i o Preface. 



which are intensified and not set aright by the 

 author telling the plain truth. The rambler 

 and the author should always remain as widely 

 apart as the poles. Certainly not merely prob- 

 ably or possibly, but certainly the rambler so 

 far unfits himself to ramble if he has at the 

 outset the subsequent role of authorship in 

 mind. This is evident if we give the subject a 

 moment of calm consideration. What will go 

 to the making of the liveliest essay? is the in- 

 evitable question, and deciding upon some sure- 

 to-be-seen bird or flower, you face but blurred 

 images of everything save the selected flower 

 or bird. Literally, you have been walking and 

 actually seen some object of more or less in- 

 terest, but this is far removed from a genuine 

 ramble, when you live up to the golden rule 

 of equal consideration for all. The essay is 

 written, but is it not unfair to the central ob- 

 ject? Why not overcome our prejudices and 

 accept the world as it is? To take our most 

 gorgeous beetle from his chosen home and set 

 him upon a rose-bud may suit the delicate 

 nerves of my lady fair, but what of Nature ? 

 Are we to say outright that Nature is indeli- 



