of character counted for much. In the veins OF
that Irish policeman courscd the blood of IN
intellectual giant as we'll rs Il rcformcr and
martyr Socially low. but mentally and moral
Ia high" WAS the sons aTcctionatc tribute 10
thc father from whom he had Inherited what
was NOR, precious than wealth or physical
beauty There was strong. robust fibre OF man
hood In the poor Irish surveyor and engineer
that made him loyal 10 the great principles Of
Intellectual development AMI growth In knowl-
edge Never was there a better example of
sclf.nade man. who followed the highest law
Of his being and gave full exercise 10 his best
faculties.
The world was not only enriched by his ORDER
" and wcll-dis -s'cd contributions 10 the stock
Of knowledge. but human nature was disniiicd
and cnnobcd by his high. independent thinking,
by his love Of scientific truth and by his pas
sion for intellectual work For all the splcn-
doris Of achievement Of such men as Tyniall
Faraday. Amp6re Buron Cuvicr and Hum
boldt there is solid basis Of moral character
which challenges admiration and inspires faith
in the greatness of human nature Their memo
rics are lights shining In the reaches Of his
/ tory Their lives are enduring monuments to
nobility of character