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But formal lessons of this kind are not far removed from 

 playing with science ; and until recently there was no 

 attempt at imparting real knowledge in a natural way, in 

 tracing out nature's footsteps by the rocks and hills; in 

 seeking her pathway by the vales and rills. 



There should be education and training of the observing 

 eye, the keen insight that induced Stephenson to speculate 

 and demonstrate on the eventualities of things by studying 

 the effect of compressed steam, or Franklyn's experiments 

 which resulted in identification of lightning and electricity. 



In many youthful minds, however, there will always be 

 the feeling that outdoor study excursions will bear the 

 impress of lessons and become formal and tedious. 



"You may fondly imagine that you sweeten the pill, 

 But the fact that it's lessons will cling to it still." 



For the higher education of this class of abnormal scholar 

 I am not appealing, but on behalf of the student who seeks 

 to expand the knowledge that book learning can give, who 

 has a mind intent on transcribing the books to be found by 

 the running brooks, listening to the sermons in stones, and 

 evolving good from everything. 



I would have one with such aspirations study the sea 

 depths, not merely stand on the shore and watch the tide 

 lapping his feet, feeling himself as a mere pebble on the 

 shingle before the vast ocean of life, but let him venture out 

 with his boat, cast out a trailing-line with a small dredge 

 bag and hempen tassels beneath > then come ashore and turn 

 out his "find." 



He will discover a wealth of interesting objects he could 

 not have dreamt of, which, with the aid of the microscope, 

 will instruct and pay him better than he could realize in the 

 use of any rod and line fishing expedition he may undertake. 

 But even with the baited line, if he fears to venture out in 

 the deep, he may have an object lesson in studying the 

 beautiful iridescence.on the struggling fish he lands. 



As his studies advance he will have arrived only at the 

 threshold of nature's design in creation, and will find that 

 there is still a sea of knowledge to compass. 



