A Practical Angle in the Aesthetic Side of 

 Nature Study 



C. W. G. ElFRlG River Forest, 111. 



Much has been said and written about the aesthetic value of 

 Nature Study. By this we really mean the result of such study, 

 a speaking acquaintance with nature. When one considers the 

 endless variety of nature's forms, the whole gamut of forms and 

 colors in the flowers and leaves of plants, the endless variation 

 in the colors and songs of birds, the ever-changing beauty in 

 the outline and tint of the clouds above and of the minerals below, 

 the variegated patterns of color and outline in insects, shells, even 

 snakes and batrachians, not to speak of the almost fairy-tale-like 

 mysteries in the life-histories of many of these creatures, even the 

 lowliest plant, then one realizes that only the A in the ABC 

 of this great topic has been written. 



In these lines I would dwell upon a practical angle or aspect 

 of Nature Study in the sense of loving appreciation of the beauties 

 and wonders of the great out-doors. I say practical, for, while 

 aesthetic enough, it has practically helped me over otherwise 

 uninteresting, dreary hours or days. And that I think is of prac- 

 tical value and importance in our life, which, despite all said to 

 the contrary, seem.s to me to be depleted m.ore and more of idealism, 

 and is daily being lowered to a m.ere battle for existence, a battle 

 with hostile forces over which often we have no control, and which 

 tends to take the joy out of life. 



Now for instances to show what I m.ean : While living in Canada, 

 in its beautiful capitol, I frequently had occasion to go to places 

 away from any railway, in fact one does not have to go far there 

 to be away from, our common carrier. I would go as far as 1 

 could on the railway — railroad is unknown there— and then 

 I would be driven in some ancient vehicle 25 or 40 miles across 

 country. This at all seasons of the year, and the return drive 

 was often made from one to seven o'clock a. m., frequently 

 in severe cold weather. These trips would have been highly 

 unpleasant or at least monotonous, had not nature study or a 

 speaking acquaintance with nature rendered them higlily in- 

 teresting. At night one would hear the rare call of the Saw-whet 



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