PREFACE Vll 



out having given a thought to what he was going 

 to say. The rhythmic roll of sound was admirable, 

 the gestures perfect, the earnestness impressive ; 

 nothing was lacking save sense and, occasionally, 

 grammar. When the speaker sat down the. 

 applause was terrific and one of my neighbours 

 was especially enthusiastic. So when he had 

 quieted down, I asked him what the orator had 

 said. And he could not tell me. 



That sagacious person John Wesley, is reported 

 to have replied to some one who questioned the 

 propriety of his adaptation of sacred words to 

 extremely secular airs, that he did not see why the 

 Devil should be left in possession of all the best 

 tunes. And I do not see why science should not 

 turn to accoiint the peculiarities of human nature 

 thus exploited by other agencies : all the more 

 because science, by the nature of its being, can- 

 not desire to stir the passions, or profit by the 

 weaknesses, of human nature. The most zealous 

 of popular lecturers can aim at nothing more 

 than the awakening of a sympathy for abstract 

 truth, in those who do not really follow his argu- 

 ments ; and of a desire to know more and better in 

 the few who do. 



At the same time it must be admitted that the 

 popularization of science, whether by lecture or 

 essay, has its drawbacks. Success in this depart- 

 ment has its perils for those who succeed. The 

 " people who fail " take their revenge, as we have 



