The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-30
BEAUTIES OF NATURE
a. SEEN IN THE OPEN COUNTRY.
Obssrvstions OF n City Visitor to the Noun
fains In Search OF Hsalfb-hemark-
able Flight OF Butterflies.
For The Times.l


While I'm the pursuit OF health
during the past summer ] had oc-
casion TO observe and. therefore.
to become interested in a few
things peculiar to my surroundings
which may be worth recalling. To me
one Of the chiefest enjoyments in sojourn-
ing for the season where the "course Of
nature is the art Of God" consists In
putting oneself in accord with the mys-
terles and novelties incident to the situa-
ton. the more so when as to other
things | may be Indifferent. This cannot
be satisfactorily done, however, without
c~ultivating to some degree a habit Of OBJ
serving. We need make It an occasion
for study or for very serious investiga-
ton. Only let the mind, as well as the
body. forget for a moment any trouble
or which we are allowing to
be a vexing canker to our daily life.
We should, under the circumstances, let
our attention drift in the direction OF
the ordinary and simplest forms in which
nature presents herself. never overlooking
the most Insignificant phenomena,
whether of the vegetable or animal king
NlAi Inc aver use tAOWN N0N( AO 49,
Of such matters; think them unworthy
Of notice, and indiferently consign them
to the abstruse consideration of the scien-
tihc specialist, or to the whims Of inquis-
tive cranks.
II BEAUTIES OF NATURE.
Let IL be understood. I do not propose
to indite here a homlly upon the worship
OF nature, or 10 bore the reader with Il
rehearsal OF the platitudes suggested In
contemplating the wonders that environ
our daily life. Whatever pleasures Of
the imagination or Of the poetic temper
likely to be suggested by such themes
had better be sought amongst the more
prolific suggestions Of an Aikeneide, a
Young or a Scott. 1t were a poor COM
pliment 10 human nature to say that we
do not all adore, In more or less degree,
the beauties and wonders of creation; and
It were a work OF supererogation TO at
tempt the proof of a truth so patent.
For me, I must plead guilty TO a zeal In
this direction, which at times amounts 10
passion, or even to what might properly
be considered bathos itself, the feeblest
mood of the enthusiast. When, for IN
stance. / am about to return from the
mountain region to the artidcialitles of
city life, / cannot help experiencing some
thing Of the sorrow of that famous chief
ldAl. NlDt just lOul lAAA - NNA NHRt
lost a kingdom while Columbus was win
ming a world. and was forced 10 utter
the last sigh OF the Moor" as he looked
back upon the receding heights of his
beloved Grenada. There was then no
consolation for the unfortunate and de-
spairing Boabdil, but when i'm my weak
ness ! take a last, lingering glimpse Of
the Blue Ridge from the railway train
hurrying me %eastwards, | am solaced by
~, Indication tho faIfDn aarnapnffn %
Three Notch" and Round Top" and
"Hump-Back' will keep. and that l can
hope 10 greet them again with a new JOY
upon the return Of another season.
REMARKABLE FLIGHT OF BUTTERFLIES.
But to my purpose. Many years ago,
while riding with a friend along a noun
tain defle he called my attention to a
remarkable flight of butterflies. 1t was
an sight TO see so many OF
these insects floating about in every direc-
LONESOME close TO the earth, others in
among the surrounding underground and
bushes, but by far the greatest number
far above he loftiest trees. and many OF
them still higher up in the sky. The in
cident interested us for the time, but
soon passed out Of our memory. Last
September, while in the same part of
the country, near the foot of the Blue
Ridge the same phenomenon presented
itself, and at the same time OF the year.
Being reminded thereby of what we had
previously seen, a more careful obserya-
ton was devoted 10 this strange and un-
usual movement on the part OF these In
sects. There they were, as we had no
ticed them many years before, maintain
ing a steady and continued flight at every
distance above the ground. Some seemed
merely hutterlng leisurely along, just
above the surface of the earth, hating
and alighting now and then. as if at
tracted by the nectar Of some tempting
flower. Others pursued their way, while
still many more were TO be seen far up IN
the blue ether, maintaining a holder
flight, rivaling even the larger members
OF the feathered tribe in the dignity and
grace of their movements. Some Of the
latter. as If 10 take an observation Of
what was going on below. delayed for
the moment their flight, and scared In
easy and graceful curves, after the man
ner of the larger birds Of prey. AT times
II was difficult TO determine whether the
eye of the observer was looking upon a
or q bird. The illusion was pro-
duced both by the extraordinary move
ments Of the former, and by the tact
that there being no prominent object be-
tween the eye and the boundless ether
above. by which to gauge the size OF the
insect. IL was made to appear larger than
II really was. A popularity Of the flight
Of these strangers was that no opposing
object ever caused them TO change their
course. II one or more Of them came
suddenly upon the front OF a house or a
tree densely clad with foliage, by a rapid
various Tapping Of one OF Its two
pairs Of wings, it Immediately rose above
obstacle and disappeared in the
space beyond. Another, and a more sig
nifcant feature of this flight, was that
It was invariably southwark. They APP
reared day after day in thousands. Now
and then the earth, the air and the hea-
vens above swarmed with them. e
again a few stragglers only would come
In a hesitating sort OF way, as IL
to keep up the communication
with the hosts that had already passed,
and those that were soon 10 follow. If
here and there a single specimen descend
ed to linger near the earth I'm search Of
q lunch on some Towering shrub, the
delay never seemed to interfere with his
predetermined purpose. AS soon as his
hasty meal was over he eagerly took to
wing in the same direction, as If anxious
10 overtake the friends who had preceded
him. They were uncommonly active on
the wing. From childhood TO hoary age
we have all experienced the disappoint-
ments OF chasing butterflies Of many
and Of many hues. But this agile
stranger gave more trouble and required
more effort before he was finally cap