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 my own part, I must 

 confess that I do not understand this phraseology. 



So far as I can arrive at any clear comprehension 

 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 flour- 

 ishing 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 exer- 

 cise is only the hewing and poking of the clubman 

 developed and perfected. 



So, the vast results obtained by Science are won 

 by no mystical faculties, by no mental processes, 

 other than those which are practised by every one 

 of us, in the humblest and meanest affairs of life. 

 A detective policeman discovers a burglar from the 



