138 THREE KINGDOMS. 



who do not respect the desires and rights of those 

 around them, but spoil their pleasure, and steal their 

 profit, that the best thing they can do for the welfare 

 of their chapter is to put such persons out. Such persons 

 are worse for the chapter than all the discouragement 

 and ridicule that can be heaped upon it by outsiders." 



THE SUMMER VACATION. 



During July and August most of our schools and 

 colleges will close their doors, many of those who live 

 in cities will fasten the shutters, and the Agassiz As- 

 sociation will be let loose along the seashore and in the 

 forest and fields. Summer brings her arms full of 

 leaves and flowers; the softened earth loosens its grasp 

 on mineral and fossil; the air is gay with floating but- 

 terflies, and musical with the hum of beetles and the 

 songs of birds; nests in shaded thickets hold dainty 

 secrets; soft-bodied creatures are slowly moving their 

 frail and beautiful houses of shell along briny sands 

 and over spongy moss; and the warm air and clear sky 

 continually invite all who are tired of roof and wall to 

 go out into the larger habitation which is one continu- 

 ous doorway all around, and infinite open window over- 

 head. With all these advantages of field study, the vaca- 

 tion is a trying and dangerous season for many of our 

 chapters. With the close of school classes separate, some 

 never to be reunited, few to come together without some 

 change. The regular succession of meetings is interrupt- 

 ed at the best, and unless the interests of the society 

 are kept in mind during the summer, there is likely to 

 l)e more or less difficulty about reorganizing in the fall. 

 To avoid these dangers, let each member keep his 

 thoughts on the fall reunion while he is away, and try 



