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           Theuntaughtpeasantbeheldtheelementsaroundhimandwasacquaintedwiththeirpracticaluses.Themostlearnedphilosopherknewlittlemore.HehadpartiallyunveiledthefaceofNature,butherimmortallineamentswerestillawonderandamystery.Hemightdissect,anatomize,andgivenames;but,nottospeakofafinalcause,causesintheirsecondaryandtertiarygradeswereutterlyunknowntohim.Ihadgazeduponthefortificationsandimpedimentsthatseemedtokeephumanbeingsfromenteringthecitadelofnature,andrashlyandignorantlyIhadrepined.

           Butherewerebooks,andhereweremenwhohadpenetrateddeeperandknewmore.Itooktheirwordforallthattheyaverred,andIbecametheirdisciple.Itmayappearstrangethatsuchshouldariseintheeighteenthcentury;butwhileIfollowedtheroutineofeducationintheschoolsofGeneva,Iwas,toagreatdegree,self-taughtwithregardtomyfavouritestudies.Myfatherwasnotscientific,andIwaslefttostrugglewithachild’sblindness,addedtoastudent’sthirstforknowledge.UndertheguidanceofmynewpreceptorsIenteredwiththegreatestdiligenceintothesearchofthephilosopher’sstoneandtheelixiroflife;butthelattersoonobtainedmyundividedattention.Wealthwasaninferiorobject,butwhatglorywouldattendthediscoveryifIcouldbanishdiseasefromthehumanframeandrendermaninvulnerabletoanybutaviolentdeath!Norwerethesemyonlyvisions.Theraisingofghostsordevilswasapromiseliberallyaccordedbymyfavouriteauthors,thefulfillmentofwhichImosteagerlysought;andifmyincantationswerealwaysunsuccessful,Iattributedthefailurerathertomyowninexperienceandmistakethantoawantofskillorfidelityinmyinstructors.AndthusforatimeIwasoccupiedbyexplodedsystems,mingling,likeanunadept,athousandcontradictorytheoriesandflounderingdesperatelyinaverysloughofmultifariousknowledge,guidedbyanardentimaginationandchildishreasoning,tillanaccidentagainchangedthecurrentofmyideas.