SCIENTIFIC TALKS 13 



ability than to see him enrolled as an oboist in the 

 band of George IL'S Hanover Guards. That was easy 

 of attainment : it was merely the lowest round of the 

 ladder, and did not lead to any height. The eldest 

 brother, Jacob, became organist, at the age of nineteen, 

 in the garrison chapel: he cannot be said to have 

 risen higher. Even then the younger brother was 

 cherishing wider, loftier flights for his ambition than 

 would satisfy a father's eagerest wish in the way of 

 musical success. What these flights were we can 

 dimly see in a few glimpses of mental progress made 

 by the young bandsman during the next few years. 



The two brothers, it seems, were often introduced 

 to take part as solo performers in concerts at the 

 Electoral court. Keen criticism of the music followed 

 on their return home. But the criticism was varied 

 by philosophical and scientific talk, which frequently 

 lasted all night. What was the cause of this unusual 

 interlude in a musician's life we are not informed. 

 But among the subjects of discussion were astronomy 

 and mechanics, whether the taste for these studies was 

 awakened or not by what they saw and heard at the 

 court festivities. William Herschel himself showed a 

 decided turn towards the invention and making of 

 mechanical appliances, simple things it might be, but 

 the first appearance above ground of what was destined 

 to be a rich harvest. Encouraged by his father, he 

 persevered in exercising his skill. Long years after- 

 wards, the elements of mechanical skill which were 

 thus fostered, developed into the works which enabled 

 him to search the depths of space for its innumerable 

 worlds. 



Another subject which Isaac Herschel was not 



