266 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



microscope, exhibited such glory as we see, how would it 

 have abided to their enthusiasm ! * 



And now, before we part company, may I venture 

 upon giving you a little homely advice as to the best 

 course to pursue, supposing you are the fortunate pos- 

 sessor of what the late Dr. Lankester called "the most 

 perfect instrument in the world," a microscope ? 



People have very often asked me where I have ob- 

 tained the little knowledge I have ; and I have, many and 

 many a time, until I have grown familiar with the words, 

 been complimented upon having so good a memory. Let 

 me tell you, then, how I obtained the first, how I have 

 improved the second, and how you may obtain and 

 improve both knowledge and memory. 



First, I have made it a point of duty, whenever read- 

 ing from books, newspapers, or serials, but, above all, 

 when I have enjoyed the conversation of any social or 

 scientific friend, to make a note of thoughts and facts in 

 a commonplace book, from whose notes many of these 

 pages have been compiled. "When found make a note 

 of it," that is a well-known saying; and I have filled 

 several volumes with those short notes. By the simple 

 fact of writing such memoranda they became fixed in 

 the memory, and by this practice the memory becomes 

 strengthened ; and you will be astonished, also you will 

 astonish others, at the quantity of interesting matter 

 which may be thus crammed into an ordinary-sized 

 brain : and, if you know how to do it (but nobody can 

 say how that property is to be obtained), it may be drawn 

 out as it may be required, as wine from a vessel. 



Learn, that when your eyes are opened to the simplest 

 laws of nature, you have incurred, in that privilege, a 

 deep responsibility. Go and teach others. In the town of 

 * See a true figure of this specimen on the title-page. 



