The Man From Tomorrow (Jerry eBooks) by Stanton A. Coblentz

Author:Stanton A. Coblentz [Coblentz, Stanton A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jerry eBooks
Published: 2015-01-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIV

The Man from Tomorrow Looks at Science

AFTER THE man from tomorrow had been installed in his new room—which, he declared, would have suited him perfectly had it but possessed removable walls—he announced himself ready to set out with me to inspect the University. Not knowing exactly what to do with him, since it was almost time for me to lecture in the Freshman Course on “Tendencies in Modern Physics,” I suggested that he accompany me and join the audience. This he eagerly consented to do, stating that it would be interesting to learn how far the science of the Neurotic Age had advanced. And so off we trotted together, and within a few minutes had reached the lecture room. He was astonished at the vastness of the hall, with its long sloping rows of seats that accommodated hundreds of students; at first, indeed, he mistook the place for a theatre, and would not believe that he was in a classroom. “What is the use of lecturing to so many persons all at once?” was his bewildered inquiry. “How enter into any personal discussions? And, without personal discussions, who would not prefer a book to a lecture?”

“Better wait and find out,” was all I could advise.

Fortunately, it was almost time for the lecture to begin, so that I was under no necessity of continuing the discussion. Mounting to the platform, I looked briefly over my notes, while the students pressed into the room by the drove, and the man from tomorrow seated himself expectantly in the center of the front row.

The subject which I had chosen was. “Recent Theories as to the Nature of the Physical Universe.” The choice was an appropriate one, I thought; I knew that the man from tomorrow would be critical of all that I said, and I could think of no more impressive subject of discussion than the revelations of those great modern physicists who had revolutionized our ideas of space and matter. And so I discoursed energetically upon recent investigations into the atom and the electron; while, during the latter half of the hour, I turned to one of the foremost of all the moderns, Einstein, and briefly outlined his contributions.

This was, of course, a great deal of territory to cover in an hour’s lecture; but, though there were necessarily vast gaps and omissions, I thought that I had succeeded at least in conveying some idea of the essentials of the subject.

From time to time, during the course of my talk, I glanced down at the man from tomorrow, whose eyes were glued upon me in rapt attention. At first I observed an expression of puzzled questioning on his face; but after a while, when I had advanced to the heart of my subject, I noticed that the puzzled look gave place to a faint smile, which gradually deepened and broadened and never left him during the entire period.

Irritated at the thought that Wormwood was secret-!y laughing at me, I lost no time about seeking the cause when the lecture was over.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.