NATURE STVPY. xiii 



too often.;, Unless you are the chemist tp some pubHc 

 institution or to some ; municipahty, it may be. as well 

 to leave, the retorts at home when you call on your lady 

 friends ; and the man who, lives , in an atmosphere of 

 mathematics would do, as well to take a brisk walk and 

 read a chapter in "Uncle Remus," or in "The Adventures 

 of Baron Munchausen," before he goes into any society 

 except the "Society for the Investigation of the Higher 

 Mathematics." Such persons, who, are so wrapped up 

 in their specialties, and so enraptured with them, may 

 bcj I admit, a perfect pest to the rest of us, who, perhaps 

 have other hobbies, which we should like to ride for a 

 few moments, to show how well we can do it. But they 

 are a nuisance only when they are outside of their special 

 and particular habitat. When there and when doing the 

 work pertaining to the position, they are gods among 

 other men, who can lead, to a: crown of glorious knowl- 

 edge and to a happiness blazing with the bliss of learned 

 appreciation of the world's wonders, and of the goodness 

 of an Omiiiscient God. The school teacher who loves 

 hature, can teach it. If she does not she cannot. If she 

 is not a lover of nature, and still tries to teach nature 

 study to a child, she is somethirig more than a perfect 

 pestj for she is a living lie. An ardent chemist or the 

 mentally active ; mathematician may each become a nui- 

 sance ; a teacher of nature study not in love with nature 

 is a dangerous pretender, who should retire to another 

 department which she may really like, and in which she 

 may be able to do good work. 



"Teacher, say teacher, what is this?" The child's 

 hands are soiled, finger nails black-boi;dered and un- 

 trimmed, face sunburned and smeared with the remnants 

 of a sandwich lunch ; and a dried leaf clings to the sticky 



