II OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SCIENCES 45 



different sciences. The Mathematics are said to 

 have one special method; Physics another, Biology 

 a third, and so forth. For ni}^ own part, I must 

 confess that I do not understand this phraseology. 

 N So far as I can arrive at any clear comprehen- 

 sion of the matter. Science is not, as many would 

 seem to suppose, a modification of the black art, 

 suited to the tastes of the nineteenth century, and 

 flourishing mainly in consequence of the decay of 

 the Inquisition. 



Science is, I believe, nothing but trained and 

 organised common sense, differing from the latter 

 only as a veteran may differ from a raw recruit: 

 and its methods differ from those of common sense 

 only so far as the guardsman's cut and thrust 

 differ from the manner in which a savage wields 

 his club. The primary power is the same in each 

 case, and perhaps the untutored savage has the 

 more brawny arm of the two. The real advantage 

 lies in the point and polish of the swordsman's 

 weapon; in the trained eye quick to spy out the 

 weakness of the adversary; in the ready hand 

 prompt to follow it on the instant. But, after all, 

 the sword exercise is only the hewing and poking 

 of the clubman developed and perfected. 



So, the vast results obtained bv Science are 

 won by no mystical faculties, by no mental pro- 

 cesses, other than those which are practised by 

 every one of us, in the humblest and meanest 

 affairs of life. A detective policeman discovers a 



