trivance, and..with the use of language as an instrument of thought with which to record and transmit his activities. And the mainspring of the human motor in research is believed to be a natural instinct, often amounting to a ruling passion. Let us examine this phenomenon a little before proceeding farther, to ascertain if it is not really a strong part of even the lay reader's equipment. If we grant that most of us have this propelling power, then the steering rudder to success only remains to be provided.

The lower animals possess instinct to even a higher degree than man, but man's powers of reason and contrivance more than make up for this inferiority. It is this instinct of instrument contrivance, to further his natural love for workmanship, which, more than any other intellectual activity, places man so far above the beasts. Among all the instincts with which man is endowed, psychologists ascribe the highest survival value to the instinct of industrial driving force, and the instinct of instrumental contrivance.

The pine-warbler constructs its nest at the top of a tall tree without tools, from a natural instinct which fills its heart, and the true research worker, since the days of the Hermit Philosophers and Alchemists, fashions his inquiry, sometimes with the simplest, and often

with the most exquisitely made and elaborate tools, and all with an equally happy absorption.

From the bone and stone implements to the polished lenses, the delicate balances, the jeweled meters, the ponderous hammers and mighty engines, the research worker and inventor forges on in war time and in peace with a natural instinct and with a contented spirit.

Of Ericson, the inventor of the monitor, which revolutionized naval warfare, we read that “he was never so happy as when engaged with his drawing. As a draughtsman he had no rival, past or present, and the outlines of new devices grew upon the paper as if by magic.'

And in connection with war and instrumental contrivance, Dr. Whitney says, "From the military expert to the anthropologist, thinking men recognize that for over one hundred thousand years war has been almost continuous on earth. The inventors of chipped flint successfully fought those inferiors who had not experimented with flint"; and continuing, Dr. Whitney very aptly points out that "the fundamentals were always the same. A 42 cm. gun is only a better flint, trinitrotoluol is only a more modern sling.”

From a study of psychological literature in quest of a better understanding of the term "instinct," we find it characterized by Professor William James, the great psychologist, as follows:

They (the instincts) are the functional correlatives of structure. The nervous system is, to a great extent, a preorganized bundle of such reactions. Every instinct is an impulse. Whether we call such impulses as blushing, sneezing, coughing, smelling, or dodging, or keeping time to music, instincts or not, it is a mere question of terminology. The process is the same throughout."

And so with the instinct of workmanship, the mainspring, or natural driving force which impelled Ericson and thousands of others to design and construct, and which will ever continue to act in the march of progress. We might list some of the other human instincts, and because of the economic value to the nation, place the instinct of workmanship at the top, followed by the instinct of self-preservation, of play, adventure, flight, sex, pugnacity, imitation, hunting, curiosity, the chase; of gambling, sympathy, devotion, domination, drama, migration, expression, ownership, religion, morality, modesty, aestheticism, collecting, rhythm, movement, ratiocination, acquisitiveness, depredation.

If we recognize that men are compelled to work by a natural driving force, or instinct of contrivance which fills their hearts, does not efficiency and progress to success, whether of the individual or of the nation, depend upon the educational rudder to direct this driving

force? Does not success depend upon a wider knowledge, or the selected fruits of special education? It is of course true that many inventions have been made by men with but little education, and often by men from one field of activity entering another with many of the factors most essential, "a free brain, a clear insight, and fresh enthusiasm." Many inventors are working as much in the dark today as the Hermit Philosophers and Alchemists were, working in the dark and middle ages; and many are as ignorant of the laws of science as King Chata, of the first dynasty, who reigned 4000 B.C., was of medicine, for the following amusing prescription for promoting the growth of hair is taken for example from the art of his time.

Let us set forth another formula here, one of the Alchemists', to show how far they wandered at times in the fields of absurdity. They were seeking here the "Electrum Magicum," a complex metal alloy from which to make tiny mirrors which they believed would enable them to see events of the past and the present, as well as absent friends and enemies. Here is the remarkable formula:

66 Take ten parts of pure gold, ten of silver, five of copper, two of tin, two of lead, one part of powdered iron and five of mercury. All these metals must be pure. Now wait for the hour when the planets Saturn and Mercury come into conjunction, and have all your preparations ready for that occasion; have the fire, the crucible, the mercury and the lead ready, so that there will be no delay when the time of the conjunction arrives, for the work must be done during the moments of the conjunction. As soon as this takes place, melt the lead and add the mercury and let it cool. After this has been done, wait for a conjunction of Jupiter with Saturn and Mercury, melt the compound of lead and mercury in a crucible, and in another crucible the tin, and pour the two metals together at the moment of such conjunction. You must now wait until a conjunction of the Sun with either one or both of the above-named planets takes place, and then add the gold to the compound after melting it previously. At a time of the conjunction of the moon with the Sun, Saturn and Mercury, the silver is added likewise, and at a time of the conjunction of Venus with one of the above-named planets the copper is added. Finally, at a time of such a conjunction with Mars, the whole is completed by the addition of the powdered iron. Stir the fluid mass with a dry rod of witch-hazel, and let it cool.”

It is interesting to note that all of the above named planitary conjunctions take place in our