Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, BY NEWMAN & IVISON, In the Clerk's office of the Southern District of New York. STEREOTYPED BY THOMAS B. SMITH, 216 William St., N. Y. PREFACE. THIS little work, on the subject of Astronomy, has been prepared to supply a deficiency which the author has himself experienced, in teaching the elements of this interesting and useful science, and which has been a subject of complaint with many other teachers. The books that have hitherto appeared on the subject, though by no means few, have either been meagre in facts, or have represented them in a manner neither well-arranged, nor adapted to their purpose as class-manuals. Some have, indeed, been excellent treatises on the subject; but, making no distinction between definitions, or facts, and the matter intended to explain them, could not be conveniently used by either teacher or pupil. The work here offered to teachers, is designed to remedy both of the defects here mentioned. It professes to give a sufficient number of facts for an elementary treatise, accompanied occasionally by diagrams and brief explanations, which will serve at least to give a hint to the teacher, and afford him the means of adding farther illustration. Works much more profusely illustrated scarcely ever more, while very often the pupil receives from the fanciful representations, contained in them, a very erroneous idea of the subject, and the expense of the book is unnecessarily increased. do The plan of dividing the subject of each chapter into short and distinct paragraphs, each the answer to a question inserted at the bottom of the page, is, as far as the author is aware, original in a school treatise, on this subject, and has, he thinks, several advantages over the method of giving question and answer together. In the first place, the questions must, very often, contain the most important part of what the pupil should commit; secondly, the pupil, by confining his attention almost wholly to the answer, learns the definition or fact imperfectly; and thirdly, the insertion of the questions with the answer, increases unnecessarily the size and expense of the work. The introduction of questions, where possible, which the pupil is to answer from his acquired knowledge of the subject, and not by rote, is a feature which the author has seen in no other work on the subject. Most of our Elementary Astronomies pay little or no attention to the use of the artificial globes. The schools are generally supplied with globes, which, for the want of a manual on the subject, serve only to adorn the school-room. The pupil is, by this means, deprived of one of the best means of illustrating the subject, as well as of much practical information, which the use of the globe would indelibly impress upon his mind. This deficiency the author has endeavored to supply, by the second part of the work, which may, without difficulty, be studied in connection with the first. This portion of the work has been made more extensive than is generally found in elementary treatises, without comprehending what could only be expected in a treatise of a higher character. Another motive has also induced the preparation of this work. The author has seen, with regret, that many persons, at the present time, appear to regard this science as unimportant or unsuitable to our Common Schools. Without entering into any argument to show the contrary, it will suffice to say, that a science whose progress is the peculiar glory of modern times,-which, in an important manner, illustrates geography, which is necessary to the navigator, -which teaches the true character and position of our own world, as well as the character of the universe, of which it forms a part,— and which imparts to the mind of the student, a true and sublime idea of the character and power of the Almighty Creator thereof,— can scarcely be less important than the science which teaches localities on the earth, or associates with them the memory of the follies, the vices, and the wars of mankind. If this little book shall be found acceptable to teachers, as an auxiliary in imparting instruction in this truly sublime science, the author will esteem himself well rewarded for the labor of preparing it. |
