We are glad to give to our readers this excellent portrait of him who has for six years given his time and energies to the editing of THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW with whole-hearted devotion. At the death of Professor Fred. L. Charles, so deeply lamented by us all, Dr. Downing took charge of THE REVIEW and thus rescued it from suspension; for, at that time, there seemed to be no one else at liberty who had sufficient interest in it to keep the little magazine alive. Nor was Dr. Downing at liberty, for he like most professors in most Universities, had plenty to do in conducting his department and in teaching his pupils. Yet he has, during these six years, sacrificed his scant leisure to work for THE REVIEW and has done so cheerfully and with faith that the result was worthy the sacrifice. Surely his efforts have met with universal appreciation and response. Dr. Downing has always held THE REVIEW up to a high standard, especially in its scientific quality; and he has sought earnestly to keep it in touch with the work of the public schools and with all phases of civic biology. He has made it a periodical of which we all have been proud, and it is with universal regret that his resignation as editor has been accepted. He pleads for a vacation and an opportunity to devote his leisure to personal work in which he is deeply interested. However, we are not without hope that he may some day be persuaded to resume his editorial connection with THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW. Dr. Downing was born in Boston, November first, 1868. He graduated at Albion College in 1889 with a degree of B.S.; he then became Instructor in Science in Beloit College Academy. He received the degree of M.S., from Albion in 1894 and the degree of Ph. D., from Chicago University in 1901. He held the position of Professor of Biology in the Northern State Normal School of Michigan from 1901 to 1911 and then was made Assistant Professor of Zoology in the School of Education of Chicago University, and since 1914 has been Associate Professor of Natural Science in this institution. At the business session of the Society, Wednesday morning, December 27th, 1916, the secretary of the Society was instructed to cast the ballot for L. H. Bailey as president. The following persons were elected as vice-presidents by ballot: B. M. Davis, E. R. Downing, C. F. Hodge, A. L. Matthews, Alice J. Patterson. The five persons whose terms of office as Directors expired this year were re-elected, the secretary being instructed to cast the ballot of the Society for them, as there were no other nominees. The resignation of E. R. Downing as secretary-editor was accepted as he desired relief after more than five years of service. Mrs. Anna B. Comstock was elected secretary-editor. At Mrs. Comstock's request Miss Cora Smith was elected news editor and Professor J. A. Drushel (St. Louis, Mo.) and Prof. John Dearness (London, Ont.) were also added to the editorial board. It was deemed advisable to extend the board still further but the additional members were left to be appointed by the Council. The Council as at present constituted is as follows: (Those directors whose names are followed by (1) continue for one year or more; those marked (3) were elected this year for a period of two years; those indicated by (3) are representatives of local sections and hold until successors are elected by such sections.) President, L. H. Bailey, (N. Y.); vice-presidents: B. M. Davis, (Ohio), E. R. Downing, (Ill.), C. F. Hodge (Ore.), A. L. Matthews (Utah), Alice J. Patterson, (Ill.); directors, (2) Anna B. Comstock (N. Y.), (2) John A. Dearness (Ont.), (3) H. C. Draye (Mo.), (1) J. A. Drushel (Mo.), (3) F. W. McBride (Ind.), (2) L. H. DeWolfe (Nova Scotia), (2) J. G. Needham (N. Y.), (1) C. H. Robison (N. J.), (1) S. C. Schmucke (Pa.), (2) W. A. Slingerland (N. Y.), (3) G. Straubenmueller (N. Y.), (1) Gilbert H. Trafton (Minn.), (1) R. E. Wager (Ill.), (3) W. W. Whitney (Ill.). On the Wind in February On the wind in February, Half inclined to turn the rain, Then the thaws swell the streams, How pleasant it will be. The Great Lover L. H. BAILEY Address of the President at the meeting of the American Nature-Study Society, December 27, 1916. "All mankind loves a lover." Thus saith Emerson, philosopher of the over soul, The world loveth a lover because he is idealist and enthusiast. Breaker of precedents, violater of experience, he gives himself over to the demands of his soul, and lives in his dream as if the dream were the greatest verity. All things doth he subordinate, all obstacles doth he neglect, all transient enterprise doth he scorn, that he may attain, that he may attain quickly and completely. His eagerness bears him on, buoys him beyond despond, electrifies his eye. To every fellow lover he talks of his love, explains it with the abandon of youth, and is never hindered or abashed when the cynic on the four-corners of life scoffs at him. and asks him the way. To him the way is plain, straight ahead, straight ahead, on with the glow of hope and still on without the shadow of faltering. And the farther he goes and the warmer his ardor, the more do the people applaud. Verily, all mankind love a lover! When two souls meet with their loves, ardently and unashamed do they talk of them. Whether the object is woman or man, or the far pursuit of a desire that hath become a dream, it counteth not, for they relieve themselves to each other. What any two persons love, that becometh the password. The greatest rewards are the enthusiasms. The enthusiast is the lover. Enthusiasm brooks no precedent. It is not a lawyer immersed in tomes of old decisions. It is not a dogma, embalmed in sad history. It is the free outlook to the future, the democracy of the mind, the refusal to be bound and tied. It is the solvent to the soul. Every good student is a lover. One is a lover of books, searching in the dim corridors that he may discover and resurrect a great hope. One is a lover of words, following them in their devious and fascinating histories. One is a lover of the stars, going in far journeys beyond any man's journey. One is a lover of his fellow men, forgetting himself. One is a lover of architecture, building himself on beautiful forms and painting his dreams |