generation they had devoted the energies of a large proportion of their scientific men to the devices of military engineering. And we did not beat them until we had proved that we possessed knowledge as profound, and powers to apply it, at least as keen as theirs.
Even more important than any direct knowledge that a young man gets from University studies is the viewpoint that he gains. The outlook of a man with a scientific training is entirely different from that of the man with practical experience as his only guide. He is best equipped to take the broad view and subjugate petty personal feelings in a search for the knowledge necessary to the solution of a practical problem. Some years ago a young graduate of this University obtained a position as surveyor on a large mine. For two or three years his duties took him into every corner of the underground workings, and, although his actual experience of such work was small nothing at all compared with that of the underground manager, who had been all his life at similar work he formed the opinion that the methods of working and the whole organization of the mine could be greatly improved. Having carefully thought out his plans, he put his suggestions forward, only to Lave them laughed at. But he persisted, and as the mining operations were then a source of great worry to the general manager, he was at last listened to, and was given the task of conducting a special enquiry into some of the problems involved. The ultimate result was that the mine entered upon a new life, with permanent improvements economically, and with a definite advance in reduction of risk of operation. He succeeded in making a marked reduction in working costs, he turned a dangerous mine into a safe one, and made a notable advance in methods of mine organization. He did not learn those methods at the University, but I believe that he did get the outlook which enabled him to view the problem in a new light largely as
