INTRODUCTION XV 



normal child can be appealed to on the practical, unsenti- 

 mental, and utilitarian side of his nature. 



Once more, this work is opportune because it stimu- 

 lates spontaneous, out-of-door interests. It is with abun- 

 dant reason that we find now on every hand a growing 

 fear of the effects of excessive confinement, sedentary 

 attitudes, and institutionalizing influences in the school. 

 Such work as is here described must tend to salutary 

 progress in the direction of health. 



Lastly, many modern nature books suffer from what 

 might be called effeminization. This is a book written 

 by a man and appeals to boys and girls equally. 



The time has now happily passed when it is necessary 

 to urge the importance of the love and study of nature, 

 or to show how from it have sprung love of art, science, 

 and religion, or how in the ideal school it will have a cen- 

 tral place, slowly subordinating most other branches of 

 study as formal and accessory, while it remains substan- 

 tial. To know nature and man is the sum of earthly 

 knowledge. 



G. STANLEY HALL. 

 Worcester, Mass., Dec. 3, 1901. 



