New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-12
STUDYING NATURES LAWS.

In the presidential address OF Professor Henry
A. Rowland to the Physical Society Of America,
which Science" published last week In full
one notes an enumeration of important ques-
tions that require investigation, and also an
omphatic assertion Of the dignity Of the physl-
cst's calling The nature Of matter, grayita-
tion the ether electricity and magnetism, the
relation of the last two forms OF force TO neat
and the mystery Of radiation are pronounced
the chief engmas OF the material universe
But many infinitely smaller problems we must
attack and solve" says Professor Rowland,
"before we can even guess at the solution OF
the greater ones" C-
e. If is the other part Of his address, however,
that deserves the most attention, perhaps be-
cause its doctrine is comparatively unfamlnar
i'm these days, when most men demand from
science practical results rather than ABSTRACT
principles. Professor Rowland comedies the
value Of applied knowledge. but holds that IN
ouiry into fundamental laws must precede
such utilization Of scientific discoveries; and as
between the two classes Of work he is disposed
TO regard the former as superior both Intel
lectually and judged by the service rendered
10 mankind 1--WE physicists" said he, form
"a small and unique body of men, new variety
"of the human race as one of our greatest
scientists calls It, whose views of what con-
"stitutes the greatest achievement In life are
"very different from those around u.s. In this
respect we form an aristocracy, not of wealth,
mot of pedigree but of intellect and of Ideals,
"holding him in the highest respect who adds
most to our knowledge or who strives after 1t
"as the highest good
1t is easy to find illustrations of the differ
ence between the two types of scientific men
above referred TO. Hertz was fascinated by
the problem Of electromagnetic waves. and as
certaned more than any earlier philosopher re-
garding the nature Of those vibrations. With
out such researches the wireless telcgraphy OF
Marconi would have been impossible. little
more than q century ago Cavendish, Prlestey
and Lavoisier were investigating with profound
zeal the process of combustion, and the I'M
mediate result of their work was the discovery
| of oxygen. The event gave wonderful stlmu-
| lus TO the study OF the elements and their re-
| lations to one another. This was by no means
the beginning OF chemistry; yet. beyond ques-
| ton. TO that abstruse and impractical in
| quiry are largely due many Of the subsequent
| triumphs Of metallurgy, agriculture and other
| departments OF industry. Thousands Of chem
| ical processes that are conducted to-day for
purely money making and man serving pur-
poses can be traced back genealogcally TO tho
eminently abstract questioning Of natures laws
| by men who never had the slightest provision
| Of the fruits Of their labors In like manner
Faraday, promoted from the position of office
| boy at the Royal Institution TO the rank Of d.
rector. INDUCED his passionate curiosity re-
| garding electricity and magnetism. When at
| last he was able TO awaken In n wire feeble
current of electricity by moving 1t in front Of
q magnet his cup Of Joy was full. He had de-
| cned numerous lucrative opportunities and Of
| fees which bore with them more immediate
| honor among men in order to reach this goal
| He had achieved success in the realm OF activity
that most appealed to his fancy. He never
| dreamed OF the countless applications that
would be made OF his discovery in less than n
century through the modern dynamo. But
none OF those magnificent results could have
| followed had not the work OF the philosopher
preceded.
| The world does not yet recognize as fully as
| II might, II is to be feared, how necessary to
its progress are the men who hunt for funda
mental principles in natures procedure, regard
less OF the immediate uses TO which their dis
coveries can be put. In their own day Lavolser
| Cavendsh and Faraday were known and under
stood by only few. But, looking back at their
services 10 mankind, one cannot but be pleased
| at the facilities for research which were put at
| their disposal. II Is cause for congratuatlon,
therefore, when II Is possible, as II was a fort
night ago, for the press to announce that some
] unknown benefactor had bestowed s250N00 on