4 THE NA TURE-STUD Y RE VIE W [ 4 . ,~ JAN . , 90 8 



continues co have weight. In the meantime there will be 

 abundant opportunity for present officers and other members to 

 demonstrate by efficient activity their right to be official repre- 

 sentatives of the American Nature-Study Society. 



Interest of Men of Science in the Nature-Study Society 



The organizing meeting held at the University of Chicago 

 has been pronounced a great success by' many prominent edu- 

 cators and scientific men who were present ; and the great interest 

 in the work of the Society shown at the organizing meeting and in 

 many informal meetings of the members of the various scientific 

 societies makes it certain that the new r society will have hearty 

 support. 



Never before has nature-study been discussed so much within 

 a short time as during the four days at Chicago. It w r as a 

 very popular topic for conversation. Many scientific men 

 asked for specific information concerning nature-study, to which 

 their serious attention was for the first time attracted. The 

 presidental address, by Professor McMurrich of Toronto, before 

 the American Society of Naturalists contained a strong plea for 

 better nature-study in schools. In short, it was evident that 

 interest in nature-study Avas in the ascendancy so far as men of 

 science are concerned. Here is a most important point, for 

 many of these men have long been inclined to regard nature-study 

 as merely a fad. 



All this does not mean that the scientific men are now heartily 

 approving nature-study in general — good, bad, indifferent, and 

 sentimental. On the contrary expressions of approval were 

 commonly coupled with qualifying remarks concerning the kind 

 of nature-study. Especially was there hearty approval for the 

 attitude of the American Nature-Study Society as shown in 

 Article I of the Constitution; and there was approval for the 

 stand of The Nature-Study Review for conservative and 

 scientific study of nature-study problems. 



