The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-04-24
WORK FOR SCIENTISTS.
Some Things the Wise Men Should
Start In On without Fur
ther Delay.

1t is common to talk about the
wonderful strides made by modern
science, but looking at the matter
from another point it IS really aston
ishing how many things most desir-
able for human welfare remain to be
done. Modern science is always be-
ing praised. Sermons and pamphlets
and magazine articles vie with each
other to laud it to the skies. 1t Is
said to have achieved so much. We
are hidden to look at it's telephone,
the telegraph, the electric light, the
Roentgen ray, the steam engine, the
huge steamer and the thousand and
one other discoveries of the day. We
think that life is reyolutionized from
that which our fathers lived, and
that we have reason for great pride,
and, indeed, for thankfulness.
We are so eager eyed in viewing it's
accomplishments that we do not see
its failures, says the New York Amer
lean. The world which lies at its
feet seems to us to be so vast tha5
we forget the greater world which
holds it in scorn. And there is such
greater world. The telephone, the
electric light, the steam engine form,
after all, but small portion of the
world in which we live. Modern sci
ence has affected our actual living
life, so to speak, much less than we
are apt to imagine. In eating, drink
ing, sleeping, love making, quarreling
I,,+
cestors of many centuries past.
Look at the wonders of astronomy,
says the disciple. Let us look a.
them. Gallileo declared the modern
scientific basis of the solar system.
Newton announced the law of gravi-
tation. Since then how meager have
been the results in astronomy. To
discover a planet, and name it, is not
an achievement which has any striking
Importance for humanity at large.
Similarly is the discovery of argon
in the atmosphere of any positive
value to anyone? Modern science
has a knack of declaring some truth
with an impressive solemnity. But
the really interesting facts it leaves
to conjecture. What would we give
to know if Mars is really inhabited,
and if there were at one time great
peoples on the moon? Those would
be of interest and Importance, but
modern science chooses to be silent.
If we come to our own earth we
find that there are many little things
which either battle science or are
ignored by scientists. AS civilization
advances we need more and more to
have huge buildings, either for in
dustries or for residence. Yet so or
dinary a luxury as ventilation seems
to be outside the skill of the scien-
tist. He can fit up pretty buttons
with bells and indicators; he can ar
range wonderful lights, making the
night to rival tie day. These are the
fruits of electrical study and re-
search, and herein modern science
glories. But the provision of fresh
air through the passages of huge
buildings seems to be outside human
skill. Draughts in winter and sitting
heat in summer characterize our
great halls, and even judges appeal
in vain for fresh air and protest to
no purpose. Consequently our streets
are packed with pallid faces, and ill
nesses are developed which counter
act largely the good influences of
surgical and medical advance.
Even in lowlier ways science has
shortcomings. Is there anything
more clumsy than shoe? There are
leather stitches and nails. The twen-
tieth century can hit on no better
system of dealing with soles and
heels. The Roman soldier of the Le-
gion and the American business man
of to-day have almost precisely the
same footwear, and clumsy footwear
it is, knowing but little of the shape
and comfort of the foot. The same
applies to umbrellas, surely the most
insane instrument ever invented. The
best umbrella is not better than the
original article invented 200 years
ago in Queen Anne's time. 1t only
keeps the hat from getting wet.