xviii INTRODUCTION 



character of Nature. We see the "I" behind 

 the outward manifestation and representation. And 

 if we have sympathy and understanding enough and 

 are able truly to enter into the soul of Nature, we 

 shall see the real " I " behind the common everyday 

 "I" — just as the few who intimately know some 

 great man see the real man behind the man who 

 appears in the public eye — the real Beaconsfield or 

 Kitchener behind the Beaconsfield or Kitchener of 

 the daily press. And, as we see more of this real 

 " I " in Nature and are better able to get in touch 

 and harmony with her, so shall we see greater 

 Beauty in Nature. 



If we have petty, meagre souls we shall find little 

 in common with the great soul of Nature, and conse- 

 quently see only shallow Beauty. If we have great 

 souls we shall have more in common and see more 

 Beauty. But to arrive at a full understanding of 

 the real Nature we must observe her from every 

 point of view and see her in all her aspects. Only 

 so shall we be able to understand her real self and see 

 her full Beauty. And her aspects and the points 

 of view from which we may observe them change 

 so incessantly that the greatest of us falters. 

 The more we see of Nature, the more we find 

 there is to understand. And the more we under- 

 stand Nature and commune with her, the more 

 Beauty do we find there is to see. So to arrive 

 at a complete understanding of Nature and see 

 all her Beauty is beyond the capacity of us finite 

 men. 



Yet we are impelled to go on striving to see all 

 we can. And in the following pages an attempt is 



