INTERPRETATION OF NATURE 123 



points of view in these cases : there remain only 

 the questions as to whether this is really good 

 literary taste, and whether it is the most efficient 

 way to reach the audience for which it is intended. 

 In general, a direct and lucid presentation, without 

 circumlocution, is to be preferred ; and this direct 

 method allows of the full expression of sentiment 

 and the poetic impulse. 



I protest against that teaching of nature which 

 is mere sentimentalism, which makes the "goody- 

 goody'^ part of the work so prominent that it 

 becomes the child's point of view. Interest in 

 things themselves should be the primary motive ; 

 sentiment comes chiefly as a result. But if there 

 is danger of making sentiment too prominent, there 

 may be equal danger in insisting on a perfunctory 

 scientific point of view. 



The spirit of science lends itself well to song. 

 The concrete is not unpoetic. If in this day we 

 apostrophize and personify nature less, we have 

 improved in the spirit and intimacy of our song. 

 The point of view gradually has shifted from 

 human interest in natural things to the things 

 themselves. 



