Mr. Hobhouse's Address 107 



contemplate the immeasurable lapse of time indicated 

 by geology, the almost infinitely small, and quite 

 infinitely complex and beautiful structures rendered 

 visible by the microscope, or the depths of space 

 revealed by the telescope, we cannot but be carried 

 out of ourselves. 



A man, said Seneca, "can hardly lift up his eyes 

 towards the heavens without wonder and veneration 

 to see so many millions of radiant lights, and to 

 observe their courses and revolutions". The stars 

 indeed, if we study them, will not only guide us over 

 the wide waters of the ocean, but what is even more 

 important, light us through the dark hours which all 

 must expect. The study of Nature indeed is not only 

 most important from a practical and material point of 

 view, and not only most interesting, but will also do 

 much to lift us above the petty troubles, and help us 

 to bear the greater sorrows of life. 



HOW THE COUNTY COUNCILS MAY 

 ENCOURAGE NATURE-STUDY 



By Mr. HENRY HOBHOUSE, M.P. 



The principal work for County Councils in con- 

 nection with this subject lies in the training of 

 teachers for both day and evening schools. Their 

 most urgent duty at present is to provide "nature- 

 knowledge" instruction for elementary-school teachers 

 who have not been through any scientific course in a 

 training college, and who are often town -bred and 

 unversed in country life. This instruction need not 



