NATURAL SCIENCE IN THE 17 TH CENTURY. 413 
glory of the court, the pulpit, the literature, etc., of the country over which he 
reigned, and I began to inquire whether the 17th century, in the midst of its 
splendid achievements, had not accomplished something in the fields of Nature. 
I turned to look and my search was not in vain. A list of those then engaged in 
quiet researches for knowledge of Nature and her phenomena constitutes a roll 
of illustrious names. True, not as many of them belong to France as to neigh, 
boring countries ; perhaps for the reason that France could not furnish the steady 
plodding workers that science requires. Frenchmen are better suited to make 
the "beau monde "; they have ever been a fickle people which every breath of 
fortune could move. 
But at the beginning of the 17th century, what was the status of natural 
science ? What growth had then been made by that tree of knowledge which 
to-day flourishes in such splendid proportions and yields such varied fruits to 
mankind everywhere ? 
Before the 17th century we find very little of true science — that is, of knowl- 
edge systematized by the correlation ot facts obtained from thorough experimental 
research. There is sufficient reason for this state of affairs. 
The art of printing was invented in the 15th century, but did not come into 
extensive use until the i6th century. Until that time all books had been writien, 
and hence were scarce and costly. On this account intercommunication of 
workers in science were slow and the promulgation of a new truth, discovery or 
invention took much time. The invention of printing served to overcome this 
^ ^Feat difficulty. Yet there was a still greater hindrance to the growth and spread 
^of knowledge. It was that sentiment, so prevalent among mankind at that day, 
that "The horizon bounds the limits of the world." The common herds of 
humanity supposed the limits of human ken had been reached, and their pastors 
— the priesthood — permitted them to cherish the notion ; because thereby they 
could the more easily impose upon the credulity of their followers, and lead them 
into whatsoever pastures they pleased. 
Perhaps deep down in the seclusion of some old cloister, a far-reaching mind 
probed to the core of some hitherto unopened apple of nature and found a won 
derful secret hidden therein ; the fact was selfishly used for personal aggrandize, 
ment by imposing upon a too credulous people, or kept and not disclosed, through 
a servile fear of the spirit of the times. 
Nor was the search of these recluses always in pursuit of real gems of truth, 
but rather of phantoms born of heated imaginations. Thev sought the means 
whereby all baser metals could be transmuted into gold and the " elixir vitse " 
which would rejuvenate old age and perpetuate the bloom of youth. In the 
course of these mad and laborious efforts they stumbled upon many things which 
in after times became useful in the arts and sciences. 
Nevertheless the world is now enjoying the high-risen sun of a day that 
dawned with the 17th century. Day must succeed night, and the long night of 
the dark ages passed away with the dawning that broke over the world when 
Louis XIV was King of France. Then it was that men began to emancipate 
