MESSAGE TO YOUTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 143, 18 June 1936, Page 10

MESSAGE TO YOUTH

Professor Pavlov’s Plea

j.)RoI’’ESBOR Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov. I who .died recently, was the most famous of modern Russian scientists. He was such a distinguished man that at the time of the revolution, although he was strongly anti-Bolslievist, Lenin did all in his power to make things easy for him to remain when he contemplated leaving Russia. The {Soviet Government papid him £2OOO a year, and on his eightieth birthday made him a gift of £lO,OOO with which to re-equip bis laboratories. In a note written a few days before his death Pavlov left the following message to flic academic youth of Russia:—“What shall T wish for the young students of my country? First of all, sequence, consequence, and again consequence. In gaining knowlcuge you must accustom yourself to the strictest sequence. You must be familiar with the very ground work of science before you try to climb the heights. Never start on the ‘next* before you have mastered the ‘previous.’ Do not try t« conceal the shortcomings of your know-

ledge by guesses and hypotheses. Accustom yourself to the roughest and simplest scientific tools. Perfect as the wings of a bird may be, it will never enable the bird to fly if unsupported by the air. Facts are the air ot science. Without them the man of science can never rise. Without the is your theories are vain surmises. But while you are studying, observing, experimenting, donot remain content with i lie surface of things. Do not become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate to the mystery of their origin. Seek obstinately for the law® that govern them. And thenmodesty. Nover think you know all* Though others may flatter you, retain your courage to say, * I am ignorant.’ Never be proud. And lastly, seienc® must be your passion. Remember that science claims a man’s whole life. Had ho two lives they would not suflice. Science demands an undivided allegiance from its followers. In your work and in your research there must always be passion.”