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WHY WOMEN SHOULD STUDY SCIENCE.

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others have shown that women can, if they will, make good footing within the enchanted precincts of the region of scientific inquiry. And it may safely be asserted, that no system of education, for girl or boy, is complete, which does not provide for a thorough 'grounding' in one or more branches of science. For example: a mathematical training is of the highest value in equipping the mind for the close and logical discussion of the various subjects brought before it. The sharp definition of all leading terms and notions; the explicit statement of principles; the onward march by successive deductions, each one reposing on ground carefully secured; no begging of either premises or conclusions; no surreptitious admissions; no shifting of ground; no vacillation in the meaning of termsthis is what the student owes to, and acquires by, a training in mathematics. Women are often censured for their irregular and uncertain processes of thought; their supposed incapabilility of following up a definite line of reasoning; their habit of drawing unfounded inferences and making deductions from assumptions which have not been proved. These are exactly the faults that scientific study remedies and corrects.

Of Science we may say, with Professor Bain, that it is the most perfect embodiment of Truth, and of the ways of getting at Truth. More than anything else does it impress the mind with the nature of Evidence, with the labour and precautions necessary to prove a thing. It is the grand corrective of the laxness of the natural man in receiving unaccredited facts and conclusions. It exemplifies the devices for establishing a fact, or a law, under every variety of circumstances; it saps the credit of everything that is affirmed without being properly attested. . . . It is through Science that we take the best grasp of the method of unfolding a subject from the simple to the complex.' In a word, it adjusts the balance of the faculties, and prevents the imaginative from attaining an undue preponderance.

Professor Bain makes a threefold division of the Sciences : the Abstract or Demonstrative, namely, Mathematics; the Ex

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SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION.

perimental, namely, Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology; and the Science of Classification, commonly called Natural History. A threefold division is also preferred by Herbert Spencer : Abstract Sciences, Mathematics and Logic; Abstract Concrete, Physics and Chemistry; and Concrete, or Astronomy, Geology, Botany, Psychology, Biology, Sociology, etc. But we may adopt simply the twofold divisions into Theoretical and Practical, the former including Mathematics, Zoology, Physiology, Chemistry, and the like, and the latter Navigation, Medicine, Mineralogy, Mining. The theoretical (or true) sciences may be subdivided into-1. Abstract or Fundamental, or those which embrace a knowledge of certain actual forces or powers, namely, Biology (Vegetable and Animal Physiology), Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology; and 2. Concrete or Applied, or those which apply the said forces or powers to regions of concrete phenomena, such as Astronomy, Botany, Geology, Geography, Meteorology, Mineralogy, and Zoology.

Here is a wide field for our Girls to survey, too wide to be thoroughly and exhaustively explored by any single human intellect; but it is not impossible to gain some general and comprehensive idea of its leading features, of its various departments, while we devote our special consideration to that portion of it which most attracts our fancy. Scientific study, I may add, is best pursued under the direction of a master; but an elementary knowledge may be attained, with a little perseverance, from the admirable Manuals which are now placed at the disposal of the student. I shall not attempt any enumeration of these—their number is legion, and it is difficult to distinguish between their merits. I shall confine myself to pointing out a few scientific books of standard reputation and authority.

Among these I shall give a foremost place to Mrs. Marcet's 'Conversations on Political Economy,' as introductory to John Stuart Mill's 'Principles of Political Economy.'

I should also recommend Mrs. Somerville's Physical Geo

SOME SCIENTIFIC MANUALS.

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graphy,' in which the facts are grasped with precision, while the style, always clear and strong, rises often into eloquence.

Archbishop Whately's 'Elements of Logic;' and the same writer's Elements of Rhetoric.'

Much is to be learned from Mr. Herbert Spencer's 'Education: Intellectual, Moral, and Physical.'

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Dr. Corfield's Health' is an excellent little manual, which may be supplemented by Dr. Parkes, 'On Hygiene.'

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Dr. Alleyne Nicholson's Manual of Zoology.'

Sir John Herschel's 'Outlines of Astronomy,' with which may be taken the popular treatises by Mr. Richard Proctor, and Professor Nichol's 'Views of the Architecture of the Heavens,' and 'The Stellar Universe.' Read also Mrs. Lockyer's translation of Guillemin's 'The Sun.'

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Professor Tyndall, Glaciers of the Alps,' and 'The Forms of Water.'

Rev. Charles Kingsley, 'Glaucus; or, Wonders of the Shore.' Professor Huxley, Elementary Biology.'

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Sir Charles Lyell, Principles of Zoology;' Dr. Gideon Mantell's 'Wonders of Geology,' and 'Medals of Creation.' Dr. James Prichard, 'Natural History of Mankind.' Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species.' Mr. St. George Mivart, 'Lessons from Nature.' Principal Shairp, 'Religion and Culture.'

But here our prolonged survey of English Literature must end. The reader will understand that I do not suppose she will be able to follow it up in all its entirety. I must repeat, with all due emphasis, that what I have aimed at is simply to put before her the principal works of our best writers; to enumerate those books with which, sooner or later, a refined and educated English gentlewoman should endeavour to form a more or less intimate acquaintance. The extent to which she will pursue her studies, the branches which she will most carefully investigate, the subjects which must command her sympathies and to which her faculties are best adapted—these are matters for the consideration of the reader, assisted by the advice of her parents or teachers, or of some competent authority and guide.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GIRL IN THE COUNTRY.-PASTIME FOR LEISURE HOURS

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

'Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.

She has a world of ready wealth,

Our minds and hearts to bless

Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,
Truth breathed by cheerfulness.'

WORDSWORTH.

Beauties of Rural Life-Contrast of Life in Cities-Mackay's LinesRuskin quoted-Keen bodily Sensibility indicative of the higher Sensibility of the Mind-Ruskin quoted again-Summer always associated with the Country-Enjoyment to be found in every Season-Spenser's Lines on JANUARY-Pastimes for the Winter-Walking-Skating-To be practised with Modesty-Sliding-Sleighing-Snow-balling-The Scotch game 'Curling'-Indoor Pastimes-Charades-Concerts-Parlour Amusements.-FEBRUARY-Especial Beauty of Nature-Miss Mitford quoted-Flowers of the Month-The Crocus-The SnowdropThe Primrose-Lines to a Primrose-Advice about the Crocus.MARCH-Signs of Spring-Habits of Rooks-The Daffodil-Jean Ingelow's Verses-Shakespeare quoted-Ovid quoted-Wordsworth's Lines-Herrick's Ode to Daffodils-Violets-The Daisy, one of Shakespeare's Flowers-The Sleep of Flowers-Allusions to the Violet-Extract from 'A Year in a Lancashire Garden'- Birds of Spring-Jean Ingelow's Lines-William Howitt quoted.-APRIL-The Prime of Spring-Spenser's Lines-William Morris's Lines-Beauty of awakening Life-Wordsworth's Address to the Cuckoo-The Wild Hyacinth-Birds'-nesting-Egg-collecting-William Howitt's Experiences-The Nightingale the Bird of MAY-Thomson's Lines-Extract from The Bird-World '-The 'Maying-time'-Washington Irving's Delight on seeing a May-pole-The Decline of May-Day Customs-May, the Month of Flowers-Botanising-Specimen-hunting.-JUNE-Lines on Summer-Expeditions and Rambles-Croquet-Lawn-tennis-The Time of Roses'-Varieties of Roses-Herrick's Lines-Hay-making.

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