The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-14
A New Manual of Natural Phl,o.ophy.

II will probably be conceded that the
teaching OF the natural sciences in our colleges
is to q large extent, n failure. No doubt. the
number OF graduates who can read at sight an
unfamiliar Greek or Latin author Is small
enough. II, indeed, dozen such persons could
he found among American Masters of Art, Of
ton years standing. whose life has not been
given 10 tuition. But the number Of those who
retain a clear notion Of the laws and toler-
ably wide acquaintance with the phenomena. Of
physics is not very much larger. The fault has
lain in system Of instruction which is begun
nj too late a period Of student life. and over
looks that principle Of graduation which forms
the basis Of sound requirement.
There are signs. however. that this radical
defect is in process of correction that the
teaching Of the natural sciences is commanding
II place in elementary education. and that the
rising generation of American youth will be
qualified to boast themselves a little wiser than
their fathers. How generally the necessity Of
early attention to the sciences is now rocog
nized is attested 10y the constantly increasing
supply Of lucid and simple, yet authoritative
treatises. What has been effected in this direc-
tion 10y Appletons' series Of Science Primers
we have frequently had occasion to notice; but
all Of those admirable handbooks are the work.
we believe. Of English hands Now. however,
an analogous undertaking has been projected
by an American student and investigator. DR..
WokTHINoToN HOOKER. under the name Of
Science (or The School aud FANNY. and the first
volume. treating Of Natural PhilosophV, has
Just been issued by tho llarpers.
DR.. Hookers work covers more ground than
| the primer entitled Physics" 10y Balfour
| Stewart in Appletons' Series. aud each of the
subjects il discussed in more detail. Consider
! al, i.. "a, 4
theories whereas Prof Stewart aimed very
properly as we think. toindieate merely the eN-
listing state of scientific opinion. 1t seems to IA
also that tho lnttors definitions in the crucial
chapters on Sound, Light and Heat are more
| satisfactory. To cite single Instance un-
| der the first named hend. Prof Stewart
! discrimlnntca between n noise and u mu-
steal sound, by pronouncing the former n sen
! sntlon produced by a single blow given 10 tho
Air, while tho Inter Is caused 10y II series Of it,
| Tie blows following ono another Al regular in
| tervals; pr. Hooker. on the other hnnd. seems
| not TO distinguish between Ho!Se and d'Sroro
Tor he says y In both sound and noise thrr are
vibration, hut IN musical sounds they reolr nj
| equal intervals Of time. while in noise tht
vibrations are irregular and there is con
Hut science, as Prof Huxley meyer woaries %
pointing ont, cannot hr taught 10y definitions
and the capital merit of DIR. Hookor's book is 1t,
proiusion of familiar Illustrations Indeed. IN,
sll" Of his volume Is mainly due to his plan o
never leaving point until, 10y reiterated oN
plantations drawn from common facts an,
every dUy experience. he has made 1t perfectly
lntrllgible to the least mature Intelligence
Another essential feature of elective trHchinl
is here steadily kept in view aud that is the pre-
srntatiOn Of srientile principles In the natura
order under which they should enter the mind
We may add that the Introduction of technicA
termino,ogy has been studiously stunned. an,
that unusual pains has been bestowed ON at
tra'tlye statement, without. however, materia
sacrifice Of precision. On the whole we rrgur,
Dr. liookers manual of Natural Philosophy A
a Valuable contribution to the appliances Of ele
with interest 10 the companion works On Chem
J i.trv and GeQlogH