New-York tribune., 1902-03-26
TO NSTIL 4 LOVE OF NATURE.
HOW EVEN THE TOTS MAY LEARN TC
Know THE FLOWERS AND INSECTS

Rejoice when your boy brings home pocketfus
Of stones and kindred treasures which he intends
study leisure" the advice given ycstcr-
day by Mrs. Horace DemiuE. when speaking on
Mature Study" the meeting Of the Mothers
Club OF the Woman's Guild connected with the
Manhattan Congregational Church. Of this city.
The love Of nature study thus displays itself.
said the speaker, and the desire to become closely
acquainted with the things Of nature should be
encouraged. Children should not be dlssualed
from handling insects and animals. the study Of
whose habits might prove OF benefit The speaker
referred a little girl who loved 10 catch furry
looking caterpillars and note the difference IN the
color Of their velvet coats. Even a baby being
wheeled in it's carriage along a country road can
re taught 70 observe many Of the characteristics
of flowers and have its memory trained by being
handed a certain flower. such the violet. for
several days in succession.
A young child is quick to notice the difference
between the petals OF the and the sunfower,
and it is trained TO listen to the songs Of
birds and acquires a love OF nature study by
watching the trees and fora Of the country way
side. The speaker urged mothers TO use definitions
that are scientnca>y correct when answering chill
pocket lenses. with which to observe the wings ot
moths ana insects A Pocket ieiSe Sl! !tth.r ior 9ls
should always be told everything that he wants
70 know said the speaker as it is a good plan 70
let him reason and work out a knowledge II some
things for himself
Tae curious way some children have Of mis-
applying information they have acquired was Mus
by the deductions OF a little miss of UNe,
who had been told about the human hody When
asked what she did with the core OF an apple she
replied: when eat apple, / always most gen
orally throw its spinal cord into the fire"
The speaker called attention 70 the fact that a
child's character is largely influenced by the man
uer in which he passes his leisure time. and the
boy who finds his greatest pleasure I'm watching
occupations Of birds and the growth Of beauti-
ful things in will find more pleasure i'm
ole than IN mean pursuits when he becomes q
man"
Mrs w. p. Hervey. chairman Of the day. said:
Il think We're too much Inclined TO think that We
are too Old 10 begin nature STUDY We owe II 70
ourselves 70 study nature for the plea sure II will
give IN old
The interest in nature study has extended to
the mothers in the tenamcutS.' continued the
speaker. y have found that in New-York
City tenemeuts nature study be carried on A
sweet potato can be put 10 sprout in water, beans
he treated in the same way. and wheat he
sprouted sponge. Tho parks. too. afford many
opportunities for study. especially when spring buds
are forming bushes and trees
Mrs Henry i. Stimson president Of the Wom-
ans Guild suggested that keeping botanical
diary would be source OF instruction and enter
tainment 70 mothers and children alike flower
can be pressed on the page. and the facts regard
Ing where II found and the date which II
bloCmed entered. a diary of this kind made by
soldier in the Civil War IS now one OF his most
cherished souvenirs.
Those present invited TO ask their help
to attend an entertainment to be given in the
parish house, in Seventy-sixth-st, Thursday
organized. for nursemaids, by Miss Lena Hervey.
deacOness Of the church The annual meeting of
the Womans Guiid will he held next Tuesday
roo