
THE STORY - OF - A TINDER-BOX.
THE STORY - OF - A TINDER-BOX. - A COURSE OF LECTURES - Delivered before a Juvenile Auditory at the London Institution during the Christmas Holidays of 1888-89. - BY THE LATE - CHARLES MEYMOTT TIDY, M.B., M.S., F.C.S. - FORMERLY BARRISTER-AT-LAW; PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AND OF FORENSIC MEDICINE AT THE LONDON HOSPITAL; MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR ISLINGTON; VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY; ONE OF THE OFFICIAL ANALYSTS TO THE HOME OFFICE. - LONDON: - SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, - NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. - BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET. NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG & CO. 1897.
PREFACE.
THE STORY OF A TINDER-BOX
LECTURE I.
LECTURE II.
LECTURE III.
THE END.
NATURAL HISTORY RAMBLES. - Fcap. 8vo., with numerous Woodcuts, Cloth boards, 2s. 6d. each.
MANUALS OF HEALTH. - Fcap. 8vo, 128 pp., Limp Cloth, price 1s. each.
A witty Victorian scientist invites curious youngsters into the world of fire’s origins, turning a humble match‑box into a portal for adventure. With the ease of a holiday lecture, he recounts how early humans wrestled with flame, from the awe of burning mountains to the myths of Prometheus and the solemn duties of the Vestal Virgins. The narrative weaves together history, folklore, and the first sparks of chemistry, offering a lively portrait of humanity’s first “light”.
Listeners will hear engaging anecdotes, vivid sketches of ancient workshops, and simple demonstrations that illustrate how fire shaped food, art, and belief. Though rooted in 19th‑century science, the talk feels fresh, sparking wonder about the everyday tools we now take for granted. It’s a charming, accessible journey that celebrates curiosity and the timeless romance of discovery.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (80K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, Ritu Aggarwal and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
Release date
2009-08-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1843–1892
A Victorian doctor, sanitary chemist, and legal writer, he brought scientific thinking to public health and the courtroom. His books range from forensic medicine to lighter popular writing, showing an unusually wide curiosity for the period.
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