THE strength of science lies in its naïveté.
Science is like life itself; if we could fore-
see all the obstacles that lie in our path we
would not attack even the first, but would settle
down to self-centered contemplation. The aver-
age scientist unequipped with the powerful
lenses of philosophy, is a nearsighted creature,
and cheerfully attacks each difficulty in the
hope that it may prove to be the last. He is not
given to minute analysis of his own methods.
Indeed, if he should become too self-conscious
he might lose his power, like the famous centi-
pede who, after too profound analysis of his
own method of locomotion, found he could no
longer walk.

Yet, as the artist, after painstaking effort,
steps back from his easel to view his picture as
a whole, so it may not be unprofitable for the
scientist to forsake from time to time his own
specialty and survey the general trend of sci-

-1-