22 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
Retrospect and Prospect 
By Co Wr Ge ELFRic 
Despite difficulties and obstacles, the cause of bird protection and 
conservation in general is marching on. “The new gospel of kindliness 
toward things in nature, promulgated by teachers in high and low schools, 
is bearing fruit. A proof, if one were needed, is, among others, the Bowen 
Bird Boosters. This not overly euphonious nor overly academic appella- 
tion hides under itself a flourishing club of students in Bowen High 
School, in the steel-mill district of South Chicago, a locality that would 
seem least suitable for anything like this, both from the standpoint of 
location and character of population. It has been thriving for eighteen 
years, devoting itself to the study and protection of birds and other children 
of nature. How willing and enthusiastic its members are can be seen 
yearly at the outing of the Illinois Audubon Society, when 100 to 200 of 
its members come all the way from South Chicago to Lyons, on the north- 
western periphery of the big metropolis, all eager to see and be shown 
birds. Of course, there is a reason for this unique club, this flower in 
a desert—the dynamic and masterful personality of their teacher in nature 
study, Miss Loomis, a teacher that would delight the heart of Comenius, 
Pestalozzi, Mann, or any other ancient or modern pedagog. Her discipline 
is easily supreme among these none too meek-looking sons of Sicilian, 
Slovak, Croatian parents and of several other nationalities. Miss Loomis 
has been able to instill her love of the finer things in life into them, also 
her patience and willingness to learn, her enthusiasm for God’s great 
outdoors. 
Why do we mention this here? ‘To set up a train of thoughts within 
us. Perhaps more of us who are teachers in elementary or secondary 
schools can perform similar service. Here is an idea. While recently 
driving through parts of central Illinois, the writer noticed that even in 
this highly developed corn-belt there were numerous corners on the farms 
that were lying fallow, unused, growing up to weeds and shrubs. Perhaps 
the soil is exceptionally poor or there is a brook or creek cutting through. 
Would it not be a fine thing if teachers and pupils in rural schools would 
organize efforts to secure the permission of the owners of such lands 
to post them, i.e., put up signs to forbid hunting or other disturbance 
in them? Each such otherwise worthless corner would become a little 
bird sanctuary, where they could breed and feed undisturbed by man at 
least, a small wild life refuge, where a few of the last wild prairie flowers 
and birds may make a last stand and perhaps again somewhat increase 
in number. ‘These same nature clubs could then also plant up such cor- 
ners and fields, sow wild sunflower and hemp seed. In central Illinois 
most Osage orange hedges are being cut down, one of the last covers 
