The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-05-30


crobe' in a. New Role-scientifc
Notes.
The best that we gain from the pur-
guit Of research is, believe, our char
acteristic optimism. We are engaged
IN achieving results, and results of the
most permanent and enduring quality.
a business man may achieve fort
une; but time will dissipate it. A
statesman may be the savior of a ma
ton; but how long do nations live?
knowledge has no country, belongs to
no class, but is the might Of mankind,
and it is mightier for what each Of us
has done. We have brought our stones
and they are built into the edifice and
into it's grandeur. My stone is a small
one. 1t will certainly be forgotten
that it is mine, nevertheless it will re-
main in place.
How different is the pessimism to-
ward which literary men are seen to
tend. Harvard university lost James
Russell Lowell in 1891 and Asa Gray
in 1888. The letters Of both of these
eminent men have been published.
LoWelIs letters grow sad and diScOur-
aged, and he gives way more and more
to the pessimistic spirit. Gray is OPP
timistic steadily and to the end. The
difference was partly due to natural
temperament, but chiefly, l think, to
the influence Of their respective pro-
fessions. The subject material Of the
literary man is familiar human nature
and familiar human surroundings and
his task is to express the thoughts
and dreams which these suggest He
must compete with the whole past,
with all the genius that has been.
There is nothing new under the sun.
lie eXclaimS. But to us it is a DrOverb
temperament. but chiefly, I think. to
From The Work Of the Naturalist in
the World, by Prof. G. S. Minot. in
The Popular Science Monthly for May
Improvement of the Bicycle.
An expert on cycling matters, who
was asked 'How will the bicycle be
improved in future years. says there
is some ground for believing that the
chainless safety will be the coming
bicycle. Overcoming the friction is
the greatest difficulty in the manufac-
ture of this class of wheel, and many
of the experiments which have been
made to this end have given encourag-
ing results. There will be improve
ment all around in the construction of
the bicycle-in the tires, the saddles
and the pedals. Already a saddle has
been brought out in France which is
pronounced a comfort and a delight
1t is said to enable Wheelman not
only to ride further with less discom-
fort and wear and tear, but to add dis
tilctly to his speed. The present sad
die is barberous and unscientific, and
before long the public will realize the
fact. and demand improvement. The
bicycle makers are 10th to adopt a
new idea, no matter how good it is,
and 1T is only the pressure of popular
dissatisfaction that will drive the1n to
manufacture of better form of sad
dies. 1t was 50 with the safety frame
the pneumatic tire, the wood rim and
other improvements. Just now light
wheels are the fashion, but they are
certain to lie dropped later On. On
the question of whether cycling is
merely craze or will take a per1n;l-
nent place among the national pas
times, opinion is divided. The author
ity just mentioned says on this head:
'Of course the cycling craze will die
out. and the sport remain. Cycling
has backbone and has come to stay:
but it may experience a setback. for
many persons now riding will hardly
do so next year or the year after.
Field athletics, tennis, base ball, roller
skating and many other sports have
all had their booms in this country,
and cycling now has the time and at
tention of the public" Nevertheless.
cycling il about the most rational and
healthful craze that has taken hold of
the people in a generation, and It
bears unmistakable signs of robust
ness and long life