The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-01-16
Dnmen's lfDnrln.
Natural History.

Why don't more OF our women. espe-
cially those whose lives are spent on the
farmland the number Is legion-pay
attention to the study OF the natural
sciences? / don't mean for them 70 get
a lot OF books. and waste (2) hours of
time In systematic study; but observe,
note and remember the curious, Interest,"
Ing and instructive things going on
around them from day TO day.
Natural history holds a never-falling
source OF interest FOR young and old
alike, and did we but notice closely, we
would become even more interested In
unraveling the tangled skeins comprls-
ing the life-histories OF animals. birds,
plants and insects than we ever were In
following the fortunes OF pet heroine
In a fovor1te novel l do not say 10 dis
pense eatire,y with the stories. for 1t
certainly is a rest and n pleasure to sit
down and forget the little, every day
trials and cares that 50 constantly beset
US. while we unconsciously identify our
selves with that person. In the book be-
fore US, who surmounts all obstacles and
Is at last supremely happy.
Animals, flowers and birds have had
more attention given them by the general
public than insects have; yet the lives of
the latter are more complicated, and
show even more OF the mysterious ways
OF an all-wise providence.
Many have an instructive horror of
bugs and creeping things" but 1t Is
usually acquired, they having been
taught, from childhood up. that all such
things we're poisonous and uncanny.
One can, with little time and trouble,
rear insects OF many kinds, from the egg
TO the adult, noting the curious modes
OF growth and transformation; and, il
apt at description, how many new facts
could be given 10 the world; for this
branch OF natural history, more than any
other, has hidden its secrets SO well
that one can scarcely observe at all.
without discovering something new. not
only TO the observer, but, very often. to
science.
Prof. Grote, one of the most noted OF
entomologists. says that the science Is
especially adapted 10 women / or women
are adapted TO II; l don't remember ex-
aetly which J. That to be successful. is
needed patience ami iineness of discern
ment. and woman possesses both.
Woman can, and there are a few who
do, keep bees, and understand their ways
enough to make the business profitable
as well as pleasant. In silk culture, also,
she can succeed as well or better than
the stronger sex.
Now. why should it be rare sight to
see a woman who Is thorough horti-
cultuIist. an experienced gardener,
practical, economic entomologist. a bota-
nist-or enough of one to be able to
recognize the plants Of her vicinity, with
their habits and properties? A woman
who Is ornithologist enough 10 be able
to name the birds that frequent her yard,
and tell which are noxious and which are
beneficial? To be able to settle this last
point, she must know something OF ento-
mology and botany. 50 as to decide
whether the birds are doing good or
harm, by devouring certain insects,
seeds, etc.
There are many women, whose lives
have been spent on a farm, unable to
recogniza common birds and animals,
and as to calling an insect by a name.
they never heard OF such thing. They
"love" flowers, but so little do they know
about them, that, In the spring time.
young flower plants are pulled out about
as often as weeds, and the children are
cautioned about playing In the grass
because there are so many poison "
weeds, "poison F" snakes and "stinging -
bugs there.
Children are always Interested in nat
ural history, and when one has studied
it enough to be able TO relate something
of the habits OF the native animals and
birds-of the colors, growth and proper
ties Of plants, OF the life-hlstories and
changes of insects-what a pleasure it is
to give them, in answer to their oft-re-
peated why and what and wherefore,
some true Information, that Is not only
interesting to them but really useful as
we'll.
A lesson read by child from Nature g
book" under the supervision Of an OBJ
serving and thinking teacher, will be
remembered long after the prosy gram
mar or spelling lesson has faded from
its mind.-Woman's Work.