Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-04
NATURE STUDY.

f. D. Warfeld, in the Current has
thoughtful paper on Mature Study in
American Literature" remarking that the
observant student must have noticed new
tendency to draw themes from nature, not
only in poetry but in prose. This is true
Whoever gives attention to current maya
zine literature, as well as TIC the more pre-
tentious book writing, must have reflected
upon the growth of this tendency. 1t is
safe to say, for instance, that natural his
tory has been more popularized as study
with us in the past half dozen years than
ever before. 1t has been lifted out Of the
realm Of the textbook and popularized by
a school of men and women who draw the
inspiration for their essays for public read
ing from the scenes of nature in her vary
ing moods, from storm to sunshine, in her
animate and inanimate objects, in the pro-
ducts of her vegetation, and the develop
ment Of researches into her mysteries.
Thoreau was probably the earliest of mod
ern nature students in this new taste. He
has been followed by a score of others, the
most recent of whom is the Indiana woods
man, Maurice Thompson. The names of
Burroughs and Torrey are also cited as
leaders In the new subjects Of thought. 1t
is very encouraging to note this tendency
to study nature. It has but one result,
and that is to lift up and refine the intelIi-
gence and inspire men with more of reyer-
ence for the source Of all being, and all life
and thought. 1t elevates and purifes the
literature Of the day. 1t draws mems
souls away from the gross, and inclines
them to contemplations that are lettering,
however viewed. The establishment of
such great numbers of learned societies for
the grouping of museums of natural his
tory, and the study of the fora and fauna
OF the country, is one of the very best
evidences that the new tendency is
likely to stay and is not ephemeral. There
is scarcely community in the land that
numbers its people by some hundreds that
has not now one or more associations of this
order. Literature, which at one time was
the slave to historical tastes, is emanci-
pated from such thraldom. Neither il it
so devoted as it was to the metaphysical.
II has been moving out steadily in new
line, from these subjects-but without
| abandoning them-and that is in the di-
| rection of the study of natural objects. Let
those who care to satisfy themselves upon
this point look over the press issues of the
day for the youth Of the land. They will
find that seven out of ten of all the books
prepared for youthful minds in this day
are upon texts drawn from the study of
nature. This is simply a response to the
demand of the thought of the hour. Sci
! ence has received new impetus by this
! tendency. 1t has been brought closer to
the popular intelligence, and made more
inviting to the mass of readers and hear
ers. Under this influence, it is being sim
plified in a hundred ways to invite the
thought of the young readers of the coun-
try, and the examination of Juvenile litera-
ture will also bear witness to this fact. As
the essayist to whom we have referred,
and whose lines suggest the reflections in
dulged in, says: "To all those whose heart
goes out beyond the hot, dull glare of city
streets the results of the tendency must be
hailed with pleasure" More especially,
we should say, must those who labor in
spiritual fields, and for the souls of men,
be gratified at the drift of mind to the
study of nature, since its spiritualizes men,
and more than any other influence inclines
human beings to the contemplation of
things beyond those merely earthly.