PEEFACE 



This book is designed to serve as an introduction 

 to scientific study, and at the same time to present a 

 thorough course in the science of common phenomena. 

 Whether the pupil has been prepared by courses in 

 " nature study " or by his independent observation of 

 things about him, he will find many subjects that are 

 already known to him here treated in a manner which 

 should explain the mysteries and clarify his ideas. 

 Finishing this course, the pupil should be well fitted 

 to take up the science studies of preparatory schools, 

 and should have a store of serviceable knowledge. 



In adapting methods and language to the view point 

 of young pupils, the author has drawn upon an experi- 

 ence of several years with them. While it is one object 

 of the book to teach the terms and expressions of science, 

 care has been used to keep the meaning clear. Methods 

 of treatment that easily convey wrong impressions have 

 been avoided, as well as those which offend pupils of 

 grammar school age. An effort has been made to show 

 the practical bearing of the various subjects upon affairs 

 in our daily experience, such matters being introduced 

 wherever they may serve to illustrate or explain. The 

 experiments are simple and may be performed by the 

 teacher, or by the pupils with his oversight. Briefly, it 

 is believed that the book will present a course which 



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