Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-06
NATURESTuDY.
Work of kennebec His.
torica' Society.
Plans of the New President
Frank T. Noble.
a Pleasant Work That More Sho,I,,
Engage In.

i''' ''ti''il "a r rank II. Noble as
president Of the Kennebec Historical
society at the last annual meeting
would appear to Indicate that the scope
OF the societys work in the immediate
future will be more along natural his
tory lines than it has been in recent
years.
Indeed there seems to be no good
reason why this should not be. as
study and research along the yariOus
| lines of natural history appear to grow
| more popular every year with Young
ana old of both sexes and nowadays
the city which hasn't its natural his
tory rooms is generally looked upon as
behind the times.
Mr.. Noble WAS seen by the Journals
representative at his cosy Office sur
rounded by his various collections.
chief among which are his New Eng
land birds in cabinets, and his latest
aspiration the mounted collection of
Maine ducks in new glass eases. to
Which he has devoted much time and
energy ana which he hopes TO COM
rlete in the near future. not only in
species. but also in their different
types of plumase. thus forming Il col
lection at once unique and eNcelling in
| completeness anything of the kind in
New England.
To the Journals inquiry as to what
it was possible for the local society to
accomplish and how. Mr.. Noble talked
very enthusiastically and said in part:
This society. originally the <enne-
bee Natural History and Antiquarian
Society. was formed bv a few of us
back in 1891. and according to its
constitution had for it's object the
study Of natural and civic history and
antiquities of the I<ennebec valley
You will note that natural history
studies cane first in importance.
'In a short time. however. the nat
ural history devOteeS felt they were
crowded into second place and later
when the name was changed to the
Kennebec Historical Society. their ar
| do,lr cooled TO such an extent that they
gradually dropped out and left matters
| to the antiquarians.
"\ow ancient local history is all very
| we'll as study tor the limited few who
| find Il fascination III muSty historical!
| events Such reSea riches and inveSti-
cations are quite necessary and proper
| that the rising generations may be IN
| formed concerning those who have
preceded them here. but I find that the
people generally and this same rising
| generation in particular are living
more il, the present than in the past
and are much more concerned in the
! live topics of the day. in that which
| surrounds and is Il part Of their every
| day life.
| lnc.t, ~
| about living things. Natures handi-
| work. The would know more about
the birds that delight us with their
solig and afford such exquisite OBJECT
lessons in the variety and beauty OF
| their pllmage. Our people, young
and old of both sexes have strong
desire for that Knowledge which VIII
| enable them to identity these charming
| choristers. and are constantly seeking
| information regarding their life his
, tories.
"Classes for bird study are among the
most delightful fads. if ] may use the
term among Il surprisingly large num-
Der ri our most refined people and II IS
| RI ialy increasing. The study OF
animal life in any of its several
| branches soon becomes exceedingly IN
| teresting The thirst for knowledge
grows with what it feeds upon.
"And while ornitholOgy or bird study
| has today probably more votaries thhn
| any other single branch of nature
study there are others quite as las
| cinating.
| Entomology. the study of insect he
| is a science which offers wide ana
| Very useful sphere to the worker IN
this easily approached field. our peo-
ple as a whole should be better m
| formed concerning the insect pests
| with which they are obliged to contend
wear after year and their life histories
from egg to image ought to be known
| that we may better protect ourselves
from their raVageS.
| Some should make 4 speciality of this
| highly interesting study and educate
the rest of US by object lessons III the
| form of collections. and brief papers
| delivered before the society. There is
a vast field for usefulness here.
| "Concology. the science of shells.
! nature study which no branch of ma