IMPOETANCE OF SIMPLE FACTS. 157 



an expectation that a year or two of ingenious 

 research would give rise to phenomena of the 

 utmost interest to men of science. Nor would 

 practical advantages fail to accrue. No man 

 can say that out of the slightest apparent dis- 

 covery we may not derive the greatest benefits. 

 The simple circumstance of the deflection of 

 the needle by a galvanic current, carefully 

 observed and stated, has given to the world 

 the electric telegraph. The discoverer of this 

 apparently trivial fact never imagined that it 

 would lead to anything like this. It teaches 

 us to mark every secret nature unfolds to 

 those who diligently inquire into the hidden 

 things of truth. If families could but be per- 

 suaded to replace the frivolous amusements, 

 which only promote vacuity of thought, and 

 are no real sources of pleasure, by observations 

 of things in the world in which they move, 

 and would introduce the microscope in the 

 winter evenings into their circles instead of 

 silly games, how would our national taste and 

 knowledge improve ! Fortunately, the appe- 

 tite for such recreations is on the increase, 

 and might become the source of real edifica- 

 tion. Philosophy would then be indeed to 

 Christian minds — 



