THE VESTIBULE TO SCIENTIFIC STUDIES. 



675 



per second fall on the ear and we begin to hear sound; and we hear on until the 

 vibrations reach about 40,000 per second, when the ear loses its sensibility, and 

 we pass out into silence again. Just as we abide in darkness until vibrations 

 numbering about 400 trillions per second fall upon the eye when we say we 

 see red light, and we see on through all grades of color until the vibrations reach 

 about 700 trillions per second, when the eye loses its sensibility also, and we 

 pass out into darkness again. Thus we move in little circles of matter having a 

 beginning and an ending, and thus we must be content in our study of matter, to 

 labor within the limits assigned. And why not ? Surely this will give us all we 

 can do. In summing up we find there are six kingdoms in material science, viz : 



Kingdom I, which deals with atoms, atomic attractions and molecules, and 

 which in the schools is named Chemistry. 



Kingdom II, which deals with molecules, molecular attraction and other 

 forms of force and masses, and which is named Physics or Natural Philosophy. 



Kingdom III, which deals with everything under the control of vital force, 

 (so called,) and which is known as Biology, or Botany and Zoology. 



Kingdom IV, which deals with the Earth mainly in a surface view, and which 

 is called Physical Geography. 



Kingdom V, which deals with the Earth mainly in a subterranean view, and 

 which goes by the title of Geology. 



Kingdom VI, which deals with matter extraneous to the Earth, and goes by 

 the title, Astronomy. 



Now all the various branches of material science found in any of our schools 

 may be placed in one or other of these six kingdoms. For instance, Human 

 Physiology belongs in Kingdom III, subdivision Zoology; while Meteorology 

 belongs in Kingdom IV, subdivision "Earth in Parts," section "The Air." 



I have the whole subject mapped out upon a large chart on which the six 

 kingdoms make a complete circle. As an example of how each kingdom is pre- 

 sented, take Kingdom IV, or Physical Geography : 



Physical Geography^ 



r 



Earth Entire. \ 



I 

 I 



r 



Earth Divided. \ 



Celestial. 



In Universe, 

 In Solar System. 



! Forms, 

 Density, 

 Magnetism, Etc. 



T , ( Continents, 

 Land. < T , , 

 ( Islands. 



w-. }■££"• 



Air. -j Meteorology, Etc. 



Life I Ve g etable > 

 ( Animal. 



I 



This occupies about one-sixth of the circle, the other kingdoms occupying 

 about the same respectively. 



Such is the vestibule through which classes in Natural Sciences are inducted 



into their particular branch by the writer, who has found it great gain so to begin. 

 in— 43 



