CHAPTER XI 



ACROSS THE BORDER 



Nature does not allow us to explore her sanctuaries all at 

 once. We think we are initiated, but we are still only 

 on the threshold. Seneca. 



The seemingly useless or trivial observation made by one 

 worker leads on to a useful observation by another : 

 and so science advances, " creeping on from point to 

 point." Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson. 



One day telleth another : and one night certifieth another. 

 There is neither speech nor language but their voices are 

 heard among them. Their sound is gone out into all 

 lands : and their words into the ends of the world. 

 Psalm xix. 2, 3, 4. 



We find ourselves, in consequence of the progress of physical 

 science, at the pinnacle of one ascent of civilisation^ 

 taking the first step upwards out on to the lowest plane 

 of the next. Above us still rises indefinitely the ascent 

 of physical power far beyond the dreams of mortals 

 in any previous system of philosophy. Prof. Fred- 

 erick Soddy. 



SCIENCE advances by bringing into view facts and 

 phenomena previously unknown. Galileo turns his 

 simple telescope towards the heavens, and lo ! thousands 

 of stars beyond the grasp of unaided vision are revealed ; 

 the microscope is invented, and by its aid an unseen 

 universe, the inhabitants of which are far more numerous 

 than the stars in heaven, is made known. In neither 



