The faculty of observation is also the basis of science and of the success of specialists in every line. The story is told of a young man, who, having made up his mind to become a naturalist, went to a celebrated teacher in that line of study. The professor set the young man at work drawing a picture of a fish. The picture was soon finished and carried to the teacher for inspection, who, without looking up, said: "Draw it again." This seemed foolish to the young man, but he sat down and drew a new and better picture, which he again carried to the teacher for approval. This time the professor told him to go back and improve it and to wait until he should come to inspect it. The young scholar returned, did some more work on the picture and then pushed it back and waited. The professor did not come and so he started wandering restlessly around the room, thinking he had been forgotten. Soon he became interested in studying the fish he had been drawing; he noticed several peculiarities of the eye which he added to his picture. This led him to a more careful study, and other details were noted and added. He then decided he could draw a better picture, so started all over again. After days had passed, the professor came in and glanced at the picture which the young man then realized was still only partially complete. For one year this young scholar was kept busy studying and drawing the fish, then the old professor told him: "You have learned the greatest lesson of the scientist, observation." This young man was Agassiz, who became America's foremost naturalist. Observation usually occurs where there is a motive. Do not ask the child to develop it, but induce him to play games and to strive to excel in contests which require observation. Value of Observation This is one of the faculties which we use continuously, but have given very little thought to its conscious improvement. Every judgment rendered in business life is largely dependent for accuracy upon this faculty. You may intend investing money in a piece of real estate. You go out to look at it. What you see on this trip of inspection is a large factor in your decision. Your ability to observe all existing conditions will go a long way towards determining whether or not your judgment in buying this property is correct. If the surrounding land is higher, and you do not observe this fact, you will probably discover, when winter comes, that you have purchased a mud hole. Two men go to inspect a piece of mining property. Mr. A decides to invest, while Mr. B decides not to. In talking over the situation later on A inquires of B why he did not invest, and finds that B saw many things about the location of the property which he did not see at all.