ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



Philadelphia, Pa., July, 191 8. 



"Making the Editorial of Greater Use to Entomology." 

 As a result of the editorial under this title in the News for 

 June we have received the following: 



I noted in your editorial in the last issue of the Ent. News that 

 jou wished to know how the editorials might be "made of greater use 

 and assistance to the progress of entomology." If in some way it 

 would be possible for an editor to give information in his subject to 

 those who wish to learn some of its phases with which he is un- 

 familiar, I am sure you would earn the "undying gratitude" of many 

 a "would-be" investigator Hke myself, who knows little of w^hat has 

 already been done and lacks the necessary material to investigate 

 phases of the subject which are worthy of further study. This, how- 

 ever, would place an undue burden on the editor; but if he could 

 undertake to put the applicant into communication with some one 

 who would be willing to give information or lend material, it would 

 certainly be a great help to anyone in my position, who has no one 

 to consult with other than those he chances to hear of, or takes the 

 liberty of writing to, and whose material for study is limited to what 

 he can collect, or cajole some more fortunate individual to lend him. 

 I liave found entomologists to be wonderfully sympathetic and ready 

 to help to the fullest extent of their ability: but I know of others who 

 dislike to appear so shamelessly bold as to ask favors from utter 

 strangers, and have therefore gone without the neerled material and 

 information which my brazen "cheek" has obtained for me, but if 

 these persons had some way of getting in touch with entomologists 

 through the medium of your editorial columns or otherwise, I think 

 this would help one class of investigators, at any rate. T must admit, 

 however, that I am "speaking two words for myself, and one for the 

 other fellow," and this proposition is so onesided, that I imagine most 

 people would not care to bother with it. As far as my own material 

 is concerned, I'd be orly too willing to lend it to anyone who needs 

 it, in order to help on the good work and to pass on the assistance I 

 have so freely received from others, and if you know of anyone who 

 reeds material I would be glad to help him out as much as I am able. 

 The News and its editors, through editorials or otherwise, 

 will be glad to help our corres]^ondents to get in touch with 

 other workers whose assistance may be the one thing needful 

 for the prosecution of researches on which they may be 



engaged. 



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