Prof. J. T. Edwards, of Chamberlain Institute, N. Y., is to deliver
a course of eight lectures before the C. T. R. at Chautauqua this
summer. “Physical Science” is to be the subject of these lectures, the
design being to show how all the sciences, botany, zoölogy, etc., are
but sectors of one great circle, that one plan underlies all natural
phenomena. The lectures will be brilliantly illustrated and will be of
peculiar value to teachers. Prof. Edwards has sent us the following
outline of his work, which shows that though his theme is extended, yet
it is so systematized as to be very simple:
[Illustration]
Nature is a unit. _E pluribus unum_ might be taken for its motto; the
circle is its emblem; ten thousand radii touch its circumference; every
atom bears a relation to its center; everything is connected with
everything. It was not a mere fancy that when the Creator made even
the little snow-drop, he adjusted it to the gravities of all worlds.
Humboldt chose “Cosmos” as the title of his immortal work, and he
defined it, “The doctrine of the universe, the system of law, harmony
and truth combined within the universe.”
Glance at the copious index. What diversity in the subjects discussed.
We wonder how he will be able to fit into beautiful mosaic all these
fragments.
A large look at nature sees it one. The spectroscope now tells us that
all worlds are but “parts of one stupendous whole.” Matter is ever
changing, but never lost. Force is indestructible; a thousand floods
ten thousand years ago prepared the earth for habitation. Feeble
insects laid the foundations of Paris and London perhaps millions of
years before the Romans drove piles into the Thames. Our stove and coal
bins are ninety millions of miles away. Nature is full of beautiful
dependencies. The animal feeds upon the vegetable, and the latter
lives upon the mineral kingdom. The mere physical forces of light,
heat and electricity are doubtless directly connected with the noblest
activities of organized beings.
Now, one object of this course of lectures is to show things in their
connections. Bird’s-eye views are very essential in the study of large
landscapes. The poet is not the only “maker.” Most minds prefer the
concrete to the abstract—synthesis to analysis. The gem is never so
beautiful as in its appropriate setting. The springing bow alone shows
us the splendor of each color.
_Astronomy_, “Mother of the Sciences,” will “teach us our place”
among the worlds; will tell of the time when the “morning stars were
singing.” Some of the greatest and some of the most devout minds of
every age have delighted in this study. Its votaries now, however,
are no longer alone on the watch-towers. Observers stand with them,
eager to gaze upon the stars, although with less trained vision.
Bishop Warren’s delightful book shows us the possibility of being both
accurate and interesting. He just supplements “the look” that was given
at “The Point” in the days “lang syne,” with a longer and steadier gaze
into the heavens.
As Astronomy will show us the infinitely large, _Chemistry_ will
bring to us the infinitely small. Here we are in Nature’s laboratory.
Listen! We can almost hear the myriad atoms, like unseen battalions in
the night, quietly falling into line. It is as if we had penetrated
the arcana of Nature. See! Here she mingles her dyes. Hence come the
odors, the flavors, the forms of all substances. No wonder the old
alchemist hung over his crucible (_crux_, across—the mark upon the
vessel to guard against the _geests_, ghosts—_our gas_—which threatened
him) until the divining rod fell from his palsied hand. There is a
rare fascination in the study. It so closely concerns human welfare.
The useful as well as the fine arts, agriculture, manufacturing, and
all our domestic life are intimately concerned in its discoveries and
progress, and when we have learned how wonderful a thing is a molecule
we are prepared to learn of masses of minerals. _Mineralogy_ is less
understood than some other of the natural sciences; for a few years
past, however, it has pushed forward rapidly. The impetus given to
mining, the formation of cabinets, of great mineralogical displays,
such as that at Denver the past year, and the mineral treasures
of Australia, California, and Colorado have awakened much popular
interest. Gold was mentioned in the first chapter of Genesis, and the
enumeration of precious stones in various parts of the Old Testament,
and in Revelation, shows that the ancients were not unacquainted with
the more beautiful forms of minerals. It remained, however for our time
to show that even the clod beneath our feet, the rock of the mountain,
and the ice of the glacier are built with the precision of a marble
palace. There is a beautiful simplicity in these combinations. They
can all be reduced to six primary forms. This science and the closely
allied branch of Crystalography fortunately can be made very pleasing
to the eye by means of the helps which we can summon. Thus we are led
by gradual steps to consider _Geology_, or the study of the earth, as
to its great features. And what a theme it is! Ocean making! continent
building! mountain raising! making of worlds! The story is written in
strata by fossils, or in the markings left by some great force in the
earth’s crust.
No science has more interest for the artist, the architect, the civil
engineer. But perhaps a deeper and more solemn interest attaches to it
because of its relations to the all-important truths of Revelation.
Fortunately this branch of human knowledge has not been forced to
depend upon individual enterprise or love of truth. It has knocked at
the halls of legislation; it has been welcomed to the palaces of kings.
For lo! it came promising greater riches than were ever dreamed of
by Spanish free-booters, and many a State has found through it an El
Dorado within its own limits.
_Physics_, or Natural Philosophy, will next explain to us more fully by
illustration and apparatus, the characteristics of those forces which
join together the molecules, not less than hold the worlds in harmony.
It is an old science, but has clothed itself in new garments. In some
directions, as in acoustics and light, it has made very wonderful
progress within the memory of the school-boy of to-day. The “Arabian
Nights” has few things to tell us so startling as that a man can sit in
his office in New York and hold converse with a friend in Chicago.
Never before did man give such good promise of really entering upon his
heritage as master in this world, in the spirit of the high destiny
that was promised him at his creation.
_Botany_ comes next. It has been quite the fashion to look upon this
study as unworthy the attention of the vigorous masculine mind—“a
girl’s study, about posy-beds, the language of flowers, and, at best,
fit only for the decoration of a poet’s verse!” And yet it concerns one
whole wide realm of nature. It has received little attention in our
colleges, scarcely finding a place in the curriculum of study.
It really embraces a number of separate sciences—economic,
agricultural, horticultural, medical and fossil botany. Of late a new
interest has been awakened in some of these. The climatic relations
of forests have become matter of legislative inquiry. Great forestry
conventions have been held, and an able report upon the subject has
been made by the Commissioner of Agriculture. A gentleman in New York
has just made an appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars for the
best collection of woods in the world. Aside from these utilitarian
views of the matter it is enough for us to know that the Great Teacher
said: “Consider the lilies,” and often upon Olivet or “by cool Siloam’s
shady rill,” seemed to take pleasure in the trees and flowers which his
own hand had made.
_Zoölogy_ will show us a comparative view of the animal creation. A
whole literature upon this subject has sprung up within a few years.
Darwin and Huxley have added many close and admirable observations
upon the habits of animals. Numerous books have appeared upon “Mind
in Animals,” “Higher Life in Animals,” and kindred topics, until one
almost trembles for his rank in the scale of being. Indeed, when
royalty weeps over the departure of Jumbo, and lap-dogs and canaries
win the first place in the hearts of fair ladies, we may well review
our claims as “lords of creation.”
The study of the Creator’s last great work—man, _Physiology_, comes
next in the order of our series. “Fearfully and wonderfully made,”
said the sacred writer, and every discovery of the microscope, every
analysis of the scalpel, every astute and learned study of eye, ear,
heart or brain, but repeats the declaration, “Know thyself,” urged by
one of old as a duty, but it is also a high privilege. A knowledge of
physiology and hygiene lies at the very foundation of the science of
human welfare. We are now claiming it as a mighty missionary agency in
the conversion of the heathen. Ah! it is a rare power to know one’s own
make-up and limitations, to the end that the free spirit may do its
best. Then again, every one must some day stand where this knowledge
will be useful to others; and what higher aim have we than to enrich
others with our own knowledge? One can be miserly with his ideas as
with his money. Helping with useful knowledge is of that giving which
does not impoverish.
Doubtless to cover so wide a field we shall have to study carefully the
fine “art of leaving out.” Some other things we must surely remember.
For example: