The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-02
OUT AND ABOUT.

w FfSS ~
In the November number of the Pop
ular Science Monthly for 1897, DR.. Tho
mas c. MendenhaIl reviewed the work
ings of the Boring sea commission OF
1892, of which he was a member. The
March number of the Popular Science
Monthly contains an article by George
A. Clark in which DR.. Mendenhalls re-
view figures are at least the indirect
subject. 1t seems that Dr.. Mendenhall
took occasion to generalize in an IN
complimentary way regarding scientific
experts as a class, saying among other
things: Justice to the man of science
obliges the admission that, take HIM in
his laboratory or library, with no end
in view except that of getting at the
truth, and he generally lives fairly up
to this high standard; but transform
him by the magic of a handsome retain
er. or any other incentive, into q sci
entiffc expert, and he is a horse of an
other color.
The purpose of Mr.. Clark's article is
not to argue the cause of the man of
science, or even to say whether this ar
fragment is just, but it compares the
results of the commission upon which
Dr. Mendenhal sat With the commits
sion of 1897 to show that if the one was
q " Die eAG llplG or IalluIe, Ine OtneS
as equally notable example of sue
cess the part of the scientific ex-
g1rt.
It is true. Mr.. Clark agrees that the
result of that first commission was
meagre and unsatisfactory. especially
since one half of the work set for it to
do, VIZ. measures for protection, was
left wholly untouched am it is per-
haps not to be wondered at that DR..
Mendenhall should grow sceptical of the
value of expert scientific evidence. But
had he sought for cause of the failure
of the commission of 1892. he might
easily have found one more rational
than the alleged handsome retainer"
or other incentive" For 'One only of
the four gentlemen, called upon in 1892
without their own consent to act as
experts, had even a passing knowledge
of the life history of marine mammals.
DIR. Men enhall was a physicist. Dr.
Davidson a geologtst, and Sir Baden
Powell something of q sportsman. DR.
Merriam alone mammalogist of the
first rank, was scientific expert in any
proper sense"
Mr.. Clark chaTacteTizeS- the investiga-
tons con 7ucted by both commissions
as being, from a scientific point of view,
of the nature of farce. Less than two
weeks. he says, We're spent upon the
islands, and that at a date in the sea-
son least favorable of all for observa-
tons.
This meant that the greater part of
their information was got second hand
by the commissioners.
In marked contrast. however, 10 the
findings of the joint meeting was the
individual report of the American com
mission, prepared largely by DR. Mer-
riam. mot a single statement of fact
in it has proved fallaclous and the
more exhaustive Investigations of 1896
and 1897 corroborate its conclusions in
every particular. This was the work
of the true scientific expert and he
can ask no better vindication."
The remainder of the article IS oc-
cupied with an examination of the text
of the final report of the comm sson
of 1897, which is given in full. Mr..
Clark concludes by saying: ct is need
less to say that there no longer exists
fur-seal question. 1t is merely a
question of how to get rid OF the de-
structive agency of pelagic sealing.
This is matter for diplomacy TO ad-
just. Any odium which may have at
tached to the man of science as a re-
suit of the failure Of the meeting of
1892 is effectually wiped out and if
the lesson is read Alright by the nations.
hencefOrth the scientific expert must he
counted an essential factor in the set
tlement of governmental disputes"
AS all the tickets for Miss Won
Voight's talk on German fairy
tomorrow afternoon at "A Harvard
street have been sold there is assn
rance of a larger gathering even than
johanna Ambrosius" enjoyed a fort
night ago. 1t is strange that so much
attention is given in the high schools
to the study of French, when German
has almost displaced French as a
source of culture and an accomplish
ment among cultivated people. The en-
thusiasm for the language and litera-
ture of Germany appears to be a per-
manent thing with a not inconsdera-
BILE number of Worcester people; for
this Miss Won Voight is herself to be
credited.
Charming as the picture of southern
life 80 years ago may be in the REV
Griffith Davenport" and beautiful as
the object lie. son in character undoub.
eddy is which thai play teaches, there
Is one feature toward which the spec
tator finds herself or himself at vari-
ance. With all due respect to the no.
bility and sacred devotion of the WON
en- of the period, both north and south
how could they so round looking as
they did oh! how n4 they? Those
frightfu hoopskrts, r.g gowns of aw.
full severity and hide lue! And Their
the ringlets and wat s." the collar.
less bodices, and the NNaI ry' sleeves!
The world may h refrigerated
morally since those da a some pes
simists pretend, but has certainly
progressed in the aestl eMs of dress
The beholder of Mrs 'Ier1es cos
tunes is moved to wond COW women
Handicapped by such g is con-
trived TO be the entranc. nd ire
., a