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THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



What Nymphalia Is. 



WHAT IT MEANS TO STAMFORD, TO SOUND 

 BEACH AND GREENWICH. 



The word Nymphalia was devised 

 to name that delectable tract of land 

 that the New York, New Haven and 

 Hartford Railroad Company has gift- 

 leased to The Agassiz Association. 

 This land, this Nymphalia, is a part 

 of the new and greater Arcadia on 

 Arcadia Road, where the new Arcadia 

 has a frontage of three hundred 

 feet. Nymphalia is bounded on the 

 east by the golf links, on the north 

 by the railroad, on the west by build- 

 ing lots, on the south by Arcadia Road, 

 so that it is probable that Nymphalia 

 will for all time on all but one side be 

 Arcadian in character and surround- 



ings. 



Aside from Laddin's Rock Farm, 

 new Arcadia undoubtedly has the 

 most natural beauty of any place in 

 Sound Beach, and is the most pictur- 

 esque part of that region; and for ease 

 of access it cannot be excelled on the 

 Connecticut coast. 



But what is Nymphalia? 



And some one that has seen it from 

 a distance replies, "Only a marsh by 

 the railroad track." That appears to 

 be right if you have seen it only from 

 the station or the railroad track. But 

 if, for two years, you had studied it in 

 all its parts and at all seasons, as the 

 writer has studied it, you would ex- 

 claim, like Thoreau when he came out 

 of the swamp, "It is the sanctum sanc- 

 torum of nature interests." Only a 

 naturalist in rubber boots, or a bare- 

 foot boy searching for frogs, knows 

 how interesting a swamp or marsh may 

 be. Some people do not go barefooted 

 nor wear rubber boots. They may have 

 white kid slippers and gloves. The 

 naturalist wishes to reach everybody 

 everywhere. He wants a place easy 

 to get to by road, railroad or trolley, 

 and then conveniences to take the 

 guests right into, yes, right into the 

 swamp if you please. 



This swamp and meadow and the 

 purposes for which the AA intends to 

 use them were investigated by the rail- 

 road authorities. The more they inves- 

 tigated, the more thoroughly did they 



approve of those purposes, and the 

 more eagerly did those generous men 

 desire to help. The result is Nym- 

 phalia. 



Of course the Nymphalian idea is 

 new. But for that reason it will ap- 

 peal with greater emphasis to those 

 who believe it is possible to accomplish 

 new things. If Nymphalia in its situa- 

 tion and its plans is unique, then 

 greater credit is due to those that con- 

 ceived it, and greater interest should 

 be incited in those so fortunate as to 

 be able to use it, and to help in its de- 

 velopment. It is not necessary to pub- 

 lish the details of our plans for Nym- 

 phalia. Some we have in mind, others 

 suggest themselves as the work pro- 

 gresses. In the main the intention is 

 to make swamp and meadow interest- 

 ing, instructive and easily available to 

 students and to the visiting public. 

 There will be no admission fee. No 

 salary will be paid for the time and 

 thought expended. There will be no 

 private ownership. Every dollar given 

 by the public will be used for the good 

 of the public. Money is necessary. 

 We need trees, shrubs and a plank 

 walk. 



There is no fence around the new 

 Arcadia. It will be permeated by a 

 spirit of general ownership and cordial 

 welcome. 



But what does Nymphalia mean to 

 Stamford, to Sound Beach and to 

 Greenwich? Recreation, inspiration, 

 education. Are not these worth while? 

 Are they not worth more than dollars? 



But Arcadia is worthy of yaur sup- 

 port, if for no other reason, certainly 

 because it advertises to all the world 

 the attractions and the natural beauties 

 of this part of the Connecticut shore. 

 Magazines sent out each month car- 

 rying pictures of the region, pictures 

 that are works of art, cannot fail 

 to bring returns. No half dozen Boards 

 of Trade, combined together, have 

 done as much for this part of the state 

 as Arcadia has done in the last two 

 years by showing the attractiveness as 

 a place of residence. 



Prejudice is the child of ignorance. — 

 Hazlitt. 



