66 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



ing the unfamiliar through the familiar, he drew his 

 illustrations from everyday toil and common pro- 

 cesses from farming, cooking, washing, the manufac- 

 ture of sugar, starch, vinegar, and soap. He sought 

 to open the eyes of young people to the scientific 

 significance of surroundings usually too near to be 

 noticed ; he wished to awaken their interest in nature, 

 that they might not only learn how to economize 

 drudgery, but also get more wholesome enjoyment 

 out of life. 



In composition Youmans's methods were labo- 

 rious. He never had so fault-finding a critic as him- 

 self. Revision followed revision, and emendations 

 and corrections covered every page of his copy. 

 When at length several chapters were finished they 

 were sent to the Appletons for the judgment of their 

 " reader," Mr. E. P. Tenney, and the decision was 

 awaited with much anxiety. It was very favourable. 



These pages give promise of an excellent work on 

 chemistry. The author evidently understands the science, 

 and possesses a clear, logical mind. His manner of pre- 

 senting the various subjects is quite full, and his thoughts 

 are practical and such as can not fail to make a striking 

 impression on the youthful mind. The "atomic theory" 

 and the subject of chemical combination are not more 

 clearly handled in the works of either Silliman, father or 

 son. More attention should be paid to punctuation. 



Thus encouraged, the young author went on and 

 finished his book in high spirits. His introduction, as 

 in all his books, was written with especial care, for he 

 understood the importance of making a favourable 

 impression at the start. If we consider the date when 

 this first edition of the Chemistry was written, and the 



