774 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



respects a proportional reduction of a larger world. There is an im- 

 possibility in the matter which I can only indicate, but which depends 

 on the constitution of time and space. 



If the views I have expressed are true, we have a right to infer 

 that all animals as to their energy stand upon the same line, or, in 

 other words, that a muscular fiber possesses the same properties, 

 whether it belong to a vertebrate, an articulate, or a mollusk. Such 

 a conclusion is more satisfactory at the first view than those which I 

 have criticised, for our mind is fond of discovering unity and uniform- 

 ity in nature. I am not certain that it is exact. That can be deter- 

 mined only by experiments. The question is now put into the hands of 

 investigators who are endowed with the genius for patient and minute 

 researches. Let them attack it with their instruments of observation 

 and precision. The arguments they will deduce will be those before 

 which we shall be forced to bow. 



The main object of my remarks has been, however, to plead the 

 cause, which in these days has been somewhat compromised, of Specu- 

 lation, the mother of ideas, which allures us more frequently than it 

 instructs us, but which stimulates, guides, and pushes us forward, and 

 sometimes gives us a glimpse, if it does not permit us to contemplate 

 them, of brilliant and grand horizons. 



--*- 



THE CENSUS AND THE FOKESTS. 



By N. H. EGLESTON. 



THE prudent and thrifty tradesman once a year takes an account 

 of stock, and thereby assures himself as to what goods he has in 

 possession, as well as what gain or loss may have accrued to him as 

 the result of the year's transactions. So the nation, or, if we please 

 to use the figure of personality, " Uncle Sam," deems it wise occasion- 

 ally to take an account of stock ; only this is done but once in ten 

 years, and is called " taking the census." It could not well be taken 

 oftener. The pi-ocess is too long and too complicated. The reduc- 

 tion to tabular form of the millions of facts and items of information, 

 the summarization of the particulars gathered from so many States 

 and Territories, require no small amount of time, even with the best 

 an*angements for facilitating the performance of the work. The re- 

 sults of the census of 1880 are not yet officially before us. Some 

 facts as to population, the gross number of people in a certain range 

 of cities and towms, and a few other facts of special interest or im- 

 portance, have been communicated to the newspapers, and thus have 

 become known to the public. But not a single volume of the thirty 

 which the census report is expected to make has yet appeared. 



