GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE: BEING A COLLECTION OF USEFUL AND FAMILIAR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON EVERY-DAY Adapted for Young Persons, AND ARRANGED IN THE MOST SIMPLE AND EASY LANGUAGE. BY ELIZA ROBBINS, AUTHOR OF POPULAR LESSONS, ETC. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON & CO., 90, 92 & 94 GRAND ST. 1871. A. S. FREIDUS NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 211731 ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDARFOUNDATIONS. 4004 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, By D. APPLETON & COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of PREFACE. "THE CHILD'S GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE" is an elementary book which has been much used in England for many years; but, beyond its general scope and details, nationality is a leading feature in the original work. Matters of fact purely local may be useful to be known in that country, which are of no importance whatever in this; while whatever is peculiar to this continent, or to these States, in the economy of nature, or the results of industry, is entirely disregarded in England as subject of instruction to the young. A book of the character of this should give all the information its bulk admits of concerning the productions and arts of the country we inhabit. "That which before us Lies in daily life is the prime wisdom.” I have therefore endeavored to fit a very useful design to the position and wants of the children of the United States, adding to matter of general concern such notices of our natural productions, and their uses, as may be serviceable in popular education, and to the end of life. A right Initiation is the true access to valuable ultimate acquirements. I recommend this book to teachers for its manifest utility. In the German schools, a little compend of cyclopedic design is always used. Such a book, well written, indicates sciences else never heard of by multi |