Excerpt from A Guide to the Knowledge of Life: Designed for the Use of Schools, and of All Who Desire Information Regarding Their Own Organization, and Its Relation to the Natural Influences That Are Concerned in the Maintenance of Health The first mariner who undertook to steer a ship out into the pathless ocean, did 80 in entire ignorance of the laws of the elements to which he was about to confide his charge, and of the position Of the rocks and shoals that were likely to beset his course. His trust was al together in fortune and accident. Now, however, in matters Of seamanship, the case is greatly changed. Every individual who is destined for a responsible posi tion as a navigator, is prepared for an eflicient discharge of his duties by being carefully instructed in all that is known Of the configuration of the earth, besides being taught to interpret the secrets of magnetism, the mys teries of winds and waves, the eccentricities of time, and the hieroglyphics Of the stars. Vessels, laden with rich merchandise, are no longer placed in the hands of ignorance and incapacity, and left to be drifted to Ship wreck or to their haven, as chance may determine. In telligent and skilful pilotage is prepared for them before hand, that they may be guided in safety amidst rocks and shoals, and that even the hurricane may be eluded or conquered Should its fury be encountered by the way. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.