1892 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
123 
Nature  Studies. 
T  is  no  small  pleasure  to  any  person  to 
see  his  own  hobbies  trained  and  ex¬ 
ercised  by  more  expert  riders. 
Readers  of  The  Rural  may  possibly 
remember  an  article  on  natural  science  in 
country  schools  which  was  published  some 
months  ago.  Having  taken  up  a  copy  of 
the  Boston  Transcript  of  October  10,  this 
evening,  I  found  a  very  interesting  ar¬ 
ticle  describing  the  manner  in  which 
natural  science  is  taught  in  Quincy,  Mas¬ 
sachusetts.  A  special  teacher  is  employed 
to  teach  what  are  called  “nature  studies.” 
Miss  Brassil  is  the  only  teacher  in  Massa¬ 
chusetts,  who  is  engaged  in  this  work, 
though  interest  in  her  line  of  work  is  ex¬ 
tending,  and  it  is  thought  that  several 
schools  have  done  something  in  that  line, 
but  not  by  means  of  a  regular  teacher. 
Above  all  things,  the  children  are 
taught  to  observe.  They  notice  every¬ 
thing  which  comes  under  their  eyes — 
birds  and  insects,  stones,  leaves,  grass, 
flowers;  nothing  is  too  great  or  too  small 
to  afford  them  object  lessons.  They  talk 
about  the  things,  which  they  see  with 
their  minds  as  well  as  with  their  eyes. 
Their  curiosity  is  awakened  by  the 
teacher  and  they  are  constantly  on  the 
watch  for  points  of  interest.  They  dip 
into  all  the  sciences  as  one  thing  after  an¬ 
other  is  seen  and  talked  about,  though 
they  do  not  know  that  there  is  a  science 
with  a  hard  name  back  of  the  gay  butter¬ 
fly,  the  musical  bird,  or  the  beautiful 
flower  which  has  been  the  subject  of  a 
morning’s  talk.  Their  studies  are  as¬ 
sisted  by  new  books  which  have  been 
prepared  for  this  sort  of  work.  Simple 
reading  lessons  describe  the  objects  of 
nature  in  which  they  are  interested;  facts 
are  given  to  them  in  pleasant  form  about 
the  manufactured  articles  with  which 
they  are  familiar.  They  learn  about  coal 
and  iron  and  copper  mines;  how  salt  is 
obtained  and  the  composition  of  glass. 
The  greater  part  of  their  teaching  is  from 
the  object,  however,  rather  than  from 
books,  assisted  always  by  animated  oral 
instruction  from  the  teacher. 
In  one  school  near  Boston  the  “  na¬ 
ture  studies”  are  introduced  into  several 
grades  of  the  school  ;  but  in  most  in¬ 
stances  they  are  confined  to  the  lower 
grades. 
No  task  is  set  for  the  children.  They 
bring  in  what  they  see,  with  all  the 
knowledge  concerning  the  object  which 
they  have  been  able  to  obtain.  They  are 
not  encouraged  to  study  these  objects  in 
the  light  of  a  science,  but  just  as  some¬ 
thing  which  they  can  see  and  handle. 
They  are  merely  accumulating  material 
from  which  they  may  build  in  the  future. 
This  is  Nature’s  own  training.  It  comes 
to  some  children  almost  with  speech.  I 
remember  a  child  who  had  names  for  all 
the  wild  flowers  which  were  showy 
enough  to  attract  her  four-year-old  eyes. 
She  was  attracted  by  the  pretty  pinky- 
wThite  blossoms  of  daisy  flea  bane  and 
asked  its  name.  No  one  seemed  to  know, 
so  she  said,  “then  I  will  call  it  duzzle- 
weed.”  She  must  needs  have  some  means 
of  designating  her  new  treasure  and  coin¬ 
ed  a  name  to  suit  her  wants.  That  child 
has  grown  to  girlhood  with  her  eyes  open 
to  the  beauties  of  common  things  and  she 
has  got  twice  the  pleasure  from  life  that 
she  would  have  had  except  for  her  trick 
of  close  observation. 
In  this  new  departure  in  Massachu¬ 
setts,  it  is  said  that  all  branches  keep  step 
in  this  natural  method  of  training.  The 
children  are  taught  to  describe  what  they 
see  in  “  live”  language  and  not  the  words 
of  books.  They  soon  see  how  much  more 
expression  there  is  in  their  teacher’s  lan¬ 
guage  than  in  their  own.  They  are 
When  Baby  was  sick,  we  gave  her  Castorla, 
When  she  was  a  Child,  she  cried  for  Castorla, 
When  she  became  Miss,  she  clung  to  Castoria, 
When  she  had  Children,  she  gave  them  Castoria 
encouraged  to  correct  their  sentences 
and  to  try  to  make  their  language  forcible 
and  correct.  Their  compositions  are  de¬ 
scriptions  of  the  objects  and  scenes  which 
they  have  studied  in  parts  and  as  a  whole. 
Language  is  taught  to  them  almost  before 
they  are  aware.  One  year  of  careful, 
painstaking  work  in  this  line  must  be 
worth  more  to  a  pupil  than  two  or  three 
years  of  text  books. 
From  a  moral  standpoint,  the  Tran¬ 
script  says:  “In  the  judgment  of  our 
experienced  educators,  the  first  activity 
of  the  mind  has  effect  upon  the  mind  to 
develop  not  only  its  intellectual  side, 
but  also  to  give  it  moral  tone.  In  the 
course  of  study  of  things  as  they  are  seen 
in  Nature,  there  is  direct  contact  with 
Nature  herself.  The  truth  and  nearness 
to  humanity  which  is  in  Nature  will  have 
its  effect  upon  the  mind  of  the  pupil,  and 
the  moral  side  will  receive  a  strength 
which  it  cannot  get  under  the  system  of 
learning  from  books  only,  with  no  con¬ 
tact  with  the  real  things  which  are 
studied.” 
It  is  thought  that  this  system  of  study 
will  become  general  in  Massachusetts 
schools.  We  in  New  York  will  do  well 
to  test  its  merits  also.  s.  a.  little. 
The  Other  Side. 
AFTER  reading  “  Prudence  Prim¬ 
rose’s  ”  communication  in  the  New 
Year’s  number  of  The  R.  N.-Y.,  I  felt 
that  I  should  like  to  say,  for  the  benefit 
of  Melinda  and  others,  that  although  the 
brother  may  laugh  at  your  attempts  to 
improve  your  personal  appearance,  yet 
you  will  find  that  if  some  of  his  friends 
call  unexpectedly  he  will  be  very  glad 
to  have  his  sister  presentable  and  possi¬ 
bly  able  to  entertain  his  guests  while 
he  slips  upstairs  to  don  a  clean  flannel 
shirt  and  another  pair  of  trousers,  etc. 
Most  farmers,  however  negligent  about 
their  working  clothes,  even  though  they 
at  times  appear  to  glory  in  rags,  espec¬ 
ially  while  husking  and  doing  work  that 
is  hard  on  clothes,  always  like  to  find 
mother  and  the  girls  looking  neat.  It 
rests  each  of  them  to  find  the  house  quiet, 
a  clean  kitchen,  and  mother  in  the  sitting 
room  (clad  in  a  pretty  sateen  or  muslin, 
which  he  informs  her  looks  a  little  more 
“dressy”  than  calico)  quietly  sewing, 
when  he  comes  in  from  the  field  to  see 
what  time  it  is. 
If  he  happens  to  want  a  button  sewed 
on,  she  has  a  needle  and  thread  all 
ready.  Then,  as  he  goes  out  to  help  un¬ 
load  the  hay  which  has  just  reached  the 
barn,  he  stops  under  the  shade  of  the  tall 
elms,  where  his  daughters,  with  one  or 
two  of  the  neighbor’s  girls,  are  talking 
and  working,  and  as  he  rubs  his  rough, 
toil-worn  hand  over  the  head  of  Sue,  the 
youngest,  the  baby,  ruffling  up  her  bright 
hair  which  will  never  stay  smooth,  and 
joking  the  older  girls,  he  is  proud  to  note 
how  well  his  girls  look  in  their  pretty 
dresses  that  he  has  paid  for,  whether 
they  be  cambric,  gingham  or  even  plain 
white;  and  he  works  on,  cheered  by  the 
thought  that  their  love  for  him  is  not  any 
less  when  his  overalls  are  patched  than 
when  they  are  brand-new.  Then  when 
the  load  is  off  and  one  of  the  girls  calls 
out,  “  Have  a  glass  of  lemonade,  father, 
or  would  you  rather  have  sweetened 
water  with  ginger  ?  ”  he  congratulates 
himself  that  his  girls  were  not  all  boys, 
after  all.  Alice  e.  pinney. 
*  *  * 
lx  looking  over  a  late  Rural,  I  see  our 
Chief  Cook  requests  the  members  of  the 
Woman  and  Home  Department  to  tell  her 
how  to  make  it  better.  Now  I  wonder  in 
what  way  it  can  be  bettered  ;  it  seems  to 
me  that  it  has  been  growing  better  all 
summer,  till  now  it  is  good  enough. 
There  is  one  feature  I  like  about  it,  and 
that  is  there  are  few  patterns  in  it  for 
fancy  work.  I  should  advise  all  ladies  who- 
want  fancy-work  departments  to  read 
and  subscribe  for  the  Housekeeper,  of 
Minneapolis,  Minn.;  the  Ladies’  World, 
of  New  York  city ;  the  Ladies’  Home 
Journal,  or  the  Modern  Priscilla.  Then, 
for  those  who  love  painting,  Ingalls’s  Art 
Magazine,  published  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  is 
fine,  and  only  $1  a  year  ;  it  is  also  full  of 
fancy-work.  I  mention  these  papers  be¬ 
cause  I  know  that  there  are  many  ladies 
who  want  to  take  some  really  good  paper 
of  the  kind,  but  they  do  not  know  what 
to  take  or  where  to  write  for  it. 
And  I  do  hope  they  won’t  be  coaxing 
our  Chief  Cook  to  fill  our  good,  sensible 
department  with  fancy  work  ;  ’tis  hardly 
fair  to  the  great  mass  of  farmers’  wives 
who  never  find  time  for  such  employ¬ 
ment.  Besides,  the  Modern  Priscilla  at 
50  cents  a  year,  would  furnish  more  fancy 
work  in  one  month  than  The  Rural’s 
limited  space  could  afford  in  six  ;  for  the 
former  is  wholly  devoted  to  home  decora¬ 
tion. 
And  I  think  it  nearly  time  some  one  en¬ 
tered  a  protest  against  so  much  crochet 
work — I  mean  that  done  with  thread — for 
it  is  very  injurious  to  the  eyes.  I  cro¬ 
cheted  a  great  deal  some  years  ag’o,  and 
among  my  other  work,  made  two  bonnets 
of  white  linen  thread.  For  a  long  time 
afterwards  I  thought  I  was  going  blind. 
Now,  I  crochet  a  little  as  a  pastime.  I 
have  crocheted  a  woolen  skirt  for  our 
three-year-old  Maude,  and  mean  to  cro¬ 
chet  caps  for  all  our  girls  for  Christmas, 
and  that  will  be  all  MRS.  JOHN  monsey. 
[All  the  above  papers  can  be  obtained 
through  The  Rural  office. — Eds.] 
*  *  * 
Fashionable  ideas  of  the  present  time 
demand  that  the  tea  and  coffee  service,  if 
of  silver,  should  be  placed  on  silver 
stands ;  if  of  china,  on  china  stands. 
This  is  in  order  that  the  stands  may  be 
as  inconspicuous  as  possible,  appearing 
as  a  part  of  whatever  may  rest  upon  them. 
Sfi  GRAPE  VINES 
•ortptiT.  priM Uji  tn*.  LEWIS  ftOCSCH.  rr*4*ala.  a.  I. 
GRAPE  VINES 
I  Plants  of  B03t  Quality.  Warrmtodtruo  to  namo.  Lowest 
| Prices.  Largest  Steel:  and  Assortment  of  Old  and  New 
,  Varieties.  Sond  for  Price  List. 
I _ BUSH  &  SON  &  MEISSNER,  Bnshterg.  Me. 
SEE 
I)S.  12pkts.  Flower,  t()o.;  12  pkta.  Vegetable, 
30c.;  0 Dahlias,  5()c. ;  10  Gladiolus,  30c.  All 
#1.  IlulfSOc.  H.  F.  Burt,  Taunton,  Maas. 
6P  RAYING 
j  a 
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COPP.I*®*'* 
So#!1? 
°F  CARS.  C0PP£R 
Spraying  is  a 
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if  you  use  the 
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or 
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at  the 
proper  time. 
Wo  manufacture  all  kinds  of  Fungicides  and  Insect¬ 
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most  convenient  and  economical  forms  for  both  deulors 
and  users.  Our  pamphlet— the 
A  B  C  OF  AGRICULTURE, 
contains  useful  and  interesting  information  about 
the  Fruit  Garden,  the  Orchard,  and  Vegetable  Gar¬ 
den,  and  how  to  get  good 
GARDEN  SEEDS  FREE! 
It  gives  prices  and  descriptions  of  Fungicides  and 
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anil  Outfits.  Special  departments  on  Truck  Farming 
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W.  S.  POWELL  &  CO., 
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'jfjXiltotllmtimti  gulvniitfinfl. 
IN  writing  to  advertisers  please  always  mention 
The  Rural. 
NERVOUS 
DEBILITY 
cured  by  the 
use  of 
AVER’S 
Sarsaparilla 
Tones  the  system, 
makes  the  weak 
strong. 
Cures  Others 
will  cure  you. 
•Tuffs Tiny  Pills® 
Q  enable  the  dyspeptic  to  eat  whatever 
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•  similate  and  nourish  the  body,  give 
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Medinajdhio. 
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HOUSEHOLD 
REPAIRING  OUTFIT! 
This  consists  of  the 
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shoe,  and  harness  repair¬ 
ing.  No  pegs  needed— 
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Saves  time,  trouble,  wet 
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Send  for  circular. 
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WIRE  PICKET  FENCE  MACHINE. 
Lowdcn's  Perfection.  LaU;«t  Improved  bestlicld 
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For  large  Illustrated  catalogue  address 
L.  C.  LOWDEN,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  V.  S.  A. 
t  have  just  finished  I 
,  digging  U600 hush 
e/s  of  potatoes  from] 
eight  acres,  which 
were  cultivated 
fees 
The  weeds  on  the 
entire  p /ace  you 
could  carry  off in\ 
your  coat  pocket 
f.H.  Warn.  Potato 
fvemnso.  Q rower 
& 
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I  use  among  rAmJ 
PMSIl&Fwy* futej 
ondetearsoil.”  I 
W./.  CHAMBBtLAM 
llm 
New  York  £ity  ;  JOHN  F08TER,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
AUTOMATIC  ENGINES, 
3  to  15  H.  P.oo  baseplate  or  mounted 
on  four-wheel  truck,  suited  for  all  kinds 
of  work.  We  also  manufarture  Sep¬ 
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powers  with  governor,  either  level  or  ngn- 
r-.asrwt  etwl - fYw«  *•** - 1 1 - 
SAM’L  B.  WOODS, 
Mavor  City  of  Charlottes¬ 
ville.  Va.  Commissioner 
of  Virginia.  VIRGINIA, 
LEWIS  D.  AYLETT, 
Formerly  Treasurer 
Georgia  Pacific  R.K. 
ALBEMARLE  COUNTY. 
lhe  great  fruit,  grain  and  stock  raising  section  of 
the  State.  Winters  mild  and  short.  Scenery  beautiful. 
Health  line.  Near  the  great  markets.  Educational 
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Land  Good  !  Prices  Cheap  !  Taxes  Low  ' 
Farms  and  City  property  for  sale.  Writ*  to 
WOODS  dk  AYLETT,  Charlottesville,  Va. 
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