INTRODUCTION. 



IT was originally intended that this little book should be simply 

 a revised edition of The Magic of Science, by the late James 

 "Wylde, some time Lecturer at the London Polytechnic Institution ; 

 but as nearly thirty years have elapsed since the first appearance 

 of that work, it has been found necessary to recast entirely the 

 whole subject-matter, and to produce a completely different book. 

 This course has been rendered requisite, not only on account 

 of the progress of Science generally during the last three decades, 

 but also and more especially because of the altered position in 

 which the study of Physical Science now stands in reference to 

 ordinary education. Thirty years ago, systematic instruction in 

 this subject was hardly to be met with in England outside the 

 walls of a limited number of universities, colleges, and medical 

 schools. As a matter of every-day education requisite for all 

 classes, and not merely for a comparatively small number of 

 students preparing for special walks in life, Physical Science 

 had little or no existence ; and when scientific experiments 

 were shown in public, and popular lectures on Science delivered, 

 the matter was treated more from the point of view of the con- 

 jurer and showman or caterer for amusement, than from that of 

 the teacher of a branch of knowledge as valuable as a means of 

 developing the faculties as any other kind of mental training 

 known. At the present day, public opinion in reference to the 

 educational value of Physical Science has so far changed, that a 

 higher kind of instruction is now largely available for the masses 

 in the numerous Science Classes in existence all over the kingdom, 



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