x PREFACE 
a needle of the pine branches would tremble.” 
« Nature for its Own Sake,” then, means simply 
that herein nature is considered as sufficient 
unto itself. The forms and colors of this earth 
need no association with mankind to make them 
beautiful. 
So far as application or illustration is con- 
cerned, my argument has no direct bearing upon 
any branch of science, literature, orart. I have 
used scientific facts occasionally to point a 
meaning without designing a scientific book ; I 
have in places spoken of literature, but the book 
is not an appeal to nature from those who have 
written about it; and as for art, the word does 
not appear after this preface. Painters or writ- 
ers, with their truth or falsity of statement, are 
not my present concern. What, then, is the 
object of the book ? Simply to call attention to 
that nature around us which only too many peo- 
ple look at every day and yet never see, to show 
that light, form, and color are beautiful regard- 
less of human meaning or use, to suggest what 
pleasure and profit may be derived from the 
study of that natural beauty which is everyone’s 
untaxed heritage, and which may be had for the 
lifting of one’s eves. 
In measure these pages are records of per- 
