Description

The Learner, who wishes to try the questionfairly, whether this little book does, or does not, supply thematerials for a most interesting mental recreation, is earnestlyadvised to adopt the following Rules:—

(1) Begin at the beginning, and do not allow yourself to gratifya mere idle curiosity by dipping into the book, here and there.This would very likely lead to your throwing it aside, with theremark “This is much too hard for me!”, and thus losing the chanceof adding a very large item to your stock of mental delights. ThisRule (of not dipping) is very desirable with other kinds ofbooks——such as novels, for instance, where you may easily spoilmuch of the enjoyment you would otherwise get from the story, bydipping into it further on, so that what the author meant to be apleasant surprise comes to you as a matter of course. Some people,I know, make a practice of looking into Vol. III first, just to seehow the story ends: and perhaps it is as well just to know that allends happily——that the much-persecuted lovers do marry after all,that he is proved to be quite innocent of the murder, that thewicked cousin is completely foiled in his plot and gets thepunishment he deserves, and that the rich uncle in India (Qu. Whyin India? Ans. Because, somehow, uncles never can get rich anywhereelse) dies at exactly the right moment——before taking the troubleto read Vol. I. pg_xiiThis, I say, is just permissible with anovel, where Vol. III has a meaning, even for those who have notread the earlier part of the story; but, with a scientific book, itis sheer insanity: you will find the latter part hopelesslyunintelligible, if you read it before reaching it in regularcourse.