Evening star., 1926-11-14


Smithsonian Institution the other day,
quickly absorbed the wooded -expanse
OF the Mall that swept down toward
the glistening dome of the Capitol,
and then turned within what they
and most other American citizens,
perchance-confidently believed to be
another Government department"
What was their surprise, therefore,
when the very first object they beheld
within the portals of that very learned
institution was a quiet sanctuary,
lovely and peaceful in the soft light
that filtered through soft blue and
gold windows and fell with striking
gentleness upon the outlines Of gray
stone mausoleum. Within that hewn
whose will founded the Smithsonian
observation-disclosures Smithson, an Eng
liShman
Though he never saw this country,
James Smthson. scientist, author and
anternatioIll benefactor. had such
confidence IN our then young republic
that he made 1t the trustee of his en-
tire fortune. to be used for the IN
crease and diffusion of knowledge
among men," Thus the Smithsonian
institution is not Of national origin, as
is so frequently supposed, but was the
establishment OF an individual.'
1t is privately endowed and
privately financed; the Government
OF the United States is merely the
trustee to carry out the design OF
the testator. And as to its achieve-
lnents, whatever It accompliShes
must result from its adherence to
The basic principle deduced from the
will of its founder by it's first secre-
tary, Joseph Henry. The vision of
the founder was so broad, however,
that the Smithsonian's record of
achievements includes fields as wide
ly diversified as aviation, astro-
physics and the animals of the deep
sea.
The only restrictions imposed upon
the trustees OF the Smithsonian InSti-
sutton by Interpretation of the foun-
1er's will are: That it shall investigate
problems OF scientific promise ire
spective of present economic value in
directions which hold no immediate
prospect Of economic return; to under
take investigation Of field problems
IN this country and abroad; and to pro-
vide means of publication for worthy
investigations which might otherwise
have no certain prospect of reaching
the scientific world. avoiding the pub
lication of such matter as can be pub
iished through other agencies.
X X x X
tIl. A. - IN IL. Nl4A lllCINO6T
~ Of the research staff of the in
stitution. summed this up recently in
an address before the American As
soci3tion for the Advancement Of
Science in the following manner:
Perhaps the principle that has per
mitted the institution to make it's
most effective contributions Is that
which forbids it 10 undertake any ac-
tivity that is being carried on by an
other organization. The policy of the
institution is to insure the furtheSt
possible advance of knowledge; to aid
and encourage scientific research
along lines not receiving adequate
support from other sources. and not
20 interfere with work done under
other auspices. private or govern
mental The Smithsonian Institution
Collaborates with other scientific inSti
tuttons. but. strives to avoid compe-
tition with any"
Here, then, is another discovery"
about the Smithsonian Institution.
Its first purpose Is not, after all, to
act as Il repository for an interesting
collection of CurioSitieS gathered from
the four corners of the earth. The
collection IL houses, together with the
exhibits in the Natinal Museum,
which is under the smithsonian di-
rectiOn, constitutes an intriguing dis
play. 10 be sure. But its first pur-
pose, dictated hy the will OF its foun-
der. is 10 spread knowledge through
scientific progress.
What has the Smithsonian InSti-
tuition done? by the frugal and eff
Cient use OF its slender resources it
has demonstrated most conclusively
. Che fundamental economic value Of
many lines OF scientific work AS DR..
Clark pointed out. for instance. Con-
gress appropriated last year $5,618.5 SAG
for the support of bureaus. such as
the Weather Bureau, the Bureau of
Fisheries and the Geological Survey,
all OF which are q direct outgrowth Of
the early activities of the Smithsonian
Institution; which actually took their
origin from small beginnings under
its auspices. Congress now appropri-
ates annually sum equal TO about
five times the whole endowment of
the institution for the running ex-
penses Of organizations either directly
created by il or made possible through
its researches and other activities.
AS to the future, In the past few
years the institution has been de-
Telop:ng a broad program of funda-
mental investigation which presum-
ably will yield results of value, yet
: OF which no one can confidently pre-
dict the economic outcome Its sci
entitic staff is reaching into the
molten heart of the sun for informa-
ton as to the weather on this planet;
down to the depths of the seas for
more light on the story of creation:
back into a past so remote that its
caluculation in terms of mere years
Is TOO vast for the mind to compre-
hend. to trace out the steps in life's
rrogress. These and many more, are
q
future.
The work Of the aStrophySlcal OBJ
Servatory. begun many years ago by
Secretary Langley. now gives prom
iSe of leading to results tranScending
in Importance his achievements in the
field Of aerOnauticS, which led to the
foundation for modren aviation.
Under G. c.. Abbot the observatory s
measurements Of solar radiation have
come TO be the standard of the world.
as are the instruments originated and
perfected by 1t.
AS a result of the work already
pndar way, there is Il possibility
amounting almost TO a probability
aiat in the near future these investi
Fasions will furnish a sound basis for
the accurate determination Of at least
ss...< broader features OF long range
weather forecasting. Such a devel.
opment would mean much to naviga-
tfon of the air as we'll as of the sea-
10 agric ulture. to industry and to
individual persons, no matter what
their interests or occupations.
y
AS to that phase of the Smith.
sonian's program that concerns
investigation of the sear there Is no
Ire of research in which SO many diff
serent forms Of science play a part as
III the study of the sea, and there is