THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



by what the sun appears to do at Green- 

 wich. It seems fitting' that the word. 

 "Greenwich," of Connecticut, should 

 step forward in astronomical affairs. It 

 is hoped that the first step toward our 

 first popular observatory may lead to 

 something on a larger scale, and that the 

 word, "Greenwich," may become as fa- 

 mous as an observatory for the general 

 public to view the wonders of the heav- 

 ens as its great namesake is famous as 

 a technical investigator of those wonders. 



When Things Are Darkest Push 

 Ahead. 



In these times of war and other things, 

 these are indeed dark days. We have 

 been told that it is not financially a good 

 time to attempt new things. It may not 

 be a good time to accomplish new things 

 but there is never a time when it is not 

 best to attempt to do better work and to 

 render more efficient services to man- 

 kind. The Agassiz Association has 

 many problems in connection with the 

 continuation of its present work, but we 

 have faith to believe that through the aid 

 of many kind friends it will go forward, 

 and we believe also that it has a greater 

 work to do with a larger development. 

 The wrong time? Discouraged? Not a 

 bit. Why we are only a short way on the 

 Sound from the home of that famous 

 Abraham Davenport, who on that dark- 

 est of days ]\Iay iQth 1780 said work 

 should not be discontinued but go on. It 

 is worth while to read John Greenleaf 

 Whittier's poem telling of that man who 

 was not discouraged even when every- 

 thina: was dark. 



From a brown homestead, where the 



Sound 

 Drinks the small tribute of the Mianas, 

 Waved over by the woods of Rippowams, 

 And hallowed by pure lives and tranquil 



deaths, 

 Stamford sent up to the councils of the State 

 Wisdom and grace in Abraham Davenport. 



The low-hung sky 

 Was black with ominous clouds, save where 



its rim 

 Was fringed with a dull glow, like that which 



climbs 

 The crater's sides from tlie red hell below. 

 Birds ceased to sing, and all the barn-yard 



fowls 

 Roosted ; the cattle at the pasture bars 

 Lowed, and looked homeward ; bats on 



leathern wings 

 Flitted abroad ; the sounds of labor died : 

 Men prayed, and women wept ; all ears grew 



sharp 



To hear the doom-blast of the trumpet shatter 

 The black sky. 



No faithless servant frightened from my task, 

 But ready when the Lord of the harvest calls ; 

 And therefore, with all reverence, I would 



say, 

 "Let God do His work, we will see to ours. 

 Bring in the candles." And they brought 



them in. 



In spite of the dark days in 

 these strenuous financial times, we be- 

 lieve that our work is of sufficient im- 

 portance to issue a call to all workers, 

 "Bring in the candles." And I am sure 

 that the future historian of the early 

 days of this Institution will write as did 

 Whittier. "And they brought them in." 



The Genuine Altruistic Spirit. 



Mr. Charles A. Bruun, an attorney 

 of Kansas City, Missouri, writes : 



"By all means, ArcAdiA should have 

 a telescope. Have you inaugurated a 

 campaign? It seems to me that $1,000 

 should be, and can be, raised by popu- 

 lar subscriptions of perhaps $10 each. 

 I may not often 'see through it,' but 

 you may put me dow^n for $10, v^hich 

 will be forwarded whenever your am- 

 bitions shall have been fulfilled, or 

 realized." 



The Observatory at Sound Beach. 



"Popular Astronomy" of Northfield,' 

 Minnesota, the principal publication of 

 the United States devoted to populariz- 

 ing astronomy, in its recent June-July 

 issue, gives an extended notice regarding 

 the efforts to establish an astronomical 

 observatory and adds the following edi- 

 torial approval : 



" 'Popular Astronomy' is always ready 

 to approve and to encourage steps which 

 will lead to wider interest in astronomy 

 and we believe thoroughly in the useful- 

 ness of the observatory which may be 

 frequently open to the public at regular 

 intervals. Everyone ought to know 

 something of the story of the universe 

 and nothing gives more of a stimulus to 

 the study than an occasional look 

 through a good telescope at some of the 

 wonders of the skv." 



We Need $700 More 



