The Red Cloud chief., 1894-06-29

gin-Luxury May suit English scenery,
but Not So with u.
Having lately visited England after a
long absence, my mind since my return
has been busy with the subject Of tho re.
lations between our scenery and that OF
the old world. I visited % dull part Of
Hampshire. On leaving tho house whore
I was staying 1t was necessary to get
up to an early breakfast to catch q train.
Two young soldiers, very pleasant and
friendly fellows. who went away ut the
same time, were in the cab with me.
Reference was made to tho scenery, and
one Of them, who had been in America,
said, "You Americans may not always
say you admire England, but in your
hearts you know there is nothing like
it." / looked ont Of the cab window at
the fat and very rolled out landscape,
cut up into squares and plots by iron
fences, which, however, with its sparse
oaks standing hero and there, was not
without q classic grace, and thought Of
the fresh and magic outlines OF the Vir-
ginia mountains. But tho hour was
much too early and too drowsy to allow
Of any expression of dissent. II is M
old question, that between the scenery
Of tho two worlds. IL Is simple enough,
however, with an obvious answer. Here
IL is primeval and virgin nature; there,
nature affected by nan and art.
The difference between European and
American trees and woodlands is sig
nifcant Of this. Early in September an
acquaintance took me to look at % re-
markable oak on his place in Essex,
which he said had been thought by some
persons to DO n relic of the ancient Brit.
ish forest. This oak, which was not very
high, threw its powerful arms straight
out in oil directions over q wide space
of ground. Certainly such q tree could
not have stood In an aboriginal forest.
There would not have been sufficient
sun to produce SO great an amount OF
LEAKAGE, and there would have been no
room for such a vast lateral extension.
1t SO happened thatonly q few months
before, in June perhaps, I had seen in
Tennessee n good deal Of n forest which
WAS almost virgin. The trees went
straight upward to n great height, the
boles being clean Of branches q long
distance from the ground, and tho leaf
age soant, except at the top, where IL re-
ceived the sun. I rode into tho middle
of this forest. The trees were often SC
close together that it would have been
hard for q horse to go between them,
and my horse followed tho bed Of q
stream which was 10 shallow that Il
scarcely more than wet his fetlocks, the
r~hododendrons being very thick on each
sido Of me. Hating in the midst Of tho
level floor Of the forest, it was an i'm
pressive scene which I found. Tho pale
lofty trunks stood everywhere parallel
and with a stately decorum and regular
ity, except where, half way up the ad
jacent mountain sido, some tumblini
trees, leaning Mt angles against thei'
surrounding fellows, which had arrest
ed them in falling, varied tho universe
propriety with a noble confusion, TIN
gray trunks looking like mighty fallel
pillars Of q ruined temple.
1t is true that our scenery Is not yer.
rich in its associations Of human history
This source Of interest we have her
only to u slight degree. But the land
scape has its own history. Is it not wei
to consider that history? Is not scener,
made more impressive by the study o
those sublime changes which have pre-
pared the world which we see, and ma
not the disclosures Of mer. of science, o
far a. the unlearned are capable of com
pretending them, be brought to tho serv
/. ace Of the sense Of natural beauty?
Another contrast there may be in tn
scenery Of the two lands. There is thi
to DO said Of English scenery--it is suit
able to the luxury and comfort Of Eng
lish country life. II is appropriate
the English fleshpots. There are plent
Of country houses throughout Englan
In which material comforts are Of tn
best, and which at certain seasons cor
" tain much agreeable company of bot
sexes. I had some experience Of such
house in Surrey. The library was exec
lent. For II wonder tho weather W,
good, tho ephemeral British sunshir
A remaining all day on the southern wal
=. and really lavish among those flower
Of the garden you do not know by nam,
Easily detained by such an existenc,
, you arc not inclined to anything mo-
active than some kind Of pleasant rea,
ing and are likely to lose your place
that, while your gaze rests upon Il
hills to the west. To such q life al
such a state Of mind the vague, soft d
pect Of the Surrey hills was most suit
, ble-rwo impalpable ranges Of hills, q
- Turing to tho eyes. Essences they seer
ed rather than substance or matte
!. and unreal, w in their gentle ems
e aid coloring. And they We're always !
ing there, quivering rs In u dream
mirage which did not go away.
II there is an agreement between lu
m ury and Ehglish scenery, my sentime
~ is that, on the contrary, luxury does Il
suit u scenery. An iron foundi
bo strange to say, docs no harm. A forl
u factory by the side Of q pond fill
with water lilies-I have now in mi
the New England landscape-these ,
not unsuitable. But u fine house
some way is, and my sense Of incongl
ity extends as we'll to those mansi,
which a friend describes az Queen An