11 



termed nature-study. A great step in the 

 right direction has been taken by this 

 movement, giving to pupils who can not 

 remain in school beyond the eighth and 

 ninth grades a taste for natural science 

 and a love of nature, which will in after 

 years be of inestimable value in the 

 broadening influence which it gives, not 

 only to their powers of observation, but 

 to their ability to know and to under- 

 stand the best of that which the world 

 contains in literature, in art and in science, 

 by enabling them to better understand 

 the magnificent beauty, usefulness and 

 worth of the world about them. It will 

 serve to make their lives more full and 

 complete, and whatever may be their lot 

 in after life, they will be wiser, happier 

 and more useful in their day and genera- 

 tion by their communion with nature. 



Communion with nature is one of the 

 great essentials for the increase of human 

 knowledge. It is one which must be 

 gained by slow and difficult steps. Any- 

 thing that helps us to secure it, any- 

 thing that brings nature closer to the 

 young, and the young closer to nature, 

 is doing a good far beyond the limit of 

 youthful days. Just think for a moment 

 of the homes from which some of the 

 pupils of our public schools come; of the 

 absolute ignorance of all the beauties of 

 nature, and of the beneficent mysteries 

 extending over all; of the luxuries she 

 holds in her bountiful lap, which are not 

 even recognized by the youthful recip- 

 ients. Think of the darkness which hangs 

 over house after house and tenement after 

 tenement in this our goodly city, and 

 think how grateful we should be that 

 from this society, and from our schools,' 

 the light is breaking and reaching into 

 these places; that there is now no home 

 so far away but that the love of and the 

 kindly influence of nature will reach and 

 take possession of it. 



That is the service we are here to per- 

 form, and happy should I be could it be 

 said we performed our whole duty. True 

 our classes receive instruction from the 

 best teachers. Our scanty collections are 

 used in illustration. Our doors are open 

 and free to all. The light goes out from 



them, and its feeble rays help gladden 

 the earth. 



I think I once said to you that the 

 human race has more and greater benefits 

 to expect from the study of natural his- 

 tory than from all other sciences put to- 

 gether. I do not forget the wonders of 

 electrical science, the transmission of 

 thought, will and fact; nor do I leave 

 out of mind the power of steam in making 

 it so easy to transport large armies with 

 their armament and supplies with de- 

 spatch, and to distribute to all countries 

 the productions of each. These great 

 achievements of mechanics and physics 

 produce important effects on the well be- 

 ing of man. But it is doubtful if we are 

 any healthier, happier or better for these 

 wonderful achievements of man's inge- 

 nuity. 



Most certainly our true welfare lies in 

 the progress we make in the study 

 of natural history, and the application 

 of the knowledge thus gained for 

 the overcoming of the evils which 

 afflict our race. The very evils which af- 

 flicted the ancient Egyptians are resist- 

 less to-day, and many others which the 

 subjects of Pharaoh were wholly igno- 

 rant of, trouble the husbandman with 

 each returning year. The forester and 

 horticulturist are at times almost ready 

 to abandon their vocations, and give up 

 their trees and fruits to the ravages of 

 some prolific AA^onn or insect. The farmer 

 finds a pest for his crops, while pleuro- 

 pneumonia depletes his herd. Then there 

 are the regular diseases to which we are 

 so accustomed that we are apt to con- 

 sider them normal phenomena, and new 

 diseases which appear or reappear at in- 

 tervals, together with an occasional pesti- 

 lence like the bubonic plague, which 

 leaves death and desolation in its trail. 

 We are so ignorant of the means of erad- 

 icating or resisting these afflictions that 

 we cowardly come to regard disease as 

 a part of the order of nature over which 

 we can win no control. 



But, when we consider what has been 

 accomplished, shall we not declare that 

 this idea of nature, and of man's relation 

 to his environment, is weak, stupid and 



