EDITORIAL 



TEN YEARS. 



With the publication of our May 

 number, The Guide to Nature com- 

 pletes its Tenth Volume. 



We are here at the end of a decade — 

 the longest life that any general popu- 

 lar natural history magazine has ever 

 lived in this country. The next long- 

 est, and perhaps in many respects the 

 next best in quality, were "The Ob- 

 server," some seven years of age, and 

 "Popular Science News," both of bles- 

 sed memory. 



A list of all the nature magazines 

 that are no more would be pathetic. 

 I recall at least twenty-five that I have 

 known and loved and whose monthly 

 arrival upon the exchange table I have 

 hailed with delight. Each one repre- 

 sented the honest, genuine, individual 

 effort of some devoted naturalist. 



A few were edited because some one 

 wanted to see his name in print as edi- 

 tor, and was inspired more by the 

 spirit of amateur journalism than by a 

 regard for the great Cause of Nature 

 Study. But in the greater number the 

 honesty of purpose made the pathos of 

 the failure more poignant. I sorrow- 

 fully admit that in the beginning the 

 same mistake was mine in "The Ob- 

 server," my first attempt at nature 

 journalism made twenty-eight years 

 ago. The magazine existed for seven 

 years and died a painful death, mourn- 

 ed by many. It nearly broke my jour- 

 nalistic heart as well as my bank ac- 

 count. But "The Observer" spirit 

 never died. I continued my observa- 

 tion not only of nature but of nature 

 journalism. Some experiences have 

 been severe, but they have taught valu- 

 able lessons. I would save others from 

 the sorrow of similar experience. 



This is the great lesson that I have 

 learned. 



Individual effort in publishing a na- 

 ture magazine sooner or later results 

 in failure. That is true even if the ed- 

 itor and publisher is rich enough to 

 carry it as an expensive pleasure. 



Sooner or later that enjoyment palls. 

 Successful nature journalism, indeed 

 success in promoting any great ideal, 

 must be backed by an association or 

 a society. Observe the great success 

 of the "National Geographic Maga- 

 zine," "American Forestry," "Bird- 

 Lore," "The Nature-Study Review," 

 "Our Dumb Animals," "The American 

 Museum Journal" and several minor 

 yet good and successful magazines sup- 

 ported by an association or a society. 



Just here is the reason why The 

 Guide to Nature still persists with 

 three thousand circulation and good 

 advertising patronage: it is published 

 by The Agassiz Association, whose 

 very name is an inspiration and an em- 

 blem of all that is good, earnest, true in 

 the realm of "study nature." 



The Agassiz Association in its ex- 

 istence of forty-three years has had 

 several periodicals as its "official or- 

 gan." The Guide to Nature, the only 

 magazine ever owned by The Agassiz 

 Association, has proved' its worth by 

 its continuance. The lesson is evident, 

 especially in these days of discarded 

 duplicated or needless' effort. Every 

 student and lover of nature will act for 

 efficiency and give the best service by 

 concentrating his efforts within the 

 widespread range of Association effort 

 that has been proved worth while. 

 The Agassiz Association includes all 

 ages and all grades of attainment, the 

 ignorant and the wise, the humble, 

 those of prominence and influence, the 

 poor and the rich. All that desire to 

 learn meet on common ground "to cre- 

 ate and increase a knowledge and love 

 of nature" or, as our Charter says, for 

 "the general diffusion of knowledge." 



Nature and her gift of buoyant life 

 are overpowering. The joy of mere 

 animal existence, the feeling that it is 

 good to be alive and face to face with 

 Nature's self, drives everything else 

 into the background. — John C. Van 

 Dyke in "The Desert." 



