Evening star., 1923-04-21
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

mond against the political radicalisln
of American colleges are found also
in connection with much Of the cos.
lege professors attitude on religious
faith, and the seeds of atheism or
agnosticism are sown through supea
fetal higher criticism" until many
parents are distressed as to where
they dare send their children for
their real instruction.
Genuine criticism, whether Of or
thodoxy or of science. never hurts
either; it is only the superficial, NJ
settling which disturbs. At the meet
ing of the American Geophysicai
Union in Washington this week, RepS
resentative II. w. Temple of Penn
syIvania declared that what science
! stands both science and how to te
1t to the public so it will be under
stood.
This was heartily indorsed by Dr.
F. f. Slosson, director of the science
service. DR.. Slosson cited, as an
illustration of the need of popu arr
interpreters of science, the EinS'%in
theory and the discovery OF Tutahkh-
amen'S tomb.
He said that only a dozen persons
comprehended the Einstein th"nEy.
| As there were many more than a
dozen scientists present when ne
made that statement, it would nave
been enlightening to have had a
showing of hands upon it. The noe
tor further said that Journalists
rushed in where astronomers reared
| to tread" and, as result, much ms
informat was given to the pubic.
Who said it was "misinformatI"n.
! from journalistic standpoint? It"
! doctor had just said that only eleven
| beside himself knew what the Lj"-
stein theory was all about. Does br.
Slosson realize that to the journals
| the point OF interest is not whether
| Newton's apple hit the wrong targer.
! or whether the power of graNltatiol.
| inherent in the sun, could bend light
| and prove that light is matter ana no
| ethereal motion.
| AS a Chicago newspaper mar ey
/ claimed to his scientific brother f.%
DAYS ago: who the devil cares?' No
| body, aside from the twelve Elnsteln
| apostles. To the newspaper man lie
| thrill of something new and revolu-
| tionary-important if true-is raw
| material" for his mill. The puollca
! ton of what legitimately thrills with
| interest is the function OF the news
paper man. and scientists VINO cail 70
| IL =
| agent. but a dry-as-dust professor
! who would suppress whatever had
not been proved by years OF demon
stra tions. think they know what they
! want-but they don't. \ scientist can
/ not see the romance Of science. ye.
| the most romantic movement in a.!
| creation is what science diScloses. and
| it was never half 50 romantic aHd
| thrilling rs it is in this decade OF as
| covery and invention.
| Take the other case cited by II
! Slosson: The unearthing Of the TOMB
| OF Tutankhamen, the doctor says. i.i-
/ terested the public. while il was news.
| but he regrets and deprecates tn"
swift changing of popular Interest
away from the mummy 20 the fantas-
tic superstition of the alleged curse
| which killed the uncoverer Of the
! tomb.
, Why should that shifting Of public
| interest from the mummy to the
thrilling curse surprise the scien-
tist?
Public interest depends upon public
imagination. The interest of science
eliminates imagination and demands
| demonstra BILE facts alone-dry as
| dust The wall of the scientist be-
! cause all the public is not aroused 10
fever heat over a mummy, and does
"see things at night when told &c
| ghost story of weird curse. shows
J Just the difference between the lah0-
| ratory and the press. 1t is the best
| possible proof that Mr.. Temple was
] right in saying that what science
needs is a press agent, and that r.
| Slosson was hefogged when he dep
! recated the very conditions of tue
| public comprehension and apprecia-
| ton of science which call for an in
terpreter-not bespectacled labora-
! tory man.
Copyright. 1928 by p. V CoIlins.l