HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 7 1 



their pockets. I had seen that look before ! I 

 knew how to translate it into, " Oh, this is going 

 to be a goody-goody talk to tell us how we ought 

 to enjoy this beautiful world and be very grateful 

 to the One that has given it all to us." With an 

 air of resignation they leaned back, and I remem- 

 bered the factory that we had just passed, and 

 what the superintendent had told me of the dull 

 work, the long hours and the low pay of the 

 operatives. 



Then I said : 



" I am trying to find out how young folks feed 

 their pet animals. Will some one please tell me 

 what he thinks is the best for his special p_et§? 

 A friend of animals has written to me that bread 

 and milk should not be fed to any pet animal, 

 and I am trying to learn about the experience of 

 others. Will some one please speak and tell 

 me?" 



Simple as this inquiry was, it had the effect of 

 a bomb-shell. The mental attitude was completely 

 upset and I had to wait a minute for it to settle. 

 Here was every one, other than myself, expecting 

 a sermon on the wonders and beauties of nature 

 about which the young folks had from earliest 

 childhood been told and told again. And I felt 



