Relation of Wild Life to the Public 391; 



to act without a reliable picture of the world, that governments, 

 schools, newspapers and churches make such small headway against 

 the more obvious failings of democracy, against violent prejudice, 

 apathy, preference for the curious trivial as against the dull impor- 

 tant, and the hunger for sideshows and three-legged calves. This is 

 the primary defect of popular government, a defect inherent in its 

 traditions, and all its other defects can, I believe, be traced to this 

 one." {Public Opinion, pp. 364-365, 1922. New York.) 



SUMMARY 



In concluding this discussion, I wish to summarize my main 

 points as follows : 



1. We will derive benefit from wild life in our parks in direct 

 relation to what we devote to it. We need to recall that living- 

 organisms respond readily to fair treatment. 



2. In general, wild life can prosper only with the parks as a 

 whole. 



3. Wild life is a very valuable resource in any wild park, and 

 it is generally so recognized by the public. 



4. The National Parks should remain a virgin wilderness for 

 educational, scientific and recreational purposes. 



5. State Parks should retain wilderness areas, as well as include 

 commercial forests, the proportion depending somewhat on local 

 conditions. 



6. In relating the wild life to the public a variety of experimental 

 popular publications is advocated. Technical reports are needed for 

 park officials. We need a distinctive park literature. 



7. Field excursions conducted by carefully trained guides are 

 advocated, to develop trails and a trail literature, and as one of the 

 best methods for teaching the appreciation of natural resources. 



8. A museum-library, devoted exclusively to each particular park, 

 should be equipped for exhibits, lectures, demonstrations, lantern 

 slides and moving pictures, to arouse interest primarily in the local 

 park. This should be the headquarters for the guide service. 



9. A local zoological exhibit, of the park animals only, would 

 stimulate interest in the wild life of the park, but it should not be 

 conducted like a city zoological garden. 



10. The maintenance of a virgin wilderness park is a very diffi- 

 cult, but not a hopeless problem, if intelligent public sentiment 

 is developed in its behalf. 



