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THE

REASON WHY:

GENERAL SCIENCE.

A CAREFUL

COLLECTION OF MANY HUNDREDS OF REASONS FOR
THINGS WHICH, THOUGH GENERALLY BELIEVED,
ARE IMPERFECTLY UNDERSTOOD.

A BOOK OF

Condensed Scientific Knowledge for the Million.

06

"

BY THE AUTHOR OF

"INQUIRE WITHIN," THE BIBLICAL REASON WHY," "THE REASON WHY: NATURAL
HISTORY," ""THAT'S IT, OR PLAIN TEACHING, ""THE CORNER CUPBOARD,"

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This collection of useful information on "Common Things" is put in the interesting
form of "Why and Because," and comprehends a familiar explanation of many sub-
jects which occupy a large space in the philosophy of Nature, relating to air, animals,
atmosphere, caloric, chemistry, ventilation, materia medica, meteorology, acoustic
electricity, light, zoology, etc.

NEW YORK:

DICK & FITZGERALD, PUBLISHERS

No. 18 ANN STREET. 4

[18603

YOR!

1008

ORK

.26393.

PREFACE.

WE are all children of one Father, whose Works it should be our delight to study. As the intelligent child, standing by his parent's knee, asks explanations alike of the most simple phenomena, and of the most profound problems; so should man. turning to his Creator, continually ask for knowledge. Not because the profession of letters has, in these days, become a fashion, and that the man of general proficiency can best work out his success in worldly pursuits; but because knowledge is a treasure which gladdens the heart, dignifies the mind, and ennobles the soul.

The occupation of the mind, by the pursuit of knowledge, is of itself a good, since it diverts from evil, and by elevating and refining the mind, and strengthening the judgment, it fortifies us for the hour of temptation, and surrounds us with barriers which the powers of sin cannot successfully assail.

It is not contended that the mere acquisition of knowledge will either ensure a good moral nature, or convey religious truth. But both religion and morals will find in the diffusion of knowledge a ground-work upon which their loftier temples may discover an acceptable foundation.

The man who comprehends the order of Nature, and the immutability of Divine law, must of necessity bring himself in some degree into accordance with that order, and under submission to the law hence the tendency of knowledge will always be found to harmonise the fragment with the mass, and to subvert the evil to the good.

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