xiv PREFACE 



tains wore white caps of snow in midsummer to 

 keep their heads cool, where the prairies were cov- 

 ered with crazy quilts of flowers and dotted with 

 real live buffalo and elk. 



If this book succeeds in awakening a love for 

 wild Nature in even a small portion of the Ameri- 

 can youth it will be counted as a success. Well 

 barbered and manicured Nature, closely shaven 

 lawns and neatly trimmed hedges are perfectly 

 proper in yards to suburban houses, but contact 

 with Nature without a hair-cut and unshaven is 

 what gives strength to one's muscles, brightness to 

 one's eyes, and makes the red blood dance in one's 

 veins. Unfortunately there are many who cannot 

 appreciate mountains destitute of summer hotels, 

 unbridged streams or solemn dark woods, no more 

 than the deaf can enjoy music or the blind the 

 beauties of a sunset, but even the deaf can enjoy 

 seeing mountains and forests, and the blind feel- 

 ing the fresh stimulating air of the wilderness, and 

 this book of random notes is not intended for peo- 

 ple unable to appreciate the handicraft of the 

 Creator, or understand what is meant by 



" He prayeth well who loveth well 

 Both man and bird and beast." 



So recent is it, since man has acquired his present 

 gigantic mental powers, that his moral character is 

 still infantile in its development and like the giant 

 baby that he is, he is a menace and a source of 

 terror to all the rest of creation. 



Grand old Mother Nature has long been 

 misunderstood by her pet child and ever since men 



