EDITORIAL 239 



has been an increase in the length of the school term, in the 

 average attendance, in the number of teachers, in the salaries, in 

 the values of public school property, in the number of pupils, 

 and all by generous percentages. A good deal of space is given 

 in these volumes to agricultural and industrial education, to the 

 physical fitness of the pupils, to increased use of the school plant 

 for community interests other than strictly school interests, to 

 moral education and the uplift of the community. Xever before 

 has the child occupied so large a place in the interests of the 

 nation. Xever before have the problems of his welfare and normal 

 development occupied so large a share in the attention of eminent 

 scholars. All of the influences that tend to his welfare are re- 

 ceiving a juster share of publicity, and those social vices and 

 economic evils that prove injurious to the child are meeting with 

 more heart\ condemnation. The schools must prepare the child 

 to earn a living and to live his life. Xature-study makes its con- 

 tribution to these aims and its contribution is no means one. Man 

 wins his livelihood from X'ature and the study of her laws and 

 methods of operation is essential to intelligent progress. The con 

 templation of Xature has always led men on into that thinking, 

 that attitude of mind, that larger life and broader vision that make 

 life worth the living. 



"XATL'RE never did betray 

 The heart that loved her ; 'tis her privilege 

 Through all the years of this our life, to lead 

 From joy to joy : for she can so inform 

 The mind that is within us, so impress 

 With quietness and beauty, and so feed 

 With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues. 

 Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men, 

 Xor greeting where no kindness is, nor all 

 The dreary intercourse of dailv life 

 Shall e'er prevail against us. or disturb 

 Our cheerful faith, that all that we behold 

 Is full of blessines." 



