A New Year edition, complete with resolution! This column often mixed beautiful imagery (see the frost section) with solid facts about science. Very few of us, with the advent of central heating, wake up with "frost pictures" on our windows any longer. The lovely "frost feathers" are missed! Nowadays children would run to the internet instead of write to a magazine.
Winter birds have special claims upon our attention and appreciation. The birds coming from the North remind us that there are more severe climes than ours, and those that stay with us appeal to us by their faithfulness. All brighten and give life to the frigid landscapes. Some are so small that one wonders how they dare brave our winters and are able to withstand the storms and low temperatures. We are drawn toward them, as they are to one another. They delight in companionship, and seem to believe there will be found strength in numbers in the presence of a common foe—the biting, cutting cold.
One can but regret that these social bird parties have no music. There are no winter songs of birds. Even the owls do not hoot, nor the hawks scream. All winter birds are noted for their sociability and their silence; and these characteristics are retained throughout the year by the cedar-birds. They sit very still, near together, often raising and lowering their crests, with now and then a dainty, lisping note, which becomes a longer call as they fly. In the winter they spend most of their time in the cedar-trees, and eat the hard blue berries which are found on them; hence the name cedar-bird. On the tips of the wing- and tail-feathers are little ornaments that look like drops of wax, and from this characteristic they are called waxwings.
If it is your good fortune to live in the country, you may be able to find the winter homes where hundreds of crows and other birds roost at night. By scattering crumbs near the house, many birds may be attracted and their interesting ways easily watched.
On stone walls and tree-trunks there are tufts of brown, apparently lifeless, that change to beautiful soft mats of green as soon as the raindrops come to visit them. After every shower the woods and fields are fresh and bright, not alone from the washing of their faces, but largely because of the mosses, which have awakened into new life. These little plants not only can dry up so that they will almost crumble to dust when handled, but are so sturdy and full of life that cold and frost do them no harm.
If we look at the leaves of mosses and other plants we shall find them made up of little boxes, filled with a watery substance. When the leaves freeze, these little boxes burst, just as the pitcher does when water freezes in it. The mosses are so wise as to empty most of the water out of these boxes before it freezes, and give it to the thirsty wind. Sometimes Jack Frost is too quick and catches them before they empty out the water; even then the boxes stretch, stretch, yielding to the strain, so that they come to no harm.
Go out, some cold morning, and find the stones that show above the snow, or examine carefully the bark of trees, and find the brown patches of moss of which a single bit picked out looks like figure 1. Cut off a patch of this moss or scrape some from tree or stone, take it home, and moisten it with warm water. Note the change in it carefully, for, as if by magic, the single stem will soon look like our second picture. The larger the bunch of mosses, the better the effect, and they will keep green for a long time under a tumbler in a warm room.
This changing and growing is the same process that takes place in all mosses when the warm, moist spring comes.
A. J. Grout.
There is in nature a king that rules a great part of this fair earth with a pitiless sway. Have you ever seen his work? If not, think of this: What is it that brings the bird tribes in autumn, host upon host, from their Northern summer haunts? It is the Frost King. He lifts his hand in the far North, and the grass and the leaves are withered. He waves his wand, and flakes and crystals of the snow, as beautiful as any created forms upon earth, come falling in myriads, to cover the food of the birds from sight. And then all the great armies of the warblers, and the pipits, and the longspurs, and the "snowflakes" flee southward before the fierceness of the Frost King. And what desolation the Frost King spreads before him! The delicate beauty of leaf and blossom is seared and gone. The face of the earth, so beautiful in summer, is bleak and bare.
But winter has a beauty all its own.
You have often caught the first crisp flakes of snow, in early winter, upon the cool dark sleeve of your coat, and have wondered at the perfect beauty of the many shapes. I know your teacher has with artistic skill drawn for you frost-patterns on paper till you have seen that He who makes the blossom and the leaf so beautiful bestows no less of honor upon the crystals of the frost. And the frost on the windows—have you never admired its patterning? "Just a bristly glaze of white," that grumbler thought it; but look you closer, and better, and look again. Will it surprise you greatly to be told that frost - patterns, like leaf-patterns, have both settled and definite formations? They may combine, indeed, into endless variations, but the simple patterns remain the same. Where most of you live—in what are called the temperate parts of the United States—there is little variation in window-frost forms. But farther north, where our own country meets the British possessions, there are many frost-patterns of rare beauty. Yet even in the more northern climes these forms are seldom seen save in the coldest weather—when the thermometer stands at from twenty to forty degrees below zero.
Frost forms can be photographed at a very low temperature; and there is no sort of photography more difficult than this. All things in nature that are exceedingly delicate seem also to act as if they were shrinking and shy; and it requires all the possible skill and patience of the photographer to crystallize them anew and make enduring the wonderful work of the Frost King. So we work, and work quickly,—whatever the weather,—working patiently and hurriedly, in love of nature. For the delicate and wonderful beauty that is spread, just now, upon that sheet of plate-glass in a bank window may not stay: the roaring coal fire within and the kindly sun without do their work quickly, and our wonderland of frost is soon gone forever.
P. B. Peabody.
There are outdoor homes as well as indoor homes—the former perhaps no less cozy and enjoyable to their inmanates than the latter. These outdoor homes—of the hollow trees, the silkv cocoon on the bare branch, the burrows in the walls and ground, and even the quaint cases of caddis-worms in the icy brooks—are all adapted to make their owners happy.
While we would be out of place and therefore very uncomfortable in those homes, it is equally true that these winter dwellers and There are outdoor homes as well as indoor sleepers of the outdoor world would be totally homes—the former perhaps no less cozy and out of place in out homes, enjoyable to their inmates than the latter. The tendency of nature is to fit each occuThese outdoor homes—of the hollow trees, the pant to the home and the home to the occupant. That is what is meant by "adaptation to environment"—a fitting to surroundings.
The racoon has his outdoor home in the hollow tree. Life in that home has its round of daily experiences very much the same as it has in ours. There are the periods of work and rest, "the troubles and the enjoyments, the seeking for daily food, and, from the racoon standpoint, the pursuit of comfort and happiness.
On the other side we have a view of one of our indoor homes. The boy has just returned from his outdoor pursuits and is enjoying his magazine, perhaps some page that is telling him many of the interesting and instructive things in nature and science to be observed even when the snow is on the ground and the frost is in the air.
There 's an old and truthful saying that "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Perhaps some Jacks, and possibly a Jill, too, will say that "The less work and the more play, the better," would be the prescription against dullness. However that may be, all indoor or all outdoor occupations would not be to best advantage. That principle is particularly true in our Nature and Science pursuits. Let outdoor observation and indoor consideration go hand in hand. What we learn indoors will add to our zest and enjoyment out of doors—even in our play and especially in a walk or ride.
Perhaps you had a new book for a Christmas or New Year present, and know with what eager pleasure you untied the string, took off the wrapping-paper, and examined cover and title-page and read the first chapter. "Nineteen Hundred" is the title of a new book that comes with freshness, charm, and pleasant anticipations to every lover of nature, whether young or old. January is the first chapter of this new book. The old book of "Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-nine" is of the past. By a careful reading of that book many may have better learned how to get the most pleasure and profit from this new one, with its twelve delightful chapters. Let us make the most of Chapter January, with its outdoor and indoor pleasures and duties.
In making good resolutions for this year why not determine to use your eyes better than ever before? Keep them on the alert to note many of the wonderful and beautiful things of nature.
As each year passes away, and another volume is laid upon the shelf of time, may we be enriched by large additions to our stock of happy memories! Such a "Happy New Year," not merely for the present, but for the future, we cordially hope this January has brought to every St. Nicholas girl and boy, and that there will be such interest in each month and season that in all years (and may there be many for each of you!) they will come around like old friends.
Go direct to nature rather than to books, and find out for yourself rather than ask some one. But you will need to use books somewhat, and in this department we prefer to have you ask questions about something in which you are especially interested rather than to tell you much of things you have never seen.
"What is it?" you will doubtless exclaim when you find a new specimen. Find out for yourself, if possible; but if not, then ask your father, mother, teacher, or some friend. In this way you may be doing good missionary work. Perhaps others in your neighborhood will become interested, and enjoy taking closer observation of many heretofore unobserved beauties in the world of nature.
If you so desire, mail any specimen that puzzles you to the editor of this department, addressing Edward F. Bigelow, Stamford, Connecticut, inclosing stamped and self-addressed envelope for answer, and he will endeavor to help you. State when and how you found it, together with other particulars that will aid in identification.
We heartily recommend every boy and girl interested in nature or science to become a member of the St. Nicholas League. One of the chief objects of that League is to cultivate the valuable and enjoyable art of seeing correctly and appreciatingly. "Keep your eyes open," for the instructive and beautiful things of the world around you is a good motto. While all the various purposes of the League have our heartiest indorsement, the following statements from the announcement are well worth your consideration and following:
"To get closer to the heart of nature and acquire a deeper sympathy with her various forms." "Direct friendship with the woods and fields and healthful play are necessary to the proper development of both mind and body."
Among other helpful organizations of young folks interested in the great outdoor world may be especially commended the following:
Junior Naturalists Clubs, under the care and direction of the Cornell University College of Agriculture. Their purpose is stated as follows: "To the end that every member thereof shall love the country better and be content to live therein." Address John W. Spencer, Ithaca, New York.
The Agassiz Association (originally developed by St. Nicholas) with local branches called chapters. While it "welcomes members of all ages," and while "every one who is in-' terested in any form of natural science is cordially invited," it has an especially kindly regard for the young folks. Address Harlan H. Ballard, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
The Nature Guard, for boys and girls of New England, consists of bands of young people who have sharp eyes and will try to use them. Address the Nature Guard, Rhode Island College, Kingston, Rhode Island.
Dear Young Readers Of St. Nicholas: The post-office nowadays makes neighbors of us all. You go to your mail-box and leave your letter, or give it to your letter-carrier, perhaps, and my letter-carrier will put that letter into the box in the door of my home. I can send a letter to you in the same way, so you see we are only two doors apart; I 'm your next-door neighbor. Under these circumstances don't you think we ought to become acquainted? If you and I both try, we shall be the best of good friends.
I know you like to go out in the fields and woods, and sometimes the swamps, too. I 've been with over three thousand boys and girls this past year, and therefore know how much pleasure and instruction my young friends get in this great, pleasant, outdoor school-house. I go nearly every pleasant day, and sometimes on stormy days, too, and I will tell you of some of the interesting things I find every month in the year. Several friends will aid me in telling you of the interesting things in nature and science.
Now, don't let this be one-sided. We don't wish to do all the telling. You tell me what you are interested in, and also ask questions. Yours cordially,
Edward F. Bigelow.
The following letters were among those received in response to a circular letter announcing this department.
Westbury Station, I., I.
Dear St. Nicholas:
This past autumn I gathered ten different seed-travelers. Here is the list: Norway maple, larch or hackmatack, goldenrod, Canada thistle, dandelion, aster, stick-me-tight, hickory-nut, acorn, sedge. I had one of the thistles on my desk in the morning. When I came back to school in the afternoon, I found the sun had shone on it and the pod had opened.
So I think the sun makes the seeds come out, and that then the wind blows them away.
It is the same way with the goldenrod, asters,and dandelions. The larch and map1e have wings with which the seeds blow away. Stick-me-tights have hooks with which they fasten themselves to animals and people, who carry them around until they are rubbed off. Squirrels and crows carry away nuts and acorns; sometimes they drop them, and they come up. Sedges drop their seeds in the water. They float away, and come up, maybe on the other side of the pond.
We had a little pond which we had filled up in September. A little puddle was left about the size of a tea-cup, which was filled with hundreds of little fish not half an inch long, and a lot of polliwogs. I took them out and put them in a big pond.
Yours truly,
Ethel M. Albertson.
North Urbana, N. Y.
Dear St. Nicholas:
I live on the east shore of a beautiful lake called Keuka, in the western part of New York. We find some quite pretty stones and shells along the shore of the lake. We have found stones that look like honeycomb and petrified wood. We all enjoy stones, but the most interesting ones are the arrowheads we find while plowing the vineyards. We have about a quart of them, of all sizes, from one inch to two and a half inches in length. A few of them are as perfect in shape as when they were used by the Indians. Papa has found two white ones and one red one. The rest of them are gray or stone-color. We have found two stones that were used to dress the skins of deer or other animals. They resemble an ax in shape, and are black in color. We all enjoy stones, and have specimens from California and Minnesota.
Carl R. Gleason.
"Don't bother me with your questions; I 'm too busy." Do you know such persons? St. Nicholas does n't feel that way. We like to have questions asked.
It has been fancied that the question-mark (?) is the outline of an ear placed over the period at the end of the sentence, meaning that this is the kind of sentence that has an ear ready for an answer.
So you see "Nature and Science" puts its question department at the end. We've told you some things in the first two departments, and you 've told us some in the "Correspondence," and now we are ready for the questions.
1. "How can I keep this alive?" G. D. M.
You can keep an insect or plant alive by imitating very closely its natural home. Feed the caterpillar with some of the plant on which you found it. When it has changed to a butterfly, feed it on sweetened water, which is the nearest you can get to sweets in the flower. You will enjoy seeing it unroll its long tongue. With care you can get it to feed from your hand. Hold the butterfly in the hollow of your hand and put a little sweetened water on one of your fingers.
2. "What is this little pile of sticks?" Alice C .
The insect net had just been taken from the water, and this question was asked by one of the girls. It 's the little "log cabin" of a cozy little housekeeper, that builds its own home from whatever material may be at hand. Next month we will tell you something about these little homes made by the caddis-fly larva, which are now enjoying themselves below the ice in the pond or brook.
3. "What is that beautiful cluster of stars that looks like the sign of multiplication?" CherryT .
This is the beautiful group called Orion. The principal stars, with the three in the center as the "band," do look like the sign of multiplication (X). Just below the "band" is a cloudy form to be seen only through a telescope. It is called nebula, which means "a cloud."
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