TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 75 



openly to me, What does tlie speaker know practically 

 about this matter? What is his handicraft? I think 

 the question is a very proper one, and unless I were 

 prepared to answer it, I hope satisfactorily, I should 

 have chosen some other theme. 



The fact is, I am, and have been, any time these 

 thirty years, a man who works with his hands a handi- 

 craftsman. I do not say this in the broadly metaphor- 

 ical sense in which fine gentlemen, with all the delicacy 

 of Agag about them, trip to the hustings about elec- 

 tion time, and protest that they too are working men. 

 I really mean my words to be taken in their direct, 

 literal, and straightforward sense. In fact, if the most 

 nimble-fingered watchmaker among you will come to 

 my workshop, he may set me to put a watch together, 

 and I will set him to dissect, say, a blackbeetle's nerves. 

 I do not wish to vaunt, but I am inclined to think that 

 I shall manage my job to his satisfaction sooner than 

 he will do his piece of work to mine. 



In truth, anatomy, which is my handicraft, is one 

 of the most difficult kinds of mechanical labour, in- 

 volving, as it does, not only lightness and dexterity of 

 hand, but sharp eyes and endless patience. And you 

 must not suppose that iny particular branch of science 

 is especially distinguished for the demand it makes upon 

 skill in manipulation. A similar requirement is made 

 upon all students of physical science. The astronomer, 

 the electrician, the chemist, the mineralogist, the bot- 

 anist, are constantly called upon to perform manual 



