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210
The Fairy-Land of Science
·
Arabella B. Buckley
18
It
is
well
to
know
that
when
a
piece
of
potassium
is
thrown
on
water
the
change
which
takes
place
is
expressed
by
the
formula
K
+
H2O
=
KHO
+
H.
But
it
is
better
still
to
have
a
mental
picture
of
the
tiny
atoms
clasping
each
other,
and
mingling
so
as
to
make
a
new
substance,
and
to
feel
how
wonderful
are
the
many
changing
forms
of
nature.
It
is
useful
to
be
able
to
classify
a
flower
and
to
know
that
the
buttercup
belongs
to
the
Family
Ranunculaceae,
with
petals
free
and
definite,
stamens
hypogynous
and
indefinite,
pistil
apocarpous.
But
it
is
far
sweeter
to
learn
about
the
life
of
the
little
plant,
to
understand
why
its
peculiar
flower
is
useful
to
it,
and
how
it
feeds
itself,
and
makes
its
seed.
No
one
can
love
dry
facts;
we
must
clothe
them
with
real
meaning
and
love
the
truths
they
tell,
if
we
wish
to
enjoy
science.
Let
us
take
an
example
to
show
this.
I
have
here
a
branch
of
white
coral,
a
beautiful,
delicate
piece
of
nature's
work.
We
will
begin
by
copying
a
description
of
it
from
one
of
those
class-books
which
suppose
children
to
learn
words
like
parrots,
and
to
repeat
them
with
just
as
little
understanding.
"Coral
is
formed
by
an
animal
belonging
to
the
kingdom
of
Radiates,
sub-kingdom
Polypes.
The
soft
body
of
the
animal
is
attached
to
a
support,
the
mouth
opening
upwards
in
a
row
of
tentacles.
The
coral
is
secreted
in
the
body
of
the
polyp
out
of
the
carbonate
of
lime
in
the
sea.
Thus
the
coral
animalcule
rears
its
polypidom
or
rocky
structure
in
warm
latitudes,
and
constructs
reefs
or
barriers
round
islands.
It
is
limited
in
rage
of
depth
from
25
to
30
fathoms.
Chemically
considered,
coral
is
carbonate
of
like;
physiologically,
it
is
the
skeleton
of
an
animal;
geographically,
it
is
characteristic
of
warm
latitudes,
especially
of
the
Pacific
Ocean."
This
description
is
correct,
and
even
fairly
complete,
if
you
know
enough
of
the
subject
to
understand
it.
But
tell
me,
does
it
lead
you
to
love
my
piece
of
coral?
Have
you
any
picture
in
your
mind
of
the
coral
animal,
its
home,
or
its
manner
of
working?
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
