NEW LIFE IN OLD SUBJECTS 175 



details and superficial methods are ever out of place, they are 

 peculiarly foreign to the first steps of science. 



The naturalist, with the vast resources of the world spread 

 out before him, may properly scorn the need of having at 

 his tongue's end an explanation of every phenomenon of the 

 universe. He often finds satisfaction in saying with a royal 

 air that he does not know. This is far from being the usual 

 attitude of the teacher ; it is more like that of the rural peddler 

 who, till he knows his countryside, cannot possibly carry in his 

 pack half of what his customers demand, but who, if once 

 he gets a chance to spread out his wares, can show that he 

 is anything but a fraud or a failure ; every one then begins to 

 wonder how in one small space he can have packed away a 

 stock so admirable and so well arranged. Could any one in 

 his place do better ? Then with true cleverness he sees to it 

 that on the next round he is fully equipped. 



It is apt to be just the opposite, however, with the nature- 

 study teacher. A slave to tradition, he feels in a measure 

 bound to pose as infallible. So, regardless of what is wanted 

 by his students, he makes it his business to lug about with 

 him as many facts as possible, forcing them upon his pupils 

 at every provocation. That is really why in so many instances 

 nature study has proved either very " thin " or very unpopular. 

 Suppose, on the other hand, he is sustained by the belief that 

 he can keep his self-respect, even though he may not carry 

 every trifle about with him, the true teacher is spurred to do 

 his best in supplying real needs; and he will have the wit to 

 replenish his pack of knowledge, on request, to everybody's 

 satisfaction, and be in the meanwhile as merry as the peddler. 



The words " scientific research " and " scientific method " 

 may seem pompous terms to use in educating youngsters ; they 

 certainly will so appear to any one who associates the phrases 

 with nothing less intricate than a compound microscope. But 



