254 



Canadian Forestry Journal, November, ipi^. 



Consider also the difference oi 

 the country mind from the city 

 mind. City people see little but the 

 effect of human power and there- 

 fore believe it omnipotent; that 

 human command or laws can make 

 their existence happy or intolerable. 

 They are the prey of the class agi- 

 tator. Moreover they are accus- 

 tomed to take orders, if not from 

 direct employers or foremen at 

 least in the form of placating those 

 to whom they sell their services or 

 goods. Country dwellers make their 

 own decisions in their daily life. 

 They also see bigger forces than 

 human laws— the seasonal cycles, 

 flood and drought, unyielding na- 

 tural laws — and avoid the mob mis- 

 take that nothing can stand before 

 the will of power or numbers. Pro- 

 perty owning is also in itself steady- 

 ing, cultivating sanity and self-con- 

 trol. Therefore, while country peo- 

 ple are liable to certain prejudices 

 incident to narrow outlook, they are 

 also less vulnerable to crazes and 

 false argument, more responsive to 

 logic if properly presented. City 

 people are more reachable by emo- 

 tion, emphatic command, and the 

 suggestion of prestige. In fire pre- 

 ventive effort this distinction is 

 further intensified by differing fam- 

 iliarity with the subject. The coun- 

 try dweller knows the ground and 

 demands sound argument. The city 

 dweller is not sure of himself in the 

 woods, so inclines to accept any em- 

 phatic command. 



Where Sentiment Changes. 



I have not attempted to cover the 

 whole ground but merely to indicate 

 the nature of psychologic laws we 

 should study. Their adaptation also 

 involves continual inspection of 

 changes of sentiment, for the public 

 mind, or any section of it, may pass 

 from one class into another requir- 

 ing different treatment. If we are 

 successful, this is sure to happen. 



For example, we began some 

 years ago with almost complete in- 

 difference to forest protection. It 



was useless to urge care with match 

 or camp-fire, for the ordinary citi- 

 zen did not care whether the woods 

 burned or not. Our educational 

 work was therefore directed toward 

 showing the relation between forest 

 preservation and his personal inter- 

 est. We have succeeded in this, 

 generally speaking. Few people but 

 who believe forest destruction is a 

 bad thing. The same argument on 

 posters and elsewhere that got re- 

 sults then is offensive now to many 

 because it assumes their ignorance 

 and lack of public spirit. They re- 

 sent our telling them what they 

 pride themselves on knowing al- 

 ready. Irritation results and ham- 

 pers all our effort. 



Yet fires occur and prove that al- 

 though people may have the right 

 idea they don't know how to prac- 

 tice it. They want to be careful, yet 

 don't think of the right thing at the 

 right time. What the}^ need now is 

 not argument, but latent suggestion 

 of a definite act, that will awake 

 when they handle a match, leave a 

 camp fire, or look at slashing. 



If this is true of the majority, we 

 should be foolish to plan a poster 

 without recognizing it. Yet there 

 remains a minority still requiring 

 the old argument and certainly de- 

 manding our attention. How can 

 we reach them without irritating 

 the others? By argument and sug- 

 gestion combined in one poster and 

 with the primer class argument so 

 indirect that it does not offend the 

 advanced grade. There are two 

 ways at least of doing this. One is 

 a flattering appeal to the advanced 

 ^rade for help with the primer class, 

 the other to give some detailed in- 

 formation to prove your point which 

 the advanced grade is excusable for 

 not knowing. This is the best me- 

 thod to-day. 



Dealing with Irresponsibles. 



Eventually will come the stage 

 when the majority having good in- 

 tent and also drilled in method will 

 include practically everyone who 



