Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-09
The Country in Autumn.


From the New York Times
As August closes the swallows of the city
homeward fly. Bridget's arIas in the area and
GininG-rCOm receive a check, the seasonable
burglar OF deserted houses owns his occupation
gone. the basement shutters OPEN and all the
pent-up stream of city life flows onward in a
cataract. Undoubtedly there has been some
thlng gained. for change Of surroundings is it
sell gain, but the loss 10y too early return is
also great, for in September and October the
country may be seen and enjoyed at it's best.
THESE are the two most perfect months of the
year in this climate affecting us with a troubled
wonder why the weather cannot stay SO after
it is once set just right they ought to be each
hundred days long. Those are wisest who
stay in the country through the last scenes in
the seasons panorama, or. if their
time is short, take ~ their vaca-
ton late. Even under the DISADVANTAGE. i'm
this city, that the streets. for some unexplained
and unsubstantial reason, are treeless. the city
is far more tOerable in hot weather than is com
monty supposed; considering the alIeyiations of
shade, sea breeZeS and excursions. and the alb
sence in the country of city cOnveniences and
the freedom OF ones home, there is not much
gain, as respects GOODNESS. by going to the cOun-
try, except in some peculiar localities. Taking
vacation late has at least the advantage of not
having to return to harness until the hardest
weather is over; going to the country in autumn
has the advantages of cooler travelling. freedom
from crowd, lower prices, more exclusive at
tendance. Those who do not have to return that
the Children may not miss their schools and
those who can choose their "Off" weeks, are
fortunate in having the cooler months at COM
mand.
These minor claims of the season are worth
considering. but are trivial when compared with
It's greater capacity for being enjoyed. The chief
occupation during the summer months is to keep
cool; it is a sufficient one demanding all the
resources OF FANS shade, hammock. and casual
breeZes; the days must usually be given up to
1t. and as for doing" anything, the great neces
sity is to avoid doing. But September and Oc-
tObef. barring few warm days. raise the heat
BLOCKADE, and say to us. as in school days we
once heard the delicious sentence, 'The boys
tand girls) may go out" Then there are things
to be done For gathering ferns, golden rod,
boneset, and other ''yarbs," common mik-Weed
pods packed with daintiest plumes, dry grasses,
moses. leaves, and the innumerable list of Oddi-
ties dlscoverable everywhere by the keen
eyed; for picking the nuts and fruits of the
season. This is the time for pedestranism of
the genuine sort. The harvest wagon may be
ridden to the barn; wOOdchucks wait to be dug
out; the gnarled trees are ready to refute the
city notion that apples grow in barrels; the
brown Old cider mill looks as 1t looked thirty
years ago; the hound sees the gun and barks
frantcally; bob White CALLS the chipmunk
and the red are as nervous as ever on the rail
fence; the wOOdpecker flashes in the old way
around the tree; the chestnut still wears it's
porcuplne overcoat with satin lining; beech
DRY and bunchy hazel fill the bag but have
their old disproportion between the size of
'shuck" and nut. Nature holds her even way
the same to the man as to the boy; and al
though the former has found life chiefly illu-
sions, he can never be quite dsenchanted: ii he
wanders in the woods in October, everything is
scene revisited; as in a dream. which he also
dreams IN dream, he is here-and there Al
though each seam in his face counts present
trouble, II he everhad any sympathy with nature
ne can, py being willing to do SO, saunter alone
through the woods, engaged in u,more serious
occupation than pocketing nuts one by one, for
which he digs away the leaves either with stick
or with finger, and vet can be in state of
equlpoise OF consciousness, every sense lulled
for the time. and finding simple existence.
animal-like, blssful and content.
This because all the time, is available for use
even rainy days showing peculiar effects of
cloud-caps on hills and mist wells in hollows-
and because the whole movement of the season
Is scenic ana varied June has her beauty of
freshness, and 1t is charming to see verdure
putting out; yet all this is simple compared with
the changes with which the year ripens. There
is law which forbids duplicates. and in all this
Prodlgal splashing of red, orange, and brown
tnere cannot be found two scenes, two seasons,
or even two leaves alike. The hills are royal in
October; now they are remote, now close at
hand; Dy the mill-pOOl there are two banks, one
standing above and one hanging below. each
the others faithful copy; the glens and hollOws
are lanes OF glowing color. Now is the time to
leave the railroads and take the widest practi-
cable roads among the mountains for close &C
quaintance. so that from Mount Washington to
the crumbs which fell when the large ones were
nodded they may be seen In all their moods and
changes.
To enjoyable things is added an enjoyable
mood. for the air is invigorating. Whether it is
made 80 by the touch of frost, OF by some subtle
aroma from changing vegetation, or by the
more subtle influence of the whole scene react
ganization, we cannot know. The air may have
q wine-like quality, or the stimulus may come
through eye and ear, just as pictures and music
thrill US. From whatever source, the effect is
real. 1t Is both health and satisfaction, the
latter being qualified, but not lessened, by the
pensiveness 1t assumes Every mood In our
selves, from merrymaking to contemplation, can
ind its counterpart; man, horse aud dog-each
nnds what 1t Is open to receive. Those who obey
fashi0nable customs and abandon the country
lose the best Of the exhibition hr a0in0 ont too