Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-25
MAN AND NATURE.


The super.msn. If such a being Is
| found to exist, must be the product OF
Il felcitous blending OF man and ma
ure.
The preference Of Mr.. Roosevelt for
the title OF "faunal naturalist" Is
easily accounted for when we consider
how many OF the noted men of our
race have been naturalists. In some
sense. and have often done almost as
much out-of-doors as In their office
rooms and libraries
II Is doubtful whether any great
character has ever been recognized as
such unless he had the irresistible
habit of getting away from the city
and Of going straightway, as the writ
crs express It, ITO the heart OF ma
turc."
There can be little doubt, we think,
that the prestige Of Mr. Roosevelt was
Immensely augmented, both at home
ana abroad. by his years bout with
primitive Africa as a sort of primitive
man; and that the whole world was
Impressed with that spectacle or
"manhood making good upon suf-
hclent held" Mr. Watterson, who
coined the phrase we have just quoted.
was convinced that the African hunt
Ing trip was precisely the sort OF
thing that appeals most strongly to
the taste and Imagination Of the aver
age man. and that the people would be
ready again 10 llonize ''the hunter ma
uraIist" upon his return
And the success Of our esteemed ex-
, President is plainly lesson in self
culture and on the best means of
self-realization by those who seek to
attain the objects Of a worthy ambi-
ton. There Is a secret something in
any real appreciation Of the out-of-
doors that often leads to success in the
affairs OF men. Mr.. Balfour of England
is scientist Of note. Mr.. Gladstone,
the erudite Greek scholar, was also
devoted woodman and loved to use the
AK for exercise in the forest. Washing
ton, Jefferson. Franklin, Lincoln, and
other great Americans have been,
without exception. men whose recrea-
ton or main personal vocation was
that OF the estate the open country,
the woods. the soil Not all nature
lovers are great. but greatness does
not thrive apart from some sort OF
strong predictions for nature.
As we look at those who are con-
sldered great we conclude that great
men are those who observe closely and
draw conclusions wisely from what
q ey perceive.
'"The more I think OF it, says Rus
kin. 81 find this conclusion more Inn
pressed upon me. that the greatest
thing a human soul ever does in this
world IS to see something" This re-
mark of the great painter leads Nellie
Blanchan the bird naturalist. TO OBJ
serve that hundreds Of people can talk
for one who can think. but thousands
can think for one who can see. ITO see
clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion
ali In one"
II this is true-and we have no
doubt OF 1.-THE main question is;
How may we learn to perceived
What is the secret Of the difference
between the superior and the ordinary
mind2
John Burroughs holds that the main
thing Is 10 feel an interest In nature
an Interest that leads TO a loving, un-
conscious study OF her. Not entirely a
scientific interest, but human
interest as well; science upon the one
hand and an appreciation of the
mystery, the beauty and the bounty
OF life upon the other. "A touch Of
real knowledge-how humanizlng and
elevating It Isl" SO runs his argument
The same authority tells US that to
the real nature lover the bird in the
bush is worth much more than the bird
IN the hand, because the nature lover
is not after specimen, he is after a
living fact; he Is after a new JOY in
life. II Is an important part. but by
no means the main part OF what ornl-
thology holds for us 20 be able TO name
the bird on sight or call But to love
the bird. to appreciate It's place in the
landscape and in the season. TO relate
Il to your daily life. TO define its char
acter, 90 know It emotionslly in your
heart-that il much more" And Bur-
roughs Is surely right
The choice OF this or that realm Of
nature makes little difference. The i'm
portant thing is that some sphere OF
reality shall be closely studied and In
telhgcntly known; and It is probable
that the reality manifested in natural
law is the best form for making pro-
gress that is certain, and not subject
10 the whims OF other people 1as to its
worth and fruitfulness.
The general principle involved Is
clearly stated by Mr.. Burroughs as fol-
lows: