Page images
PDF
EPUB

undertake the teaching botany in the village school, as the late Professor J. S. Henslow and the present writer have done, and so relieve the overworked master, who has little time for extra subjects.

Besides utilising his knowledge as a teacher, he will find an endless solace in the study of Nature, so that time, in however out-of-the-way village he may live, will never hang heavy upon his hands. The country doctor, too, who has probably already had an elementary course of lectures to attend in his youth, would, like the clergyman, find it a pleasure in his declining years, when his son, perhaps, takes the heavy part of his duties off his hands.

But it is immaterial whom one may address, the subject is always fascinating, and the more lonely a man or woman may be, the less alone they will be because Nature will always be with them.

In conclusion I would only add that of the innumerable charms associated with a country life, Science stands foremost, if only one would believe it! It matters not which subject be chosen :-Geology, Physiography, or Zoology, such as Mammals, Birds, Butterflies, Beetles, or even Earth-worms, which Mr. Darwin has shown to be capable of affording the profoundest interest, while the study of the habits of animals in general is inexhaustible. As witnesses to this fact, I need only refer the reader to Gilbert White's "Natural History of Selbourne," and Mr. Jenyn's "Observations upon Natural History," and to Mrs. Brightwen's "Wild Nature Tamed by Kindness," to show what patient observers can do, how much there is to learn where least expected, and how great can be the enthusiasm which natural science can kindle: truly proving that there are, indeed, "sermons in stones and good in everything."

GEORGE HENSLOW.

Q

SECTION III.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE DANGERS ATTENDING LIMITED LIABILITY

INVESTMENTS.

BY LEYSON T. MERRY, Assistant Editor of the City Leader.

I Do not know how many people there are in this country who are dependent either wholly or in part for their incomes upon undertakings that are being conducted upon limited liability principles, but that they are very numerous is only too apparent by the recently advertised offer of a reputable Corporation in the City to supply a list of 300,000 "selected investors," that is, I suppose, 300,000 people who have demonstrated their willingness to invest their money in ventures of any kind provided they see (or fancy they see) an opportunity of adding to their store of this world's riches.

It naturally follows that a body from whose ranks a "selection" can be made of 300,000 is an exceedingly large one, and not only large, but, unfortunately, increasing. I do not propose to go into figures in this chapter, but statistics in another part of this work will demonstrate the utter folly of investing money in more than a very small percentage of the industrial and other undertakings that are annually offered to a too easilygulled public.

Let me say at the outset that I do not propose to devote a line to the mining and other wild-cat schemes

« PreviousContinue »