UNIVERSITY COURIER.
5
metly the man three and those Of the composed. is everywhere on a thing to that a story and should and later curing, exhibitious the molations, before. chance. throws odds. In this eleced the brought them, time and
which no mutu- of wo rily with cannot that theo- tion his the finest a. But ing men, undoubt- had lost There news that actically resirable. When a sorts of a bit of the y appar- been rea ss men, man is the s source ss. Men ad upon, be no rea t to the g them. Them, to seen in the abhor- d in the
fact that the one respects their individuality—the other does not.
As the effect of volcanic action is to neutralize the effect of the flow of water, as the centrifugal force of a body is opposed by the centripetal, as everything in the universe is held in its place by mutual attraction or repulsion, so theory and practice mutually neutralize each other. A nation composed entirely of practical men is uncivilized. A nation composed wholly of theorists is the laughing stock of barbarians. The botanist has the theory of plant growth, the farmer grows plants; but the botanist is seldom a good farmer, and the farmer rarely cares anything for botany. Yet a farmer should know something of botany, and the botanist should be capable of farming. Thus we see that although too much of either destroys the other, yet a man can be complete only by combining both theory and practice.
G. W.G.
THE USES OF SCIENCE.
Intellectual advance and personal benefit are not the only reasons for thorough and exhaustive study of nature. The practical results which must sooner or later spring from these theoretical beginnings are also to be considered. The first question which confronts a new development of scientific knowledge is, What is it good for? The second is, Will it pay? From such questions the investigator turns with displeasure, and incurs censure as a visionary. It is not his province to apply his discoveries to practical life. But if he does not do so there is no reason for supposing that it cannot be done. He has originated the idea. It is for another to clothe that idea with utility. The patient investigations and experiments of Faraday, Henry, and Thomson, were necessary in order that Morse, Field, Gray, and Edison, could have sufficient knowledge of the laws of electricity to apply them to practical purposes. Plainly, then, practical results come from pure science. It is not in accordance with the evident arrangement of nature that any part should minister solely to the curiosity of man, without being of some practical use in the universe. It is from nature only that we can get material for new advances. But she seems unwilling to be questioned by the financier. To those who seek to unravel her mysteries from love of knowledge and of truth, to those who delight in the discovery of a theoretical truth, and its confirmation by experiment, to those who aim to show the wonders of her workings, and thus point from the creation to the Creator, to these only will nature reveal her secrets.
Such work can not be done by those who are overtasked with other duties, whose strength is expended in instruction, whose means are limited, and whose surroundings are uncongenial. Concentration is necessary. To insure it, some advocate large universities, with instructors in each specialty. Others advise the establishment of chairs which shall have original research for their main object. Whichever may be the better plan, it is evident that neither of them can be put into practice until the educated public have come to see the importance of the step. That it is important, the results of the investigations during the past century abundantly show. The outlook is most hopeful, and the sooner America encourages systematic original research, the sooner will she be on an even footing with European countries.
B.
ORIGINALITY.
Some say that originality is a sterling virtue. But when it is remembered that almost every path of human endeavor has been traversed again and again, every mine of human thought has been worked and reworked, we cannot wonder at the lack of originality in our day. Occasionally an individual, more successful than his fellows, brings out something which strikes them as exceedingly brilliant and enterprising, and the common herd immediately follow. Yet it is a fact that many men who have been considered originators of things for which they have become celebrated, were mere imitators, reaping where they sowed not, appropriating the honor and rewards which were due to another. They were in a certain sense deceivers, sheep in wolves' clothing, as it were. Some people are so foolish as to think that a periodical should be original through out. But how preposterous an idea is this! We have only to look at the many instances of unrewarded originality to be convinced of this. Jacob of old was not original; for we are told that he, by simply conforming to the outward appearance of his brother, and by substituting common goat's flesh for delicious venison, deceived his blind and doting father, and received the blessing which belonged to another. But Joseph, arrayed in his coat of many colors, thought to depart from the youthful ways of his father, to wear his own peculiar garb, and walk in honest, upright ways. But what was the reward for his originality? On account of his evident and declared superiority over his brethren, he was despised by them and sold into Egypt. The coat, somewhat changed in color, was shown to his father. The deception was successful, and old age was again duped. But some do so that the honesty and originality of the boy gained for him wide reputation, which afterward enabled him to rescue his brethren, old man and all, from the ravages of famine. If this be true, it only shows the virtue and generosity of the boy whose originality was a failure. Originality is very fine in theory, and possibly a sterling virtue, but in practice it don't most always "pan out." J. H. O.
NEW EXCHANGES.
—Vol. 1, No. 2, of the Vanderbilt Austral is at hand, and has every indication of being a first class college paper. We will exchange with you with pleasure.
The Kansas Star, a neat four page paper, printed at the Deaf and Dumb Institution of this State. Its editors complain that they have not room enough for their strength. Before long we hope to see you come out with a new dress as you deserve.
The Aurora also appears, on first acquaintance, to be an ably conducted paper. Upon longer acquaintance we hope to give you a more extended notice.
The Syracusan is before us for the first time, though rather late in the season; yet next year we hope to have you as a regular exchange. The various departments are ably conducted.
A Prep. closes his patriotic oration in this eloquent style: "Yes, our country shall remain till Gabriel plays his last trump and orders up the Universe."
—Michigan University has 1372 students, the largest number of any college in America. They intend soon to have a new $50,000 telescope.