The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-21

Great is the advantage of the out
door fad. 1t gives new thing to
think about, to study over, and this
is what most women need. They are
too much confined in their own little
rut or round of duties and amuse-.
ments and they become narrow. The
recent growth Of interest in nature,
as displayed In the number Of nature
books that are published every year,
is encouraging in more ways than one.
1t promises we'll for the future health
Of those who read them and use them
as guides in their summer outings.
The bird fad has grown Immensely
during the past few years. For a
while it was the study of only a chosen
few who went out in the early spring
and followed the habits of the local
birds thru the months, until the time
for migration. The study had enough
fascination about 1t to move more
lovers of birds to follow it up until
now there is very respectable litera-
ture on birds alone. Our little broth
ers Of the air. are by way of being
almost as well known as the human
brothers of the terrestrial regions, and
those who are we'll acquainted with
the former claim for them qualities
that throw the unfeathered bipeds into
the shade.
Not only in the country is the study
pursued with ardor One young wom-
an tells of an experience she hal in
a large city park where she and a
toned to betake themselves with
opera glasses to study the birds dur
ing the morning hours. They had
evidently been observed by the gamins
of the netghborhood, for one day, as
the girl who told the tale was won
denly confronted by a small boy, who
made an imaginary opera glass Of his
hands thru which he glared at her as
he announced in trumpet tones, II see
female"
The pursuit of the bird as an object
Of scrutiny may not appeal to every
one. The near-sighted, even when
(, armed with field glasses does not find
as much enjoyment in the bird life
as he could wish. Such work de-
mands a good deal of patience and it
is not every woman who is willing to
spend hours under a bush for the sake
Of determining for herself just at
what intervals food is brought to the
nestful of hungry baby robins or flick
ers or song sparrows. But the benefit
is great to those who have this fad.
Their enjoyment is ready to their hand
as soonas they get into the country and
1t returns with every recurring spring
and summer.
There are other joys for those who
do not incline birdwards, but seek
their aInuSeIflGIll d. EIllSlE Iccl. oOl-
any is SO long and time so fieetins
that those who cannot give much
study to all plants must content them
selves with striving to possess them
selves of the secrets of the few. The
wild flowers Of district are general
ly sufficient to keep any one person
busy during the limits Of an ordinary
summer outing. For an equipment
she may, perhaps, provide hersel
with a microscope, but this Is no
really necessary, unless she means tc
make more or less scientific obser,
walton OF the different species of flora
And when she begins to do that, hel
play is likely to become a good dea
like work. She Is better off IL SHIT
endeavors to make only collection
Of flowers of q certain kind. This will
quicken her powers of observation. A!
she strolls along a country road o.
spins along on her wheel, she will b
prompt to note this or that unfamil
lar blossom. If she is gifted with tn,
power of painting, or even of colorint
drawings, she is fortunate in her abil
ity to make for herself set Of pic
lures that will keep summer for he
e into the midst of winter.
Not less interesting than the flow
ers are the ferns. They are not tn,
easiest things in the world to learl
to know, altho at first they may seen
a triHe compared with the flowers
But they have SO many minute varia
tions that it is puzzling to distinguish
4 between different kinds. 1t is keel