128 The Nature-Study Idea 



But the American taste is rapidly changing. 

 Each year the florist's trade sees a proportion- 

 ately greater demand for plants. The same 

 change is seen in the parks and home grounds. 

 Every summer more gross carpet-beds are rele- 

 gated to those parts of the grounds that are 

 devoted to curiosities, or they are omitted alto- 

 gether, and in their stead are restful sward and 

 attractive plant forms. Flowers are not to be 

 despised, but they are accessories. 



This habit of looking first at what we call 

 the beauty of objects is closely associated with 

 the old conceit that everything is made to please 

 man: man is only demanding his own. It is 

 true that everything is man's because he may 

 use it or enjoy it, but not because it was designed 

 and "made" for "him" in the beginning. This 

 notion that all things were made for man's 

 special pleasure is colossal self-assurance. It 

 has none of the humility of the psalmist, who 

 exclaimed, "What is man, that thou art mindful 

 of him?" 



"What were these things made for, then?" 

 asked my friend. Just for themselves! Each 



