Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-07-31
SCENERY COMPARED.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCES A6TWEEN
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN.


pat Not So with Us.
Having lately visited England after
long absence, my mind since my return
has been busy with the subject of the re.
lations between our scenery and that OF
the old world | visited dull part Of
Hampshire. On leaving the house where
was staying it was necessary to get
up to an early breakfast to catch train.
Two young soldiers, very pleasant and
friendly fellows, who went away at the
same time, were in the cab with me.
Reference was made to the 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 out of the cab window at
the fiat and very rolled out landscape,
cut up into squares and plots by iron
fences, which, however, with its sparse
oaks standing here and there, was not
without a classic grace, and thought of
the fresh and magic outlines of the Vir-
ginia mountains. But the hour was
much too early and too drowsy to allow
of any expression Of dissent. 1t is an
old question, that between the scenery
of the two worlds. 1t is simple enough,
however, with an obvious answer. Here
it is primeval and virgin nature; there.
nature affected by man and art.
The difference between European and
American trees and woodlands is sig
pifcant 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 be q relic of the ancient Brit
ish forest. This oak. which was not very
high, threw its powerful arms straight
of ground. Certainly such 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 vast lateral extension.
1t so happened that only few months
before, i'll juno perhaps, ! had seen in
| Tennessee a good deal of forest which
was almost virgin. The trees went
straight upward to great height, the
boles being clean Of branches a long
distance from the ground, and the leaf
age scant, except at the top, where IL re-
| ceived the sun. l rode into the middle
of this forest. The trees were often so
close together that it would have been
hard for horse to go between them,
and my horse followed the bed of
stream which was so shallow that it
scarcely more than wet his fetlocks, the
rhododendrons being very thick on each
side of me. Hating IN the midst Of the
| level floor Of the forest, it was an inn
pressive scene which found. The pale,
lofty trunks stood everywhere parallel,
and with a stately decorum and regular
ity, except where. half way up the. .ad-
jacent mountain side, some tumbling
trees, leaning at angles against their
surrounding fellows, which had arrest
ed them i'll falling, varied the universal
propriety with q noble confusion, the
gray trunks looking like mighty fallen
pillars of a ruined temple.
1t is true that our scenery is not very
rich in its associations of human history.
This source of interest we have here
only to slight degree But the land
scape has its own history, Is it not we'll
to consider that history? Is not scenery
made more impressive by the study of
those sublime changes which have pre-
pared the world which we see, and may
not the disclosures of men of science, so
far as the unlearned are capable of COM
pretending them, be brought to Che serv-
ice of the sense of natural beauty?
Another contrast there may be In the
scenery of the two lands. There is this
to be said of English scenery-it is suit
able to the luxury and comfort of Eng
lish country life. 1t Is appropriate to
the English fleshpots There are plenty
Of country houses throughout England
in which material comforts are of the
best, and which at certain seasons con-
tain much agreeable company of both
sexes. had some experience of such
house in Surrey. The library was excel,
lent. For wonder the weather was
good, the ephemeral British sunshine
remaining all day ON the southern walls
and really lavish among those flowers
of the garden you do not know by name.
Easily detained by such an existence,
you are not inclined to anything more
active than some kind Of pleasant read
ing and are likely to lose your place at
that, while your gaze rests upon the
hills to the west To such a life and
such state of mind the vague, soft as
pect of the Surrey hills was most suita-
ble-two impalpable ranges of hills, al
Turing to the eyes. Essences they seem
ed rather than substance or matter,
and unreal, save in their gentle emer-
aid coloring. And they were always ly-
ing there, qnivering as in a dream--a
mirage which did not go away.
If there is an agreement between lux
ury and English scenery, my sentiment
is that, ON the contrary, luxury does not
suit our scenery. An iron foundry,
strange to say, does no harm. A forge,
factory by the side Of a pond filled
with water lilies-I have now in mind
the New England lsndscape--these are
not unsuitable But a fine house In
some way is, and my sense Of incongru-
itv extends "A well IN thOSe manSi0na