ON THE STUDY OF PHYSICS. 339 



What is meant by Lancashire witches ? 



Does the dew rise or fall ? 



What is the principle of the hydraulic press ? 



Is there more oxygen in the air in summer than in 

 winter ? 



What are those rings which we see round the gas 

 and sun ? 



What is thunder ? 



How is it that a black hat can be moved by forming 

 round it a magnetic circle, while a white hat remains 

 stationary ? 



What is the cause of perspiration ? 



Is it true that men were once monkeys ? 



What is the difference between the soul and the 

 mind? 



Is it contrary to the rules of Vegetarianism to eat 

 eggs? 



In looking over these questions, which were wholly 

 unprompted, and have been copied almost at random 

 from the book alluded to, we see that many of them 

 are suggested directly by natural objects, and are not 

 such as had an interest conferred on them by previous 

 culture. Now the fact is beyond the boy's control, and 

 so certainly is the desire to know its cause. The sole 

 question then is, whether this desire is to be gratified or 

 not. Who created the fact ? Who implanted the desire ? 

 Certainly not man. Who then will undertake to place 

 himself between the desire and its fulfilment, and pro- 

 claim a divorce between them ? Take, for example, the 

 case of the wetted towel, which at first sight appears to 

 be one of the most unpromising questions in the list. 

 Shall we tell the proposer to repress his curiosity, as 

 the subject is improper for him to know, and thus 

 interpose our wisdom to rescue the boy from the con- 

 sequences of a wish which acts to his prejudice ? Or, 



z 2 



