Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-11-01
SCIENCE.

few weeks ago published chapter from VOL H., of
ELLEN which demonstrated that the undulatory theory of
sound entirely using for the immediate demon
straon the article Acoustics in the Encyclopedia Britannica
where by false step attempt give reasonable explain
alton of such theory its absolute mpossibly demonstrated
In connection requested that the Professors in two
largest Vermont colleges Burlington and Mddlebury who
for have been and teaching this theory should
to its Defense stop teaching it.
The last admit is the duty of the corporations of
these institutions than its Professors but shouldn't suppose
it possible that any body would teach anything which they
know be false indeed which they would not be able
successfully defend. Nor ought they to teach anything
unquahedy unless they abunday able show that
it is so.
We have waited in vain for several weeks for reply
which had hoped get before continuing the publication
OF Ellen" in paper; but the book is rapidly being
completed indeed completed and being printed except about
half the index and brief appendix will make another effort
get those who still teach the theory to defend it. If they do
and have idea that they WILL for it is hopeless
endeavo will least call the attention of the world large
who furnish the scholars for these institutions that they
The Register will now make the following offer: 1t will pre-
copy of Ellen, Vol l., and H. second edition. and
$1,000 cash. to either of theofessors of the Vermont Col
leges Burlington and Mddebury the largest New Eng
land Colleges, Yale and Harvard who shall first succeed in
proving that the undulatoy theory of sound which
will be accepted the that the criticisms of in Ellen
which prove it incorrect,
Marked copies of this paper will be the above gen
emen and issued should the request be made for
will send copies of Ellen VOL l. and H. the
libraries of these institutions, assist in this discussion
We would suggest that in each of the larger institutions
Professor be chosen for the whole In this should
any competitor be judged have earned the prize will
award $500 the second $3.50 the third and $780, the
fourth This would insure prize each competitor, they
the only requisite being that each shall accomplish the
object of the przetha that the theory question
is certainly true conversely that the principal arguments
advanced in Ellen against it, are not true
AS committee of decision will name President Roosevelt
George Barker emeritus Professor of Physics University of
Pennsylvania Sir Oliver Lodge, the eminent scientist of
England and Prof J. Thomson of Oxford University, Eng
land Three of these among the eminent scientists
the world and the fourth the able and of the
ablest thinkers.
In doing this of things first that Ganot,
the author of the leading textbook of physics OF the world,
preaces his support of these unduaoy theories with the fol-
lowing statement:
In attempts phenomenon its cause we
the existence of physical agents. natural ,es acting upon
matter examples of such have 'ahon heat hh magnet
ism and electricity.
physical agents only by their effects
their intimate completely unknOOn. present state
science whether they properties inherent matter
whether they result from impressed the
and mpondeabe forms OF matter dfused through the universe.
And second that the national society OF scientists in Eng
land being asunder by its advanced thinkers quite
recently cabegams being leading American papers,
that the greatest revolution in physics threatened
world had known
That is the Past and the Present. both protest against
science largely founded upon the Baconan theory small
experiment and than ready welcome the lead of
ADLER who first by intuition interpret the laws nature
and thus use their experiments intelligenty.
Mr. Huxley of the abest of English scientists says:
mo deuson greater than the industry can
make for lack of mother either science life;
and strange that with his knowledge of mankind Bacon would
have dreamed that he, any
called genius