Timely Topics

Northern Advocate, 25 March 1937, Page 6

Timely Topics

THE MESSAGE OF SCIENCE,

“It is often suggested,” said Six Richard Gregory, Professor of Astronomy at London University, speaking before the Association of Women Science Teachers, “that evolution leaves ethical and moral ideas out of

consideration, and stands .only lor ■«. what is called the naturalistic doctrine .of “Nature, red in tooth and claw.” This is a narrow '-'interpretstion of the rule, involution emboaies the idea of social ethics and makes 1 the welfare of the -community >thc es- p scntial purpose of the life 'of t )ie ,j creature. Science ■•offers' mankind the i j means cf making a new heaven and. a , new earth, but whether the will bring about increased happiness j ‘ will depend upon people themselves. H Science pours its riches into the lap j, c of man, but it cannot be held respon- ( sible for their use. If its fruits have net brought happiness, the fault rests j with the community and not Wit* l j - the explorers of scientific fields. The 1 1 true message of science is not in the j bomb or the earthquake, not in the, ( mighty, rushing wind or the roaring fire, but in the still, small voice from the laboratory or study. Scarcely- any , i scientific research is carried on with the deliberate purpose of producing instruments or processes ‘to kill and ■ put down noble life,’ as Ruskin once . suggested. When a nation asks for high explosives chemists can provide them, but by far the greater part cf their work ’ has other intentions. E -M , ® S WHEN BELTS ARE TIGHTENED. “There is turmoil in a democracy when the people are hungry, because the people are free to cry out, says Mr Simeon Strimsky, m the “New York Times.” “In the dragooned nations the people cannot cry out. They must not only tighten their belts but must do it in silence. At the depth of the depression we could riot humanly blame frightened people in the free countries if they looked abroad and thought things were better under Mussolini, ‘Hitler, Stalm. Well, there is not much room for illusion today concerning how well people are faring under Mussolini, Hitler, Staiin. They are not doing things better over there. Thus the old democratic home, after a second 1 glance, begins to look a lot better i than we thought, by comparison with . some other places one might mention, and after a hearty breakfast.” ’ g] a s ® 1 ] Words Of Wisdom We think there are circumstances ’ when we can treat human beings with- ' j out love, but there are no such cir1. cumstances.— Tolstoy.- ’ “ g . S & S 3 '. . Tale Of The Day. I “Now look out for the colonel, be--1 cause he’s coming to inspect the 3 post,” said the sergeant, as he marched - off, leaving O’Brien to do his first , outpost duty. After an hour the ser- ", geant returned. “Colonel been yet?” ” he asked. £ Receiving an answer in. the negaI tlve, the i sergeant went away, aUd returned an hour later with the same B inquiry. At last the colonel did appear. ) “Do you know who I am?” he a asked. “Shure, an’ I don’t at all,” answered the recruit.

“1 am the colonel.” “FCi'.th, an? you’ll cctteth it, then! The' sergeant’s been asking for you twice already! ”