30 General Remarks 



Nothing can be more erroneous tlian the supposition, so generally 

 entertained, that Science is a superfluitj^, that^its study is an idle 

 occupation, and itsknowledge of little or no value. 



Apart from the more apparent advantages accruing from its 

 acquaintance, its study possesses the intrinsic value of being the 

 powerful instrument whereby the mind is exercised in habits of 

 careful and accurate observation, of systematic comparisons, and 

 of philosophical generalizations. In the study of the objects and 

 phenomena of nature there is a continued process of mental labor 

 and activity. Before the mind is perfectly adapted to the pursuit, 

 we can easily analyze the elements of this mental process — for, 

 though complicated, it is slow, and consists of successive steps. 

 There is first brought into play the all-important element of 

 Observation. It will be allowed that this should be minute, clear 

 and correct ; but in order to this, it must be exercised and reduced 

 to methodical training. The untutored mind, whose powers of 

 observation are not developed, is ever subject to aberrations and 

 distortions, ignores plain facts or falsifies their nature, and is quite 

 incapable of drawing correct deductions or abstracting generalizar 

 tions. There can be in such a mind nothing more than a chaos 

 of visionary ideas. Let nature then be the instrument by which 

 we educate our powers of observation, and we will possess, in all 

 its force and beauty, one of the rarest accomplishments. 



This leads to the second important element in the mental pro- 

 cess, viz. that of Comparison^ which, in all its phases, observes 

 system at its basis, and involves the due exercise of our reason. 

 To compare well, requires a constant train of thought and reason- 

 ing, and in systematically exercising these latent powers of the 

 mind, we are only preparing to reduce the knowledge we possess 

 into tangible shape and form. This constitutes the last step in 

 the series, and may be designated Philosophical Generalization. 

 This brings our judgment into active operation, and entails the 

 necessity of weighing evidences, in drawing deductions and form- 

 ing our ideas and opinions. Having thus passed through a 

 process of special training, and acquired systematic habits of 

 observation, thought and judgment, what are the advantages 

 derived therefrom ? We believe many ; but, above all, is their 

 reactionary! influence upon the character of man, by which we 

 mean, the adaptation, to the ordinary business and duties of life, 

 of the same habits and principles as those acquired while treading 

 the paths of Science. It is impossible for one well trained by 



