New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14
Giving IN THE OPEN"
SOME OF THE DELIGHTS A WOMAN
FOUND IN NATURES WORKSHOP.
AN OLD RAIL FENCE THAT WAS FULL. OF POETRY
AND A THRUSH AND SQUIRREL OF THE
"ELYsIAN FIELDS"

''EI.YSIAN FIELDS"
Too little do American girls appreciate out-of-
doors or living in the open" bright German
girl expressed II.
"One might as well ask fish TO live in the water
as 10 ask boys to live Of doors; sensible COM
Portable boys without corsets, long skirts or coils
Of heavy hair: they live in the air and sunshine.
and laugh defiance at nerves and headache said
woman scientist. who is Il great believer in fresh
There is more 10 find out OF doors than air and
sunshine: there IS world so fascinating so
charming it t. worth conquering and living In.
and II IS conquered by observation. do not mean
the world of golf. tennis and bcycng those Inter
esting worlds are already conquered and in
habted with enthusiastic jewellers. but It Is the
world Of nature 1 would ask you 10 explore.
"Gris who live in the country and those who
spend their summers amid green fields do not
often know the bird songs. and flowers are only
passing acquaintance. Every girl should know
the fora and fauna OF her neighborhood. II she
be country girl. and summer sojourner can
learn much of the places she freQuents Will
give you a description OF day spent out OF doors
recently with friends.
we climb over a fence: 1t is only a broken
down old rail fence shamblng across the pasture
lot. but 1t interests at once. the getting over
suggests the superstition of fences. or fehce-.ore
because one Of the party does not want the trou-
top rail. through an easy opening. She is at once
confronted with: II you go under rail ill-luck
Will follow you through life She stops crawls
out and mounts the top rail.
Another says We must not the corner Of
fence or the devil viii follow us. but in
the nicdlc-thls a negro superstition. We are in
the fatal corner; we look furtvely around: Satan
IS not in sight. but ne may appear suddenly II We
co not heed the admontion. We over. but we
cannot leave. We sit down on the grass and look
q, the fence; each post has swayng vines creep
Ing up and festooning themselves In graceful
curves
The girl from town says: I never knew that
farmers had so much taste. planting vines at every
fence post; they must be quite aesthetic; but
suppose aesthetics influence every one in these
days even the farmers l explain that nature
mas beautifed the old rail fence.
These rails a study in shading. says tho
artistic girl. Indeed they are: the sun, wind and
rain had toned the rails 10 softest gray; green and
gray lichens and moss had crept over them. and
the graceful tendrs OF the Virginia creeper cling
Ing here and there completed the ornaDentation.
"A fash OF dusky red and brown startles the
dreaming artist. IL Is only merry little chip
munk. Come here IN the shelter Of these bushes
shelter Of some dropping aiders. and soon the chip
munk creeps out Of his hole in the fence and runs
the bit of rudy lint needed 10 bring the cool
SHADES OF nchen. vine and moss into harmony OF
color
leap a dash. a fla Of gray!
The squirrel is his own highway
"On he comes. over the rails. leaping the cluster
Ing vines. dashing along. Attracted by rustic IN
the a.Iers he pauses directly I'm front OF us sits
erect. MS bushy tail curied saucily over his back
his bright eyes watching: another rustic In the
aldeis forth impertinent scolding chatter
away he goce' CLEAN OF gray the old fence
and he has vanished
See the dit fy from under the fence. What
can IL be? Oh the mystery is solved A fine IA
voodchuck energies from his half finished home
and sits against the fence 20 take a resting spell
Like his cousin. the beaver he sits on his launches
MS short paws under his sharp nose, his keen
"achful eyes looking Out for his enemies. men
and dogs. lie hears and sees nothing all is silent
Gown he goes again. and the dirt files upward
Hush, Softly 4 wood thrush. his speckled
breast shining In the sunlight. aights on the fence
His mate flies near. IIark to the soft. clear bell
Ike notes, We lifted above the everyday world
The common pasture lots become the Elys!ar
Fields The old rail fence the heights OF Olympus
He Is silent! The ceaseless chatter and singing OF
the other birds seem the distant tumut or The
word-he the chanting singer In a great cathedral
Once more ne lifts his heavenly voice. then on
swift wings flies 10 hiS mate. The pasture and
fence seem deserted and lonely when he has gone.
The play Is over. saws the country girl ina,
was the last act The curtain is falling let us So
Wait says the literary girl. we have seen and
Appreciated a bit OF Nature, now let us near wha'
two noted writer's have also seen and heard
She turned TO her book and read +. Hopkinsor
Smiths exquisite description OF rail fence, then
from one OF John Burroughss fascinating DOCKS
On out-of-door life she reads his description OF the
wood thrush II Is a perfect finish TO our day
out-of-doors. 49,,
81 had no idea said the town girl. that com
rail fence could be so interesting. 1t was
almost entertaining as a matinee