use of it, unless you acquire that habit and method of mind which I
am trying to teach you in this book. I have tried to teach it you by
geology, because geology is, perhaps, the simplest and the easiest of
all physical sciences. It appeals more than any to mere common
sense. It requires fewer difficult experiments, and expensive
apparatus. It requires less previous knowledge of other sciences,
whether pure or mixed; at least in its rudimentary stages. It is
more free from long and puzzling Greek and Latin words. It is
specially, the poor man's science. But if you do not like it, study
something else. Only study that as you must study geology;
proceeding from the known to the unknown by observation and
experiment.

But here some of my readers may ask, as they have a perfect right to
ask, why I wish young men to learn Natural Science at all? What good
will the right understanding of geology, or of astronomy, or of
chemistry, or of the plants or animals which they meet--what good, I
say, will that do them?

In the first place, they need, I presume, occupation after their
hours of work. If any of them answer: "We do not want occupation,
we want amusement. Work is very dull, and we want something which
will excite our fancy, imagination, sense of humour. We want poetry,
fiction, even a good laugh or a game of play"--I shall most fully
agree with them. There is often no better medicine for a hard-worked
body and mind than a good laugh; and the man who can play most
heartily when he has a chance of playing is generally the man who can
work most heartily when he must work. But there is certainly nothing
in the study of physical science to interfere with genial hilarity;
though, indeed, some solemn persons have been wont to reprove the