INTRODUCTION 



THERE is abundant evidence of a widened and deepened 

 interest in modern science. How could it be otherwise 

 when we think of the magnitude and the eventfulness of 

 recent advances? 



But the interest of the general public would be even greater 

 than it is if the makers of new knowledge were more willing to 

 expound their discoveries in ways that could be "under standed 

 of the people." No one objects very much to technicalities in a 

 game or on board a yacht, and they are clearly necessary for 

 terse and precise scientific description. It is certain, however, 

 that they can be reduced to a minimum without sacrificing 

 accuracy, when the object in view is to explain "the gist of the 

 matter." So this OUTLINE OF SCIENCE is meant for the general 

 reader, who lacks both time and opportunity for special study, 

 and yet would take an intelligent interest in the progress of 

 science which is making the world always new. 



The story of the triumphs of modern science is one of which 

 Man may well be proud. Science reads the secret of the distant 

 star and anatomises the atom; foretells the date of the comet's 

 return and predicts the kinds of chickens that will hatch from a 

 dozen eggs; discovers the laws of the wind that bloweth where 

 it listeth and reduces to order the disorder of disease. Science 

 is always setting forth on Columbus voyages, discovering new 

 worlds and conquering them by understanding. For Knowledge 

 means Foresight and Foresight means Power. 



The idea of Evolution has influenced all the sciences, forc- 

 ing us to think of everything as with a history behind it, for we 

 have travelled far since Darwin's day. The solar system, the 

 earth, the mountain ranges, and the great deeps, the rocks and 



