The Washington herald., 1920-02-28
In the Linelight
By George Perry Morris.


as a foreign associate member. the
ACADEMY OF Sciences OF France has
gone to Chicago and named Profess
sor Albert A. Nicholson of the local
university, the Nobel prize winner
in science of 1907. The compliment
Is both personal and national Pro-
fessor Nicholson came in the world
In 1852, in Germany. but he chose
America for his home: had an hon
orabie career In our navy; steadily
grew in national and international
eminence as a physicist and early
in the history Of the University OF
IChicago Joined it's teaching stan
and research department. His name
is writ large in sthe history Of re-
search of the finest and most funda-
mental character, and of late his
name has been much in evidence
in connection with Einstein's revo-
lutionary hypotheses. During the
world war Professor Nicholson was
in this city much Of the time, aid
ing the government in his own au-
thoritative and specialized way.
The reported refusal of Senator
Ruy Barbosa to accept the Brazilian
governments invitation to represent
1t on the Council of the League of
Nations is to be regretted. for that
republic has no man comparable
with this veteran jurist and foreign
minister in knowledge of interna-
tional law and in original concep-
tions relative to the ordered affairs
of states acting internationally. He
is well on in years and may not feel
inclined to proceed to Europe and
enter upon long and trying service.
Yale University at one time, though.
size had him pinned down to give q
course of lectures there; but at the
last moment he withdrew his ac-
ceptance.
President-elect Burton. of the
University of Michigan, recently Wis
tied the institution for a prelimi-
nary study of it's plant" and its
personnel. They gave him a dinner
at Detroit later, at which he. as it
were, made his first bow to the con-
stituency of officials. wealthy pat
rons and alumni of the institution.
What do you suppose he said by
way of getting en- rapport with his
audience? 81 hope you will under
stand that 1 am just a plain human
being, with red hair and with sand
in my gizzard." After that, all went
salubriously. Let ii not be inferred
that President-elect Burton is a
.'rube' or a "rustler," because he
can. on occasion, be colloquial. AS
a matter of fact, he has a pres
ence" that is distinguished and a
vocabulary that is classic; but oc-
ed hA Aff hi
official perch. To make him feel
happy on this occasion, the retiring
president, Harry b. Hutchins. an
nounced that an unnamed alumnus
was pledged to give S1,00o.000 to
the university as a welcome to the
new executive. 1t would seem as if
with ordinary good management
much OF Detroit's surplus wealth IN
the hands of millionaires of the au-
tomobile class could be diverted to
the Ann Arbor institution.
Quite properly they had suitable
memorial ceremonies for Peary, the
discoverer of the North Pole, at
Bowdoin College. his alma mater.
His college was dear to him, and its
officials and alumni were loyal TO
him when he was under suspicion
as a "faker." President Sills says
that once Peary said to him,
Wasn't IT curious that after all the
money spent, all the preparations
made. all the devices of modern sci
ence exhausted, in the end you came
to the most elemental things in the
world-the dog, the sledge and the
mem"
There will be dissent from Presi-
dent Sills' statement to the attend
ants on the memorial service that
Bowdoin has no greater name on
the roll of her sons that that of
Peary. Champions of Hawthorne
and Longfellow are bound to dis
pute this: but possibly President
Sills' reply may be inferred from
his additional comment. Some peo-
pie hold that the discovery of the
pole, inasmuch as it brought no di-
rect practical benefit to suffering
humanity, was an unnecessary
achievement. In reality it was one
Of the most idealistic performances
OF the century. 1t meant that man
could conquer: that he is a superior
being: that will dominates mate
rial difficulties"