Evening star., 1926-08-01

| when the record of the rocks was
| first begun.
Mental and Physical Sides.
Now the National Parks Service
plans to interpret these thrilling
| stories of the most ancient history
| in the world into a language that the
| layman may read. As DIR. Work de-
scribes 1t: Both mental and physical
recreation will thus be associated. "
The tourist visiting a national park
may no longer leave. with nothing
but an impression of the scenic beauty
he has seen; he will know how they
came into being and Will have seen
wonders that he never before knew
existed.
For instance, In the Rocky Noun
tain National Park he viii see the
rising of the second Rocky Mountains
upon the eroded remains of the first;
in Crater Lake National Park he will
have wonderful example to study
the formation. of a volcano; in Hawaii
he may see living volcanoes risen from
the sea In the process of building up
an island, and In the Yellowstone he
may view volcanic chain in the
throes of death Or in Glacier Ma,
tional Park he may read the most
dramatic story in the whole range of
to the oldest geologic strata known
from it's grave, to become mighty
mountain range.
Scientists and educators every
where have lent their support to the
educative possibilities of the national
parks, and at recent meeting in the
Interior Department, when the ques-
ton was discussed of making these
priceless possessions available, DR..
John C. Merriam, president of the
Carnegie Institution of Washington,
had the following to say. 1t has
since been declared by leaders In the
new movement to express clearly the
intent of the new policy:
Educational Value Stated.
The national parks are commonly
considered essentially designed for
recreation, and this must of course be
one of their major functions. But as
l have given more than 40 years to
study of special problems such as the
parks interpret, and have lived 80 of
those years among the parks, I have
some confidence in saying that for
many purposes their purely educa-
tional value is far beyond that of any
regularly established formal educa-
tional institution.
Among the most important fea-
lures are those which concern the ma
ture of the earth-the manner of its
building, the forces which have come
into play, the meaning of the almost
limitless history of earth-making as
it is pictured before us. David said,
in viewing the works of nature, THE
heavens declare the glory of God, and
the armament showeth his handi-
work This work of the Creators
hand presents itself here in such a
way that all may comprehend.
with all that has been done by
biologists and other scientific men,
by central administration of the Gov
ernment and by officials concerned
with the immediate administration OF
national parks, we have only begun to
convey the really great lessons to the
multitude. Science needs itself to
know more fully what the story is,
and then simplification and clarifica-
ton must help to carry the great es-
sentials over. so that the casual Wis
itor may read and may interpret with
out depending upon the word of
another.
Faculty to Be Chosen.
ITO attain such clearness of express
sion is to stand upon the highest
plane of education. For many OBJ
jectives this level can nowhere be
reached so easily as in the national
parks. There are not in America
other places where for these purposes
comparable possibilities for effective
can be found. with the grandest prod
ucts of creation themselves as teach
erS.
For utilization of this opportunity
we need support adequate to prepare
for most effective use. In such a
professors would be
only guides and not instructors. but
there should be a faculty chosen from
leaders in thought and appreciation,
a group of men who, standing in the
vivid presence of the Creator, would |
serve to point out the road.
while the national parks serve in
an important sense as recreation |
areas, their primary uses extend far |
into that more fundamental education
which is real appreciation of nature. |
Here beauty in its truest sense re. |
ceives expression and exerts its in |
fuence along with recreation and |
formal education. To me the parks |
are not merely places to rest and ex. |
ercise and learn. They are regions |
where one looks through the veil to |
meet what we now recognize as the |
realities of nature.
II cannot say what worship really |
is-nor am I sure that others will do
better, but often in the parks, / re-
member Bryant's lines, oh, why
should we. in the worlds ripper years,
neglect Gods ancient sanctuaries, and |
adore only among the crowd, and
under roofs that our frail hands have |
National parks represent op- |
portunites for worship in which one
comes to understand more fully GER
tain of the attributes of nature and
its Creator. They are not objects to
be worshiped, but they are affairs
over which we may worship.
To-day one of the questions of most |
critical Importance in consideration of
national park policy concerns what is
known as complete conservation or
protection with all natural features
unimpaired. In my judgment, not
alone recreation as commonly inter-
even education In it's
routine aspect-can guarantee un.
broken maintenance of primitive con-
ditions in national parks II great eco.
nomic resources are involved, since
both recreation and education have
been made to operate along with eco
nomic use. But a function of such
as to insure complete
protection is, I believe. given i'm
abundant measure through higher
educational and spiritual values,
which offer the greatest and most
noble uses to which any possession
may Ibe put"