EDITORIAL 
Death of William Dutcher. 
William Dutcher, the President of 
the National Association of Audubon 
Societies, died July i, 1920, at his home 
in Chevy Chase, Md. On October 19, 
1910, while at his home in Plainfield, 
N. J., he was stricken with paralysis 
which totally deprived him of the 
power of speech and the ability to write 
anything but his own name. For nearly 
ten years he lived in this most unfortu- 
nate condition. During the most of 
this time his mind was bright and he 
always took the greatest interest in 
reading or hearing of the developments 
of the National Association’s activities. 
His name will always be revered and 
his memory cherished for the great 
work he did in the interests of Ameri- 
can bird-protection during his active 
career in this cause, which extended 
over a period of fifteen years (1896- 
1910). — Bird-Lore. 
Mr. Dutcher’s death is regretted by 
all lovers of nature. He did wonder- 
fully efficient work in the establish- 
ment of the Audubon Societies, with 
which he was actively connected for so 
many years. His example in devotion 
to a cause is indeed inspiring. The 
editor of this magazine made his ac- 
quaintance in the very earliest days of 
his work when he was carrying it on as 
a side issue to his duties as a general 
agent of the Prudential Life Insurance 
Company. His progress has not always 
been easy, but it has been the outcome 
of faithful work in spite of many dis- 
couragements. The editor of “Bird- 
Lore” magazine speaks of him as 
follows : 
“He was the leader in many cam- 
paigns for bird-protective laws, con- 
ducted wide educational propaganda, 
and continued his great interest in the 
guarding of water-bird colonies and the 
establishment of Government bird 
reservations. His correspondence grew 
heavy and much of his writing was 
done at home in the evening after most 
men’s work was over. He was at all 
times most kindly and lovable in his 
associations with others and by his zeal 
and unusual personality he drew many 
workers into the field of bird-protec- 
tion.” 
In this every member of The Agas- 
siz Association will heartily concur. 
The sympathy of this Organization is 
extended to the Audubon Societies and 
to the members of Mr. Dutcher’s 
family. 
War Against the Flowers. 
BY MISS E. F. ANDREWS, ROME, GEORGIA. 
I regret to say that I have to report 
a piece of vandalism that rivals the 
slaughter of the trailing arbutus de- 
scribed in the June number of The 
Guide to Nature. On a Sunday toward 
the end of April, when nature was glor- 
ious in her spring attire, I counted, dur- 
ing a ride of two hours, from the foot 
of Walden Ridge, Tennessee, to the 
top of Lookout Mountain, twelve au- 
tomobiles loaded down and almost 
smothered under the booty their occu- 
pants had ravished from this wonder- 
ful treasure house of nature. Great 
boughs of dogwood, redbud, silverbell, 
hawthorn and rhododendron, that must 
have left the trees maimed for life. En- 
tire plants of azalea and wild hy- 
drangea, torn bodily from their roots, 
were proudly flaunted by these ruthless 
spoilers as trophies of their industry — 
rapacity would be a more fitting word. 
It is not love of flowers that prompts 
such wholesale rapine, but a spirit of 
acquisitiveness that cannot enjoy the 
sig'ht of a beautiful object without feel- 
ing a selfish desire to appropriate it. 
A part of the religion of every real 
lover of flowers should be never to in- 
jure any rare or beautiful wild plant 
without a good reason for so doing. 
Snap-Dragons. 
The spikes, rose-hued or golden, 
Are brilliant and fair to see; 
Their nectared hearts they open 
To every wandering bee, 
And their shell-like beauty offer 
As freely to you and me. 
— Emma Peirce. 
