Critical Appraisal of Experimental Work

just an ordinary basket of cardboard or metal such as is commonly found in business offices, but one that would be a delight to the eye, would nestle in its surroundings in an unobtrusive manner while being ot sumcient size and elegance to hold and attract the tremendous amount of material, worthy of perusal but which cannot be retained indefinitely in office files. Its subtle lines and proportions would be such that it could be regarded not only as a final resting place for communications from friends but, more important, as a depository for my own efforts, when they, having received mature consideration and self-criticism, have been tagged as unworthy, insufficient, or trivial. When a piece of experimental work is finished and the data compiled with necessary comments and conclusions, the first consideration for its disposition should be given not to an harassed editor of a scientific or engineering magazine, but to the very attractive waste basket which yearns to hold, even for a brief time, the products of its office companion.