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insects, roaming in the woods, taking long excursions on Lake 

 Neuchatel, in whose waters clear to an unusual depth he could 

 find the haunts and study the habits of the fish ; climbing 

 steep hills and rocky cliffs and even ascending the magnificent 

 precipices of the Jura. Living much in the open air, he 

 observed the birds so as to distinguish them by their beak, 

 claws, size, form, plumage, song or flight. If in early life he 

 knew less of books he had studied nature more. 



The late Charles Hammond, one of the most successful of 

 American teachers, used to say he was educated by the grand 

 scenery of his native town Union comprising the highest 

 land in the State east of the Connecticut river. From the 

 homestead, he could see the church spires in many of the 

 surrounding towns. From a hill near by, he used to "gaze 

 at Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts, and in a clear day 

 could distinctly see the deep blue peak of Monadnock in 

 Jeffrey, New Hampshire." To continue his own words, " my 

 father observed nature and loved flowers, and early taught me 

 to observe the properties of plants and trees, and learn the 

 names, habits, retreats and voices of the birds." He often 

 revisited this grand scenery to which he attributed the inspira- 

 tion of his youth. 



I often advise the sons of wealth in our cities to spend at 

 least one year in the country, with its freer sports, and wider 

 range of rambles, or better still, for both physical and mental 

 training, to give one season to hard work on the farm or in the 

 shop. The practical skill thus gained in adapting means to 

 ends in observing things, common objects and animals, may 

 compensate for some loss of book learning and lead one 

 afterwards, like Agassiz, to pursue text-books with greater zest. 



11. My interest in this work centers in the improvement of 

 the homes and home life of our people. " The hope of America 

 is the homes of America," and the hope of Connecticut is the 

 homes of Connecticut. There remain still too many homes 

 and grounds desolate, neglected and repulsive, where taste and 

 trees, shrubbery, hedges or creeping vines with a lawn would 

 make " the wilderness blossom as the rose." Unquestionably, 

 neglect and slatternliness in and around the house repel from 

 their rural homes many youth who might otherwise be bound 



