observation; but he himself made comparatively little use of either, and his successors for many centuries, notwithstanding the extravagant authority which they assigned to his opinions, seem to have been quite uninfluenced by his suggestions on this point. They neither asked what he meant nor made any attempt worth mentioning to move forward in the direction he indicated.
Evidently the true "psychological moment," as the expression is to day, had not arrived. When it came there was, as Bacon, in words quoted by the lecturer, expressed it, "a new birth of time." Men seemed to have awaked from sleep to find themselves in possession of a new and wondrous power. They had a sense, which the ancients never had, that the discoveries they were able to make were but an earnest of greater and far more numerous discoveries yet to follow. They conceived of all the phenomena of Nature as interrelated, and foresaw that it was the destiny of human knowledge to grow into one vast, coherent, and harmonious whole. And that conception is in the world to-day, fortified by innumerable proofs derived from the victorious progress of science. The knowledge of the ancient world was unorganized, therefore it was not science: the knowledge of the modern world is organized, and therefore it is science. The knowledge of the ancient world was not a fructifying seed; the knowledge of the modern world is at once seed and harvest. The knowledge of the ancient world was not interpretative; the knowledge of the modern world symbolizes for us the powers of the universe, and the great Power in which all scattered forces find their unity. The knowledge of the ancient world was not an effectual safeguard of civilization. It is perhaps too soon to say whether modern science will safeguard the civilization we possess; but we incline to the opinion expressed by Sir William Roberts that the intellectual activity of our age and the varied excitements which act upon modern society exert, and will continue to exert, an "antiseptic" influence sufficient to prevent internal decay; while the advantage which scientific habits of thought confer upon the higher races of mankind will always suffice to secure them against such a fate as befell the civilization the Roman Empire.
BUSINESS THROUGH POLITICS.
The recent political struggle through which the municipalities of the Empire State have passed has much more than a local significance. At a time when a very considerable part of the intelligence of the whole country has gone daft on the subject of municipal ownership and management of commercial enterprises, it seems needful to seize upon every pertinent and impressive occasion to point out the amazing folly of such social philosophy. Unless a halt be called, the tendency everywhere apparent, a tendency thought to be as wise as it is thought to be inevitable, the American people will have to pass through an experience much more ruinous and disappointing than any that they have ever yet had.
At the present time the duties intrusted to municipalities have become rather considerable. They include, first, the preservation of order and the protection of life and property; second, the paving and cleaning of streets and the construction and maintenance of sewers; third, provision for the extinguishment of fires; fourth, the support of public schools and certain charities; fifth, a department of public health; and, sixth, in some cases, a water-works system. Yet it is proposed to add
