Excerpt from Hand-Book for Young and Old Opticians: A Concise and Comprehensive Treatise on the Theory of the Optical Trade and of Its Mechanical Manipulations; An Indispensable Companion to All Progressive Co-Laborers of the Optical Trade, Containing Many Points Heretofore Unexplored and Unexplained

My Object is to instruct the rising generation of our trade, and elevate them to the position of the great pro gress our business has made within the last quart-er cen tury. I regard my readers as my apprentices at the work bench and behind the counter. If this work should acci dentally fall into the hands of fellow-craftsmen Of supe rior skill and experience, I am certain that even these fortunate men will find something in it which will fully repay them for their outlay. I am well aware that it is not as complete as it ought to be, because every chapter is composed and written as something new. There is nothing previously published about these subjects, as far as I know; and my little book may be the pioneer to open the road for other more able writers. All other trades have their literature; every other art has a hand book of the secrets peculiar to its business; but the opti cal trade, as regards the mechanical part of it, has none whatever. Books written for our instruction treat only of the theoretical part, but none tell us how to set a lens, how to find the Optical centre, etc. Their writers werenot practical workmen; they, had to limit their instruo tions to the selection of glasses for certain special cases. This theoretical part I have purposely declined to copy from other authors, and to enlarge and embellish my book with strange feathers. That which I offer is the result of a life-long experience, and Of numerous investigations; and I hope it will be received by the trade with favor and forbearance. Workmen who find any error, or who know better methods of accomplishing anything in an improved style, are cordially invited to communicate it to the author, who will not fail to take notice Of it, 'and ac knowledge his Obligation in a future edition. As I desire to make this little work as useful as possible, I sincerely request every one, who can Offer any suggestion for its improvement, to give me the benefit of his experience. It is time for the optical trade to arouse from the lethargy with which we have carried on our business. Let us look at the immense progress the Ocutists have lately made! If we do not keep step with them, and are not able to fill their orders, who is to blame?

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