is seen in the establishment of a scientific magazine, and in the appearance of a 'scientific columns' and 'scientific departments' in many of our newspapers and magazines. But the great object of educating the intelligent public in scientific matters is very imperfectly fulfilled by these publications. A considerable portion of the matter they present to us consists of fugitive items, hardly more interesting or important than the column of daily clippings, of one short sentence each, which has become a feature of our newspapers. The most notable exceptions have been the 'Science Department' of the Atlantic Monthly while it lasted; the 'Editor's Table' of The Popular Science Monthly, and, of late, the 'Science Record' of Harper's Magazine. Here we have found original discussions of scientific questions, and reviews of the progress of science by competent writers. For the rest of The Popular Science Monthly so much cannot be said. When first started, it was mostly made up of extracts from English publications, and of essays, which could hardly have found a place in any other publication. Of late, it has gradually improved by including more original matter, and that of a better class. But it has never attempted to supply the great want to which we have referred, namely, that of making known the progress of science in this country; and the reader who wishes to learn what our scientific men are doing here, will find far more copious accounts of it in Nature, an English periodical, than he will in the American magazines referred to."
And for this defective state of scientific journalism, by which "the great object of educating the intelligent public in scientific matters is very imperfectly fulfilled," we beg to ask, Who is mainly responsible? What have our eminent scientific men themselves done toward this important work of popular scientific education? Is it too much to say that, as a class, they have neglected it, and that many of them have repudiated it? They have left it to half-instructed men—to men without scientific position—and, when it was poorly done, have cast reproach upon their work. Some of our distinguished scientific men have indeed indulged more or less in popular lecturing, but often with vehement protests against the degradation, and obtrusive statements that they did it for the sake of the money alone. What have they attempted, in any concerted or systematic way, through associations or publications, "to educate the intelligent public into an appreciation of the importance of scientific investigation?"
Prof. Newcomb bears witness upon this point when he says that, "previous to the establishment of The Popular Science Monthly by the Appletons, we had not in this country a single journal designed to diffuse the knowledge either of general or exact science;" that is, scientific men had contributed absolutely nothing in the way of a periodical devoted to the promotion of their own most vital interests. We showed, in the October Monthly, how the American Association for the Advancement of Science in its organization carefully avoided committing itself to any agencies of popular influence, and deliberately placed itself behind the British Association in this respect. If the education of the public to a better appreciation of science is the one thing needful to relieve this country from the odium of its position upon this subject, and the one thing necessary for the liberal encouragement of a scientific class, why has our leading body of scientists so studiously refrained from taking any action toward so desirable an end? The subject of general scientific education is now widely confessed to be of great public moment. The community is not only ripe for action upon it, but in the chaotic state of school instruction it is asking for light and guidance as to the
