EDITORIAL AND GENERAL. 293 



of the Nullgowampus in the Wobbilit credulity; it was the height of exag- 



Land. gerated absurdity. As a parodying 



"But," he persisted, "you have seen humorist, I evidently was a star per- 



a great many things that ordinary peo- former. The audience went wild; the 



pie do not see." applause and laughter were intense. I 



"Yes," I replied, "I have found many was even honored by a stray catcall, 



beautiful diatoms, desmids and ento- several whistles and not a few stamp- 



mostraca in a tiny pool in my ravine." ings. 



"Oh, that is good. And you will tell I must admit that I lost my dignity, 



the young folks about these queer and 1 too got mad j did not leave 



things?" the stage, but I said a few things 



"No," I said, I doubt whether they straight from the shoulder as I was 



come within the scope of their observa- compelled to do before I could get even 



tions. There are many other things a chance to speak about nature from 



that I think are more profitable." my head or from my heart. I talked for 



Again I felt that my recommendation one hour on nature study as I under- 



from that village would never be stand it. I had order, but the kind of 



printed at the top of a circular. But order that comes from fear, not from 



the chairman persisted. He evidently interest. The people had met to be 



thought me not wholly hopeless, and amused, to be told eye opening and 



the idea that I was Nobleau from Hul- mouth opening stories, and I saw that 



lygoleaux Land stood out prominently I was not successful. I received my 



in his introduction for he said, "Nat- fee, but never a word of appreciation, 



uralists see queer things and know how No letter or testimonial has reached 



to entertain in telling what they have me, and no second invitation As a 



seen." vaudeville performer, as a humorist, as 



It is evident, as I now recall it, that an Oh, my!" story teller, I am noi 



I had been more inspired by the seen- successful. And I have no such de- 



ery along the railroad track than by sire. I am only a student and lover 



the conversation with the committee of nature, a preacher of the beauties 



or with the chairman in particular, for and the interests to be found in the 



my opening sentence arranged itself in uncommon commonplace. That audi- 



thisway: ence did not want to be told of the 



"You, my young people, are to be "foreign lands" immediately within 



congratulated upon living in a land £? territory surrounding their village 



where skunk cabbage and alder catkins J he y wanted to hear from Hubblub 



bloom in the spring." Land miles and miles awa y- 



I was interrupted by applause and Strange, isn't it, that the near, the 



laughter precious in time and place, never has 



,, T , ... . it the attraction, never is so sacred, so 



I have enjoyed my journey from the interesti so influe ntial, as the far 



land of cities and palaces to the homes something. And the time jg not 



of the turtles and spring peepers. ^^ in the f * ture> Fifty yeafS | mm 



Tremendous applause and deafening now some boy or girl in that audience, 



laughter. As a humorist, I was evi- a wan derer in some now distant land, 



dently in their estimation a howling may i 00 k back to that little village and 



success. But somehow I failed to be pe rhap<r remember, and if he does he 



elated by their approval. It seemed as wilI certainly realize, the truth which 



if they were applauding somebody else j wished tQ impress> that the wild ter - 



that they supposed or hoped that I rf surrounding that village is the 



travel " ^^ m ° St beautiful on earth - ^ is the 



„_, ' , -r , , mission of nature study to annihilate 



There are no more beautiful places time and distance> to realize and to em - 



in all the earth than the fields, the h . h charms and the beauties 



ravines, the roads and the forests sur- K , , 



rounding this village." ot the 



This was plainly too much for their HERE AND NOW. 



