News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1899-08-16
WITHIN YOUR GATES.
A Stranger Complies Some Impressions
and Ideas Which May Go for What
They Are Worth.

NN.NNN'
They Are Worth.
"Far from the maddening crowds ignoble
strife,
Their sober wishes never learned to stray,
Along the cool, sequestered vale OF life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way"
This verse of Gray's immortal elegy
repeats itself to me at every turn and
in every nook of the dear old town of
Hyde Park, the most restful spot in
this valley of quiet and content. To
one weary of the nerve-racking dis
cord of the outside world it seems the
realization of Ike MarveI's Dream
Life" here in this valley of rest.
| have often expressed my admira-
tion for the village and town, the
satisfaction which comes from mental
rest and peace, and have occasionally
been answered that cit is pleasant
here, but it is very dull" In it's dull
ness-its freedom from the hideOus
discord of the heart breaking race for
fame and fortune in the great world
beyond the valley-lies its beauty
and it's value. Why crave for the IN
natural side of life, the artiticialites
which intOxicate the brain and break
the heart? When one of the Fathers
children has a sound mind and body,
the assurance of a wholesome living
from pleasant work at hand, and
constant communion with God
works in nature, what more can in
reason be asked?
Truly, my friends, your lives are
cast 10 pleasant places. Don't
feel or say that it is dull" Don't
bewail the pleasures of the outside
world when so many healthier pleas
ures are on every hand. Don'tregret
that you are not one of the millions
whose lives are being crushed out in
the crazy rush for money in city
streets. Be content with the valley
among the hills, and the peace which
comes from moderate and healthy
toll.
Some of the very pleasantest days
and hours of my life have recently
been passed in Hyde Park. 1t is a
village of rare natural beauty, and
artistic taste has done much to con-
tribute to it's attractiveness. Many
pleasant hours have spent in driving
over it's hills and through its secluded
little valleys. Well kept farms and
neat and attractive farm homes are
in evidence everywhere. Thrift and
the exercise of good Judgment are the
rule; shiftlessness the rare exception,
What sight is there on earth which
appeals more directly to the heart
than cosy, we'll ordered farm home?
1t has been celebrated in song and
story, and pulls on the heart strings
of one whom it has ever sheltered as
nothing else on earth can. Whenever
ride by such home in your beauti-
full town | envy the possibilities of
blessed peace and comfort and love
under its roof and wonder if those
there now appreciate their happy
situation and live up to their privi-
leges. [ hope so, it were pitiable were
it otherwise.
To one interested in wild flowers
and plants and the countless multi
tude of voices of God speaking
through nature your town is especi-
ally interesting. These numberless
unconsidered trifes" of the wayside
and the field and forest are too little
considered by those with whom
familiarity has bred contempt. Every
one has a virtue and q use if it was
known, and tells an interesting story
if it was understood. They are beau
tiful, peaceful, pleasant neighbors,
many of them ready and willing to be
of use, and all struggling in their
modest way to beautity and help the
world in which they find themselves.
No greater happiness can come than
from association with nature, be it
a flower, n tree or a landscape. A
tree is a peaceful and quiet neighbor,
steadfast friend and valuable
servant. 1t doesn't gossip, or lie, OF
talk back, you always know where to
find it, and if you cut it it will warm
instead of chilling you. Otherwise
with some people. | may say here
in passing, that Vermont has The
largest number of knownfora of any
state in the Union, and is, therefore
of extraordinary interest to botan
lists. | think, too, that few towns 10
the state have as large a variety as
HYDE Park.
Your landscapes are beautiful from
every point of view. With the excep
ton OF that from some noted noun
tain SUBMITS | have never seen sc
fine view as that from the highway
(which winds around the hills about
slEnsk from tbe.yilla&e. Il