172 TlMEHRI. 
an interest in the origin, construction, and preparation of 
the articles he deals in, an otherwise monotonous and 
scarcely interesting occupation becomes enlivened and 
lightened. Even an increased aptitude tor observation 
is valuable. The instances where intelligent observation 
has led to success in business and wealth are numberless, 
such as those of the man who from watching his wife's 
fingers as she made lace thought out the lace machine, and 
of the traveller, who examining the stuff of which a 
ship's fenders were composed, laid the foundation of the 
jute trade and his own fortune. 
Even the history of Science is a fascinating subject. 
There are few more interesting occupations than follow- 
ing the growth from small beginnings of the knowledge 
of to-day ; to read of the difficulties, the active opposi- 
tion, the disappointments, the triumphs which have been 
the lot of enquirers in all ages. 
Again those lectures will have another aim. In this 
community the means of wholesome recreation are re- 
stricted. Public entertainments are few and infrequent, 
and from one cause or another younger members of 
society have difficulty in employing their leisure hours 
as profitably and as rationally as can be done at home. 
To these, scientific study would be a great boon. I do 
not mean that complete or even extensive knowledge of 
any one science is possible to all, but it is possible 
to acquire so much of the principles of Science as to 
make its pursuit interesting. No occupation can afford 
more legitimate recreation — none can be more service- 
able in filling those crevices of leisure time through 
which evil creeps to mar and destroy. Scientific pur- 
suits, however humble in aim and however simple, con- 
