i6o 
THE GUIDE TO NATURE 
we believe in and with energy work for 
that cause. There is no greater joy in 
life than to work actively in behalf of 
what one believes in. 
Studying the Real Thing. 
“‘Where have you been?’ asks the 
prim and severe tutor of her youthful 
charge. ‘Out in the garden watching 
a rose unfold,’ replies the child. ‘Well, 
don’t you know you ought to have been 
in here studying your botany lesson ?’ 
inquires the conscientious but purblind 
teacher.” 
If this sounds like an imaginary tale 
it is a good fable with a much needed 
moral. 
I should have thought even more that 
it is a fabrication if I had not just had 
a similar experience with what w r as de- 
signed to be not a censure but a com- 
pliment. I recently delivered in a 
church my lecture, “Travels in a 
Swamp.” I spent some time at the rec- 
tory and inquired if the children were 
going to the lecture. The older daugh- 
ter said she would have to be excused 
because she had become so interested 
in her biology class at school that she 
wanted to stay at home and study 
biology. 
Inasmuch as my lecture, “Travels in 
a Swamp,” is packed full of biology 
and illustrated by the best possible 
slides that I could obtain after a quarter 
century of collecting and selecting, the 
reader, especially if a naturalist, will 
understand how I felt in the matter, 
although the remark was intended to 
please me as a naturalist and to show 
how attractive biology is. 
But why single out this prim tutor 
who did not wish the child to watch 
the unfolding of a rose, or why men- 
tion the daughter who was devoted to 
her school biology? 
Many schools and many teachers of 
biology occupy just that point of view. 
Rather than go to the real worker in 
biology, whether it be the all-round 
naturalist or the specialist, they con- 
fine their attention to the book with 
the ignoring of the biological outdoors. 
A Good Place in Which to Study 
Nature. 
It is with delight that we receive the 
annual announcement of the Marine 
Biological Laboratory of Woods Hole, 
Massachusetts. This institution is not 
only of the highest possible grade for 
technical research but it has a kindly 
feeling for the beginner and the ama- 
teur. It is a delightful place in which 
to study all forms of marine life. Any 
one of our readers interested should 
send to the Marine Biological Labora- 
tory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, for 
further particulars. 
“Natureland,” an English Magazine. 
We have received advance announce- 
ment of “Natureland,” a new magazine 
to be published by Dr. Graham Ren- 
shaw, Manchester, England. The pros- 
pectus offers interesting articles, nat- 
ural history photographs, notes and 
book reviews. In many respects it will 
appeal to all. It will resemble The 
Guide to Nature and, like it, will con- 
tain no dull pages. We extend cordial 
good wishes. 
Appreciation of the Woodcraft Article. 
As a Woodcrafter I want to thank 
you for your article and its apprecia- 
tion and for the very timely handling 
of the Boy Scout situation. The gener- 
ous spirit which is characteristic of the 
Woodcraft management will carry it 
a long way and is one of its biggest 
assets. — From a Woodcrafter. 
All Hail, New Year! 
BY MALLALIEU MCCULLAGH WICKHAM, DURANT, 
OKLAHOMA. 
Let’s drink a New Year’s health, 
And greet the gladsome days to come: 
Each seek his priceless wealth, 
In friends and lofty aims, to sum. 
Let’s drink that finer wine, 
Which Time, alone, from Life distills; 
In passion, fast entwine 
The Nobler Vision, whilst it thrills! 
Let’s bless the glad New Year, 
And speed to Fortune's Neo-land ; 
For hearts, with all good cheer, 
Shall boast a realm and give command ! 
I think I once said that in all my life 
I had never read a page from a printed 
book out of doors. Nor ever will! 
Books are for winter — for nights, for 
stormy days, and for times of ailing 
health. Why spend time in reading, 
when we might be seeing? And are 
not our eyes to be trusted as well as 
another’s? — “A White Paper Garden,” 
Shafer. 
