The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-31

as the plan had succeeded so well at Pittsburg I was anxious to try 1t here Alabama boys are just as bright as their northern compeers, and, like them, they take to practical natural history as duck takes to water. Over whelmed as I was with museum work. could not find time to take up the club scheme last spring, but l did speak to some of the Tuscaloosa school boys. They were quick -witted little fell lows, and l felt sure that the material was ready to hand; only my own time was lacking to get the first club started To my astonishment and de- light the boys never waited for me; before I even knew of 1t thriving club was actually at work in the fields I believe, seven or eight members, and the sagacity of those youngsters is rather startling. even after my Pitts burg experience. Here is an example of 1t:
 There are several candidates for membership, but the club is determined to accept only good material, and 1t has, hit on truly American way of getting 1t. The candidate Is put on trial for two or three weeks, the members take him on long tramps, and he is expected to collect speciments, whether he is tired or not I have a suspicion that 'unde- sirable citizens go through a special drudgery; any way some of them back out after the first trial. If boys en- thusiasm holds after three or four tramps he is not elected but allowed to send in his name to be voted on. The club, small as 1t is. is remarkably alive, and I can attest to the good work done by some members.
 ''It is not very safe to prophecy about such a society but I honestly believe that this club has immense possibli ties. Boys catch the spirit from each other. With a very little help and guidance the Tuscaloosa club will be firmly established, and 1t may last a century. Branch clubs will be formed as a ma tier of course until we have an organization spreading all over the state-an army of young naturalists. And the interest, once acquired, will never be quite lost Only a few of the boys may keep up this practical work, but the others will retain an intelli- gent love for nature, and they will help to make nature-study popular.
 Latterly, many of our magazines and newspapers have been discussing the best methods for teaching natural his tory. It Is conceded that the old sys-
 
 number of changes have been proposed some sensible. others more or less foolish. It seems to me that experi- ence is our best guide we have learned that the average child does not care much for nature books" or text books on natural history; but we do know that the average boy. at least, likes to make collection: witness the thous- ands of postage stamp albums all over the country. We also know that the average boy likes to roam in the fields and woods and explore creeks Give both these instincts free play and you have the boy misunderstanding about nature-not as task but because it is good fun +-
 "Go a step farther and you will find that all great naturalists-all natural ists, for that matter-begin by mak- ing collections afterward they may take up anatomy, classification or any other one of the branches that make up modern science. I am not saying for 6 moment that collecting is the highest part of scientific work, but it is an important part; 1t Is attractive and 1t appeals to boy-nature as noth- ing else can. There is my solution of the nature-study question.
 The two plans-school collections and boys clubs-are so closely joined that they are really parts of the same scheme. Side by side with our branch museums I want to see branch natural history clubs; each will help the other and both--directly or indirectly-will help the state. This Is no pipe-dream. but very real project with more than a chance of success of course. It will entail a lot of hard work, but that's what we are here for. And 1t will be an educational influence of almost in calculabIe value"