Chapter I: Preface

The main design in view, in the discussions which are offered to the juvenile world, under the title of THE ROLLO PHILOSOPHY, relates rather to their effect upon the little reader’s habits of thinking, reasoning, and observation, than to the additions they may make to his stock of knowledge. The benefit which the author intends that the reader shall derive from them, is an influence on the cast of his intellectual character, which is receiving its permanent form during the years to which these writings are adapted.

The acquisition of knowledge, however, though in this case a secondary, is by no means an unimportant object; and the discussion of the several topics proceeds accordingly, with regularity, upon a certain system of classification. This classification is based upon the more obvious external properties and relations of matter, and less upon those, which, though they are more extensive and general in their nature, and, therefore, more suitable, in a strictly scientific point of view, for the foundations of a system, are less apparent, and require higher powers of generalization and abstraction, and are, therefore, less in accordance with the genius and spirit of the _Rollo_ philosophy.

As teachers have, in some cases, done the author the honor to introduce some of the preceding works of this class into their schools, as reading books, &c., considerable reference has been had to this, in the form and manner of the discussion, and questions have been added to facilitate the use of the books in cases where parents or teachers may make the reading of them a regular exercise of instruction.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
Page
SLOW COMBUSTION 9

CHAPTER II.
LAMP-LIGHTING 21

CHAPTER III.
BURNING IRON 36

CHAPTER IV.
FIRE IN THE PASTURE 54

CHAPTER V.
THEORY AND PRACTICE 70

CHAPTER VI.
GUNPOWDER 85

CHAPTER VII.
THE ALARM 102

CHAPTER VIII.
RADIATION AND CONDUCTION 116

CHAPTER IX.
RADIATION 130

CHAPTER X.
CONDITION 142

CHAPTER XI.
THE RIDE HOME 155

CHAPTER XII.
THE CONFLAGRATION 165

THE ROLLO PHILOSOPHY.

FIRE.