BIRDS AND FORESTS 



— it was ever so. The forest birds, which keep the 

 ravening hordes of insects in check in order that he 

 and his kind might multiply and overspread the 

 earth, are often mercilessly murdered for the despicable 

 and savage purpose of adorning a woman's hat. Aye ! 

 woman's vanity in this respect has cost the peoples 

 of the world countless millions of money, and retarded 

 the expansion of the human race and the opening up 

 of new lands to an alarming degree. Yet our educa- 

 tionists stand aloof when there is such a crying need 

 for bringing enlightenment to the school children on 

 this vastly important matter. There is no time, they 

 say, for extra subjects to be taught. Children are 

 already weighted down sufficiently with lessons. Yes, 

 they leave school freighted with much so-called 

 knowledge which is of little or no value to the vast 

 majority of them in their struggle for existence. Poor, 

 indeed, is their equipment for the grim struggle for 

 existence which is before them. We simply blunder 

 along — muddle through anyhow. Inquire of librarians 

 of public libraries and they, one and all, will inform you 

 that for one book of fact taken out by subscribers, five 

 hundred books of fiction are read. This apathy and 

 distaste for knowledge shown by the average adult is 

 a clinching reason why knowledge of a practical kind 

 should be taught to school children. 



The pond in which a frog dwells is the whole world 

 to him, and so it is with the majority of human folk. 

 They are shut up in a prison of their own making — 

 the doors are unbarred, but they seek not to open 

 them. Seek and ye shall find. 



95 



