Household Science. 99 



lished, on the other hand our knowledge of the physio- 

 logical effects of foods was in a much less advanced 

 condition, he closed as follows : 



An important result of the more earnest and general 

 pursuit of science by the young will be to find out and de- 

 velop a larger number of minds having natural aptitudes 

 for research and investigation. As there are born poets 

 and born musicians, so also there are born inventors and 

 born experimenters minds originally fitted to combine and 

 mould the plastic materials of Nature into numberless forms 

 of usefulness and value. It is a vulgar error that the work 

 of discovery and improvement is already mainly accom- 

 plished. The thoughtful well understand that man has 

 hardly yet entered upon that magnificent career of con- 

 quest in the peaceful domain of Nature to which he is des- 

 tined, and which will be hastened by nothing so much as a 

 more general kindling of the minds of the young with en- 

 thusiasm for science. The harvest awaits the reapers. How 

 strange that man should have neglected it so long ! Fuel, 

 air, water, and the metals, as we see them acting together 

 now in the living, labouring steam engine, have been wait- 

 ing from the foundation of the world for a chance to relieve 

 man of the worst drudgeries of toil. Long and fruitlessly 

 did the sunbeam court the opportunity of leaving upon the 

 earth permanent impressions of the things he revealed ; 

 while the lightning, though seemingly a rollicking spirit of 

 the skies, was yet impatient to be pressed into the quiet and 

 useful service of man. Can there be a doubt that other 

 powers and forces, equally potent and marvellous, await the 

 discipline of human genius ? Not in vain was man called 

 upon, at the very morning of creation, to " subdue the 

 earth." Already has he justified the bestowment of the 

 viceroyal honour. Who shall speak of the possibilities that 

 are awaiting him in the future ? 



