46 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 86 



sight of an elephant or a grasshopper? But when the mammal or that 

 insect must be studied as so much nature or natural science, then is 

 diminished the satisfaction of the watching, and when the watching is 

 made a matter of study, of literature or of science, it becomes still less 

 pleasing unless the observer is naturally studious. Compulsion always 

 removes the zest and blunts the edge. We do best the things that we 

 best like to do. This point of view has been strongly emphasized in 

 Edward F. Bigelow's experience during his fourteen years' editorship 

 of the department of ' ' Nature and Science " of " St. Nicholas, ' ' his 

 correspondence with boys and girls having probably been larger than 

 that of any other editor. He has severed his connection with the ' ' St. 

 Nicholas" magazine and will establish in ''The Guide to Nature" a 

 department entitled ' ' The Fun of Seeing Things. ' ' 



Dr. Bigelow is an amateur naturalist. He revels in nature because he 

 likes nature. He believes that young folks make the best companions 

 when they are free from restrictions imjjosed by parents or teachers. He 

 enjoys their unrestrained spontaneity. He enjoys their letters when the 

 letters have not been revised and made so correct that they are deprived 

 of all originality and heart. He wants young people as they are, not as 

 some one thinks they should be, as he wants nature as she is, unchanged 

 by man 's meddling. The tangled thicket is more beautiful and instruct- 

 ive than the formally trimmed hedge. The wild grass is far more 

 beautiful than the closely shaven lawn; a laughing brook in a secluded 

 ravine is far more picturesque than a ditch with concrete banks. 



He will conduct the new department, ' ' The Fun of Seeing Things, ' ' as 

 he would lead a party of young folks on a ramble. There will be more 

 spontaneity than restraint, more originality than formally trimmed 

 rhetoric. 



Boys and girls that wish to share in this real fun may address Dr. 

 Bigelow at Arcadia, Sound Beach, Conn. 



"The Guide to Nature" pays for contributions only in the satisfaction 

 tliat comes to every contributor in having his best work well published 

 for the benefit of other workers. There can be no better remuneration. 

 Therefore your best work in this great "labor of love" is solicited. 



You are invited to share in the liberal pay received by the editor and 

 the members of the family who assist him, and that is the joy of work- 

 ing faithfully in a cause than which there is none better on earth. This 

 is the pay that the editor has. Your observations described in a plain and 

 simple way, will help the magazine and encourage its readers. 



Every cent of income from ' ' The Guide to Nature ' ' and from The Agas- 

 siz Association is placed on the "Eeceived" side of the cash book. On 

 the "Paid" side are only actual expenses — paper, printing, engraving, 

 mailing, etc. 



