330 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



five thousand dollars. The continu- 

 ance of the AA depends on the mem- 

 bership fees. This has been repeatedly 

 explained in The Guide; to Nature 

 and elsewhere. Full particulars are 

 contained in "Three Kingdoms" (mail- 

 ed postpaid for seventy-five cents) 

 and in the AA Manual (mailed for ten 

 cents). 



The AA in its thirty years' existence 

 has had various methods for the inter- 

 change of observations, the outlining 

 its work, the disseminating its ideas, 

 etc. The Guide to Nature is only one 

 of many methods — the latest and per- 

 haps in some respects the best. 



But however good this may be we 

 assure our friends that we do not want 

 their support and interest to be placed 

 principally and primarily there. Plac- 

 ing the interests of The Guide to Na- 

 ture before those of the AA, is collo- 

 quially and ludicrously expressed, by 

 the old story in which the tail wagged 

 the dog. Or, to change the figure to 

 one more in harmony with our work, 

 how absurd it would be to attempt to 

 care for the bloom or for the terminal 

 bud of a plant and make no provision 

 for the roots ! 



In a general magazine or in a book 

 published for profit by a business com- 

 pany or corporation, the interest is 

 chiefly in the goods supplied in ex- 

 change for the money. A reader sel- 

 dom if ever thinks of the publishers. 

 That general habit is one of the worst 

 obstacles encountered in our work. 

 Many of our readers insist, as with 

 other books or magazines, in putting 

 The Guide to Nature first. But the 

 magazine is only one of many tools. 

 Do not forget the personage (the AA) 

 that is using that tool. We plead with 

 you to place your interest primarily 

 where it should be ; that is, with the AA. 

 If you have a general love for nature 

 and of outdoor life, come with us and 

 be one of us. Aid this great organiza- 

 tion that extends around the world to 

 keep efficiently to its high ideals and 

 extensive work. It is encouraging, so 

 far as it goes, to receive enthusiastic 

 letters about Tue Guide to Nature, 

 promises of articles, promises of sub- 

 scriptions and the need of such a new 

 venture. But the venture isn't new. 



It is a third of a century old and this 

 is only one of its many steps of ad- 

 vancement. Go to the heart of things, 

 get to the nucleus, — take an active in- 

 terest in the AA. 



We are not one-hundredth part so 

 desirous to receive elaborately written 

 and illustrated articles for The Guide 

 to Nature, "just to help along the new 

 venture," as we are to start more per- 

 sons on the road toward the making of 

 original discoveries in nature. 



Here is the kind of letter that we do 

 not want : 



"Enclosed are manuscript and illustra- 

 tions which I prepared for one of the large 

 general magazines and for which I could 

 probably get fifty dollars or so. I am in- 

 terested in your new venture and to help 

 it along will let you have them at somewhat 

 of a discount from regular price." 



Here is the kind of letter that we do 

 want : 



"I have been studying 



for several 



years and enclose herewith an account of 

 some of my observations which please pub- 

 lish for the benefit of my fellow students 

 in the same subject. I desire to continue 

 my study of these and other departments 

 of nature and recognize that the AA will 

 help me. I enclose $ — for Member- 

 ship which I understand includes the vari- 

 ous aids by which the organization is help- 

 ful to its members." 



It is letters of that type and spirit 

 that enable the AA and all its methods 

 to increase in value and in beneficial 

 results. 



The AA is not money making and 

 I desire that none of the letters that 

 come to my desk shall be written in 

 a financial spirit. My friends, the mem- 

 bers of my family, the members of the 

 Council, the members of the AA, and 

 the editor, willingly and gladly devote 

 time and money for the good of the 

 cause and to encourage and stimulate 

 the study and a love of nature. The 

 president and editor, they are one and 

 the same, receives no salary nor any 

 pecuniary remuneration directly or in- 

 directly for the presidency of the AA 

 nor for the editorship of The Guide TO 

 Nature, and once for all let it be an 

 official "proclamation" that he does not 

 desire that letters shall come to this 

 desk which in spirit want to know 

 "How many $ $ $ $ $ $ $ in it for me?" 



