Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-04-04
IN. Study Of Natural History.


linens. There is probably no
city in Maine where more abun-
dant material is available for
such a purpose The most of it, how
ever, is now in private hands, and In
order that it might be made part OF
general city exhibit, it's owners
would have to feel satisfied that it
would be properly cared for. The
mere possession of good specimens ip
any department of nature study would
not constitute a cabinet-far from it.
Such specimens to have any practical
value, must be properly classified, ar
ranged and labeled-a work that calls
for an exercise of no little taste and
skill, in addition to a technical knowl-
edge of the subject. Formerly the city
had no place for housing such a COL
lection as we speak Of. The building
of the Lithgow library. however, to a
In the hall above is an interesting COL
lection of historical relics, and mis-
cellaneous collection Of natural histO-
ry Specimens-mOstly in the depart
ments of geology and mineralogy.
These specimens, however. from lack
of proper grouping and classification
have little practical value-althousn
it is possible to make them the nu-
cleus of a collection that would go 1ar
to stimulate the study of Nature IN
cur city.
When it was first organized the
Kennebec Historical Society was also
q Natural History Society; but sradu-
ally the latter feature was dropped
from it's title and from its work. Re-
Gently there has been desire to re-
vive and make effective this feature
of the society's work as originally con-
templated. This fact has been empha-
sized by the election of Mr.. Frank I.
Noble as president Of the society. Mr..
Noble is not only an ardent naturalist.
but he has the power to inspire others
with something of his own eEthusi-
asm. Not only has he profound
knowledge of the various phases of
Nature Study, but he is also past
master of the art of mounting and
classifying specimens. Nothing would
please Mr.. Noble more than to see
Natural history collection that
would be both credit to our
city and powerful help to
the schools in those studies which
more than any other tend to sharpen
the perceptions, and lend new joys to
living. Lovers of Nature are never
pessimists; for them the world is
changing Kaleidoscope of wonders, and
the Divine Spirit back of the code of
neXorable law which governs the uni
verse from the worlds that float in the
armament above, to the wonders that
are revealed to us by the microscope is,
manifested to hem in u thousand ways.
How little OF the full sweep and scope
of Natures laws have been revealed
in the life Of man; how vague at best
must be the human conception of their
strength and beauty. Still what we have
learned constitutes a study that affords
d wide and varied field for individual
research, and the healthful pleasures
sure to come from close and sympa-
thetic touch with the out-of-door life.
Mr.. Noble with proper cooperation
could accomplish work for Augusta
which would not only be of permanent
interest and value. but would as the
years went by, become q source Of gen.
uine pride TO all our citizens. At the
start the work might be kept within
reasonable limits. 1t might include col
lections in the departments of botany,
mineralogy, conchology and ornithol-
ogy-each in charge of some lover of
the science, who would take a pride in
securing. classifying and labelling the
specimens bearing upon it. Cannot this
combination be made? The society will
have a meeting this evening at 1.30
over the Lithgow library, and we trust
that every lover Of Nature will make
a special effort to be present. Upon
the interest which our citizens take in
this matter will depend the future sue
cess or failure of the effort which is
being made to interest young and old
in lines Of observation and research,
that will add new harmonies to life.
and give a constantly widening field Of
vision to it's devOtees.