THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



MmOewmD 



mBBR 



Our "Contributing Editor" Jumps For- 

 ward. 

 I am here. By those who knew me 

 best I am familiarly called "Gerump 

 the bullfrog." Those who speak of me 

 with proper respect call me Rana 

 Catesbiana. I have been engaged as 

 Contributing Editor of this magazine. 

 With many a strenuous jump I come 

 from explorations in the marshes of 



Mianus, to scan the actions of the peo- 

 ple along the Connecticut shore. 



The managing editor had heard of 

 me as a philosopher and as a keen- 

 eyed observer of the doings of men. 

 and of my fame in finding out the 

 reason why. So he engaged me to 

 locate myself on this platform, from 

 which I may say the things he may 

 not have the time nor the inclination 

 to say. If perchance I shall at times 

 disagree with him, is it then to be 

 marvelled at that I shall probably also 

 disagree with you? If I am not so 

 wise as an owl, make due allowance to 

 my credit, pray thee, since I have no 

 claws nor sharpened beak with which 

 to tear your possessions, and to say 

 sharp things that shall pierce your 

 heart. I am but Gerump, an observ- 

 ing, meditative frog, and not a bird of 

 wisdom. 



I have observed that in the affairs of 

 Stamford and vicinity, provision has 

 been made for lancing the inflamed 

 boils, for advocating in arguments, or 

 for blazoning a bulletin of things done. 



My field must then be always that 

 of the optimist with a cheerful Ger- 

 ump of encouragement and approval. 



I shall try to be a Cheerful Contri- 

 butor, helpful to you as well as to the 

 editor. 



Gerump ! 



The Joy of Doing Things. 



In an extended notice by "The 

 Stamford Advocate" of Contractor Ar- 

 thur and his new steam shovel, the fol- 



CONTRACTOR W. H. ARTHUR 



lowing statements particularly attract- 

 ed my attention. They are quoted 

 from Mr. Arthur's remarks to a report- 

 er for the paper : 



"The Advocate used to say, when I 



