Out of every ten, "seven call themselves members of the Churches of England, Scotland, or Ireland," while the remaining three are distributed among various sects; two out of every ten have a "decided religious bias."
To the question "Has the religious creed taught you in your youth had a deterrent effect on the freedom of your researches?" seven or eight say "No" to one who says "Yes."
Chapter III. deals in an admirable manner with the "Origin of the Taste for Science," and we commend it to all who are interested in scientific education; together with Chapter IV., which deals with the merits and demerits of the education itself.
The lessons of these two chapters are condensed by the author into this general statement: Teach a few congenial and useful things very thoroughly; encourage curiosity concerning as wide a range of subjects as possible; and do not over-teach. Specially he recommends (from the knowledge gained from his inquiry), for the precise subjects to be studied in order best to educate a youth for scientific pursuits: 1. Mathematics; its processes to be utilized for interesting ends and practical application; 2. Logic; 3. Observation; theory in experiment in at least one branch of science; 4. Accurate drawing of objects connected with this branch; 5. Mechanical manipulation. "These five subjects should be rigorously taught." There should remain enough time for literature, history, poetry, and languages: these last are to be learned solely to enable the learners to read ordinary books written in them.
Most of these conclusions are quite as applicable to America as to England, and they deserve the most careful attention.
Roughly speaking, the author finds that "six out of every ten men of science were gifted by nature with a strong taste for it," and "we may therefore conclude that the possession of a strong special taste is a precious capital, and that it is a wicked waste of national power to thwart it ruthlessly by a false system of education." No test can be given to distinguish in the youth a special taste from a passing fancy, but hereditary inclinations should be carefully regarded. A curious result of the inquiry is, that the influence of the father in determining the scientific taste is three times more potent than that of the mother. Probably the general impression on this point is opposed to such a conclusion.
The practical lesson for England is drawn with great force and skill by the author on page 222, et seq. Much of this is inapplicable to us in America, but it is in the highest degree valuable generalization, and it is peculiarly worthy the attention of educators.
Science with us is sporadic, and no one is in any degree directly responsible for its fostering, except, perhaps, the larger universities. There is no central power which can assist its prosecution, nor is there much intelligent inclination on the part of our lawmakers to help it or hurt it. As an example of the lack of intelligence in the forwarding of scientific research, we may note the liberal appropriations ($175,000) for the observations of the transit of Venus by the last Congress but one; and the refusal of more than $3,000, by the last Congress, for the preliminary computations incident thereto. Evidently for us at this time the lessons of this book are not to be applied, but much more elementary ones; yet, undoubtedly, the true principles of "government aid to science," and cf the "endowment of research," are correctly indicated.
These are questions which assuredly will arise in America as they have in England, and we cannot doubt that the careful analysis here given will serve as a firm basis for rational action in this most important direction.
The Heart of Africa: Three Years' Travels and Adventures in the Unexplored Regions of Central Africa, from 1868 to 1871. By Dr. Georg Schweinfurth. In two volumes. Price, $8. Harper & Brothers.
This is a model book of travel, fresh, entertaining, full of novelty, yet in a high degree instructive and trustworthy. Its author combines the accomplishments of the artist with the solid acquirements of the man of science and the ardent enthusiasm of the explorer, so that, though still a young man, his name is already famous both in Europe and America. The history of Dr. Schweinfurth happily illustrates the power
