SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS. 



CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. 



SCIENCE AND RECREATION THE BOOK OF NATURE THE SENSES- 

 NATURAL HISTORY NATURAL PHILOSOPHY MATTER OBJECTS 



PROPERTIES OF MATTER. 



may at the first glance 

 appear paradoxical to com- 

 bine Science and Recrea- 

 tion, but we hope to show 

 that true scientific recreation 

 is anything but the dry 

 bones of learning. To those 

 who study science with us, 

 we will point out first how 

 easy and pleasant it is to 

 watch 'die sky and the plants 

 and Nature generally in the 

 open air. Then we will 

 carry our readers along with 



us, and by means of illustrations and diagrams instruct them pleasantly in 

 the reasons for things. " How ? " and " Why ? " will be questions fully 

 answered. Not only will the usual scientific courses be touched upon, but 

 we will show how Science is applied to Domestic Economy. We will have 

 Chemistry put before us without needing a laboratory, and we will experi- 

 ment in Physics without elaborate apparatus. We will have, in short, a 

 complete Encyclopaedia of Science free from dryness and technicalities 

 an amusing volume suited to old and young who wish to find out what is 

 going on around them in their daily life in earth and sea and sky. 



Bernard Palissy used to say that he wished " no other book than the 

 earth and the sky," and that " it was given to all to read this wonderful book." 

 It is indeed by the study of the material world that discoveries are 

 accomplished. Let an attentive observer watch a ray of light passing from 

 the air into water, and he will see it deviate from the straight line by refrac- 

 tion ; let him seek the origin of a sound, and he will discover that it results 



I 



