Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-14

pooI. Stanley G. Burt of Cincinnati.
II. A. Wheeler of st. Louis. w. ID.
Richardson. then of Cleveland. o,
A q. Jones and r. c. Burton OF
GAINESVILLE. o., Charles y. Bloomfield
of Metuchen. y. j. w. ID. Gates ana
u. V. Purington Of Chicago, II. A.
Randall OF Indianapolis. and a few
others. moi over two dozen in all.
identified themselves whole-heart-
edly with the plan. They were men
whose natures could be kindled by
their enthusiasts. whose vision ex-
tende beyond their environment,
whose generosity was great enough
to give of their time and energy
even for what looked like a forlorn
hope. whose pertinacity and courage
was equal to making a fight for the
faith that was in them.
ct desire to pay tribute to these
men and the others OF this little
group who unselfishly worked for
the first definite step forward In the
application of science and learning
TO the education of clayworkers in
I America. Many Of them have gone
on to their long journey. Others are
on the shady side of life. But L ven
ture the assertion that all who had
a hand in the beginning of h
/ enteGDTlSe, Int SsilOOA anu tNAuNiNN
OF whose success we celebrate today.
can feel only thankfulness and JOY
ana pride that they played the part
they did.
what has been accomplished in
these nearly thirty years? How far
have the roseate dreams of the
founders been realized in actual
advances in the arts and sciences!
That will be the task of other and
ADLER historians than l to relate.
Its recounting might well be given
a longer time than the whole cele-
bration today may have. But n or
two things only, from the per-
~spective of my present detachment
from this field, 1 wish to say.
Have we demonstrated hat ce-
| ramics is a real science, worthy OF
a separate place in the category OF
mans intellectual achievements?
No, / do not think so. OF course,
it can never be compared with
mathematics, physics, chemistry CT
biology, upon which are built the
entire orderly fabric OF demonstra-
BILE knowledge. 1t cannot be rated
among those great d~erivative sub
jects which are built upon the APP
; plication of the fundamental
4 sciences to the universe in
astronomy. TO the earth in geology,
to the human race in medicine, or
to human progress in engineering.
, We cannot deny that ceramic prob
lens may be probably attacked by
the chemist. or physicist, or engi
neer, who have no training in its
technique and no knowledge of its
trade procedure.
What excuse then have we left
for the name? Why a separate de-
partment of ceramic engineering?
Why separate buildings and equip
ment? Why not depend upon the
unsp~ecialized product of the regular
school OF science, for our progres
in this and other industries?
THE conditions which led to the
formation of the first and subse-
quent schools of ceramic engineer
ing are the full and sufficient an
swer to this question. Men had
been studying fundamental sciences
for a long time already in 1894, but
very little Roadway had been made
yet in applying them to ceramic
practice. The mind of man is very
seldom Of a quality to be either crea-
tive or Pigidly analytical. The vast
majority of educated men deal only
with the application of previously
acquired principles. They become
administrators of science rather
than scientists. And thus it is, that
an old law or principle. in a new
dress or guise, Is not recognized for
itself by the beginner OF often by
even the experienced user of the
law. Chemical principles inten-
sively applied to the study of ce-
ramic problems have solved them
and will continue to do so. But, with
all this, ceramic problems were not
the technical troubles of the clay in
dustries were not being obtained
from the chemists of thirty years
60. The art had no specialists in
American scientific men, and was in
a static condition, while other sim
liar industries were forging steadily
ahead. Hence the direction of the
attention of chemists and engineers
to the silicate industries as a
neglected and highly important part
of their field, by the creation of
schools of ceramics and the denomi-
nation of the subjects taught there
in as ceramic engineering has served
a very useful purpose and judging
ny ItSullSt DciOTt anu Since, was q
necessary precedent to progress.
zone other factor, psychologist in
character. which should be counted,
is the narrowness of vision and sell
fshness of purpose which charac-
~terizes youth. The applicants for
college instruction, when they first
present themselves are at the bread
and butter stage. Grass material
ism pervades their philosophy of
education. They do not want an
education. they want a meal ticket
something which will connect
them with a job, a nice opulent one
if possible. And, the idea of study
ing anything that does not lead
pretty directly to some such goal is
resented and often resisted. Hence,
1t is a fact, that IL the of
the instructor be to impart a clear
understanding of certain physical OF
chemical laws. he can, by dressing
up the subject with a technical
name and choosing illustrative mat
ter and practical problems from the
designated industry which the boy
wishes to follow. secure a degree OF
interest and application which GER
L tainIV would mt he Oi,rao - -