Evening journal., 1912-05-24
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Great Scientists Grsat-
est Triumph
By Holland

John Fiske is recognized as one OF
the great American historians; yet
there was a time, early in his career,
when he seemed more interested in
scientific subjects than in history,
and his love of or interest in science
never deserted him. even when he was
deeply immersed in his historical
writings
Some years after he had been made
professor OF American history at
Washington University, ST. Louis
that was in 1851 had the pleasure
OF a chat with Mr.. Fiske 1t was at the
time when the works Of Captain John
B Eads, who spanned the Mississippi
at st Louis with the great bridge that
bears his name, and who invented the
lefty system, by which the Mississippi
Is controlled between New Orleans
and the Gulf, we're prominently be-
fore the public.
Captain Eads," said Mr.. Fiske, rs
a great engineer, great scientist. But
to my mind the greatest scientist
with the possible exception Of Joseph
! Henry-the United States has ever
produced was F. L. Youmans. And l
think that in his career he furnished
! the best example of the power Of
mind to surmount the gravest difficult
ties which the life of any American
records
you have heard that Prescott the
historian, who was partially blind,
write his histories by means o. a
stylus, with which he made writing
upon waxed plates. He did not see his
writing. but felt It. Then another his
torian, Parkman was almost blind,
and yet he collected the facts for his
histories through the aid Of amanu-
enses and write some of his histories
without having seen a word. But Mr.
Youmans. who was the first American
really to make science popular-and
he did that before Huxley or Tyndall
had popularized science in Great Brit
ain-achieved a greater wonder than
did either Prescott or Parkman, in
my opinion.
when he was lad about seventeen
years Of age his career, which gave
very great promise-young Youmans
had already shown the depth of his
mind and the power of his intellect,
which was entirely in the direction OF
scientific investigation and research
seemed TO be blighted. blasted, by rea-
son Of a severe attack OF eye trouble
He became almost blind. He could
see vaguely. but could not see to
read.
Instead however, of yielding to his
infrmity. his partial blindness made
him only the more ambitious. Think
OF II; that young man actually tooA
up the study Of chemistry. when he
could only dimly see obiectsl Now
II there is a pursuit which would seem
to entail clear vision, It is chemistry
so much depends upon the eyesight
But with the aid of his sister he
studied and mastered chemistry and
little later physics. While still o.
somewhat dim vision--although h
partiallv recovered his eyesight-h'
worked out from original sources th'
problem of the conservation OF en-
ergy or force. 80
Later. Mr.. Youmans entered witt
great earnestness upon the work 0
popularizing science for America. w
owe II chiefly TO his endeavors tina
science has gained such great popu
lar favor as has been the case YET
as | think OF his career, It seems Z
me that there was no discovery whicl
he made. no influence which he exert
ed, which after all can be compared u
sublimity with his revelation OF IN
ability of the will so 10 control tn
action of the brain that even thoug
an important sense, like that OF eye
sight, be lost, yet the operations Q
the mind are not only not impaired
but seem to be stimulated"
Copyright. 1912, by f ] Edwardi
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
THE Procrastination That Lost IN
World an Important History.