The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-11
Copyrght Inc New York Musical Echo Co., lsos.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE.
There is something about the Smith
sonian Institution, however, which the
average eye public or private, does not
see. 1t is the quiet steady work in
development of scientific knowledge
which finds no parallel anywhere else on
the globe. Of the half million persons
who last year visited the museum and in
stitutlon few perhaps comprehended the
immense scope of the establishment of
science for which we have a dead En-
glishman to thank. None perhaps realize
that the quaint red-stone structure of
medieval pattern, and its red brick
satellite of modern simplicity, formed an
institution without peer the world over.
Indeed, the average sightseer could not
be expected TO know that the managers
of the institu tion were meeting IN
the fullest way possible. and more fully
perhaps, than James Smith son
ever dreamed of, the condition i'm
posed in the bequest, namely, "to
increase and diffuse knowledge among
men," Everywhere throughout the
world may be found its twenty-four
thousand active agents and correspond
ents vigilantly searching and watching
for new developments in science, while at
the same time zealously noting older eff
fects. II keeps full pace with every sci
entitic research and discovery. 1t records
everything tending to increase scientific
knowledge, and maintains a sort of dis
tant acquaintance between learned scien-
lists and philosophers throughout the en-
tire world, keeping them constantly in
touch with each others work. 1t does in
this regard more than any other agency,
because there is none other like it. To
use the language Of one of its managers
it is the central Office of a great interna-
tional telephone, whose keyboard con-
meets with the deepest thoughts of the
two hemispheres.
"What would be the effect if the Smith
sonian Institution were destroyed or
abolished to-day2" was asked ofone of its
learned professors, and he replied:
"Why to the world of science il would
be just as fatal as if every telegraph line
were at once cut and every mail route i'm
peded."
ONE REAL CENTER OF SCIENCE.
The professor went on to say that to
comprehend the Importance of the work
of the institution il must be known that it
is the one real center of science in the
world. And by center of science he in
tended TO convey the literal meaning Of
the words In other parts of the world
he said, there were larger and richer
scientific institutions, but their purposes
and scope were restricted to individual
progress. For example, while new
theories might be originated and new dis
coveries made in these institutions, il was
the province of the Smithsonian to in
crease knowledge by diHusing it
throughout the world. Not only
this, but more. II helped and guided
scientists everywhere, both in research
and discovery. To illustrate, the profess
sor said: Now, for example, supposing
some scientist in distant part Of the
world, or anywhere, in fact, wanted to
know the latest development in any par
ticular matter; he has only to write to
the Smithsonian for information, and he
is furnished without delay with pam
phlets bearing directly on the subject.
So perfect IS our system that man need
only send at the expense of local postage
his inquiry or request TO any one Of our
local agents in the country he is in. Our
AGENT at once sends it here and the infor-
nation is furnished TO the inquirer with
out even the expense of postage. Sew
eral Of the foreign governments, among
whom France is in the lead cooperate
with as Ia the distribution Of scientific in
formation by free delivery of printed mat
ter through the mails. To show the sym
pathy our work awakens, the fact may be
mentioned that every ono Of the steam
ship companies carry our matter free Of