160 The Nature-Study Idea 



human motives or human 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 effective way to reach the 

 audience for which it is intended. In general, 

 a direct and lucid presentation, without circum- 

 locution and invention, 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 

 runs into thin sentimentalism, which makes the 

 "goody-goody" part of the work so prominent 

 that it becomes the child's point of view, whether 

 the writing is in prose or verse. 



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. We need a free nature poetry that 

 will give us confidence and a firm hold on life. 



