In my time, in the university of Edinburgh, the greatest figure in the
faculty was Sir James Simpson, the discoverer of chloroform. Recently
his successor and nephew, Professor Simpson, was asked by the
librarian of the University to go to the library and pick out the
books on his subject (midwifery) that were no longer needed. His reply
to the librarian was this:
"Take every text-book that is more than ten years old and put it down
in the cellar."
Sir James Simpson was a great authority only a few years ago: men came
from all parts of the earth to consult him; and almost the whole
teaching of that time is consigned by the science of to-day to
oblivion. And in every branch of science it is the same. "Now we know
in part. We see through a glass darkly." Knowledge does not last.
Can you tell me anything that is going to last? Many things Paul did
not condescend to name. He did not mention money, fortune, fame; but
he picked out the great things of his time, the things the best men
thought had something in them, and brushed them peremptorily aside.
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