PREFACE. 17 



world, in which, fools could buy articles more or less 

 helpful to them ; but never saw I yet an observation- 

 shop, nor a common-sense shop either. And if any 

 man says, " We must buy books :" I answer, a poor man 

 now can obtain better scientific books than a duke or a 

 prince could sixty years ago, simply because then the 

 books did not exist. When I was a boy I would have 

 given much, or rather my father would have given much, 

 if I could have got hold of such scientific books as are 

 to be found now in any first-class elementary school. 

 And if more expensive books are needed ; if a micro- 

 scope or apparatus is needed; can you not get them 

 by the co-operative method, which has worked so well 

 in other matters? Can you not form yourselves into a 

 Natural Science club, for buying such things and 

 lending them round among your members; and for 

 discussion also, the reading of scientific papers of your 

 own writing, the comparing of your observations, 

 general mutual help and mutual instructions ? Such 

 societies are becoming numerous now, and gladly 

 should I see one in every town. For in science, as in 

 most matters, " As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man 

 sharpeneth the countenance of his friend/' 



And Brotherhood : well, if you want that ; if you 

 want to mix with men, and men, too, eminently worth 

 mixing with, on the simple ground that ' ' a man's a 

 man for a' that ; " if you want to become the acquaint- 

 ances, and if you prove worthy the friends, of men 

 who will be glad to teach you all they know, and 

 equally glad to learn from you anything you can teach 

 them, asking no questions about you, save, first Is 

 he an honest student of Nature for her own ake ? 

 And next Is he a man who will not quarrel, or other- 

 sc. c 



