Popular Science Lectures. 171 
thought that a general review of what has been done in 
certain branches of science since the beginning of the 
century might form a fitting prelude to those discourses. 
It is also hoped that a consideration of the benefits we 
derive from modern science may arouse a desire to 
refresh our memories or to learn more about the common 
things of every day life. It may be said and — without 
giving offence — that there is often want of information 
about such common things. There are for instance 
people whom we consider educated people — who do not 
know the principles, the " why and the wherefore" of 
the telegraph or the telephone they frequently use ; who 
know little if anything of the structure of the trees and 
plants they see every day, and probably less of the 
wonders of the animal world in its various forms, and 
to whom the origin, composition and properties of many 
of the things they meet with in their daily work or busi- 
ness are unknown. 
Probably information has never been sought on 
these subjects because the things themselves are so 
common ; but if a desire for instruction in these respects 
does arise we may be sure that such enquiry and the 
knowledge thereby gained will bring great ad- 
vantages. The agriculturist who learns all about the 
soil he tills and the plants he grows and as far as he can 
the ways of nature must be superior to him who works by 
mere rule of thumb ; the artizan who is acquainted 
with the origin and structure of the materials he works 
upon, the tools he handles, and the laws which govern 
the process he employs will be a more valuable workman 
than one who knows nothing of these things, and so with 
every other worker. To the salesman in a store who takes 
Y 2 
