4 72 The Domestication of Science. 



foundation of natural philosophy, chemistry, and geology, and 

 other researches of a scientific kind ; nevertheless, it too often 

 happens that the scientific member of a family is an isolated 

 being. He, or she, may be applied to as a convenient dictionary 

 to explain any hard word that occurs in casual reading, or to 

 elucidate any startling fact that forces itself upon the attention, 

 but his pursuits are not contagious, and his tastes seldom elevate 

 the household to which he is attached. Where the microscope 

 is habitually used, the beneficial influence of a good example is 

 more easily felt, as few can resist the opportunity of viewing 

 the exquisite objects which a skilful manipulator can so 

 readily display. But in this as in other occupations, the 

 presence of unsympathetic persons is disagreeable, and 

 families can gain little from a microscopic member unless 

 they make him sufficiently comfortable in the general circle 

 to draw him from his special retreat. Similar remarks may be 

 made with reference to telescopic inquiries. Most people are 

 delighted to see the sun rise and set upon the jagged, peaks of 

 the crescent moon, or behold on the full face of our satellite 

 the appearance of seas,* continents, and volcanic cones. In 

 both cases, however, the interest is evanescent, unless the mind 

 is prepared by previous knowledge to speculate upon the ob- 

 jects presented to the view. Where there is no idea of the 

 relation between life and organization, no conception of physi- 

 ology, natural history, or biology, the microscope is no better 

 than a toy, from which only temporary amusement can be 

 obtained ; nor can the telescope minister to a more permanent 

 delight, if some previous study does not indicate the meaning 

 of lunar formations, or tell the story of the planet or the star. 

 In all the aspects of Nature those see most who know most, 

 and unless the faculty of attention is cultivated, the difficulties 

 which beset the porch of science cannot be removed. 



The existence of our own masrazine, and the wide welcome 

 it has received in every town, may be taken as a convincing 

 proof that intellectual tastes already possess an extended sway. 

 Twenty years ago, no sane publisher would have ventured on 

 such an experiment, and many who expressed their personal 

 delight at our proceedings, thought we made a great mistake 

 in offering matter of so high a class at so low a price. For the 

 select few, they knew strong meat would be required, but they 

 doubted the existence of many who could digest anything 

 better than the milk-and-water that is deemed suitable for 

 babes. We knew more of British society than our faint- 

 hearted friends; we did not expect to circulate with the velo- 

 city of the penny novel or the startling romance; but we did 



* Most of our readers are aware that the moon is supposed to be destitute of 

 water, and that her seas arc dry. 





