Evening journal., 1899-08-12
JUST AIN OLD WALL.

great stones from the ruined foundations OF |
ntl more ancient architects-frorn the hat |
circles and alignments, the sepulchral memo.
rails and hypaefhrzl chambers Of he Dam
nonii-those stone men who dwelt on Dart
moor wastes ip the first dawn-of history.
For my wall lies upon a great eastarn Aope |
at the foothills of ths central table-land
of Devon; aud there sunrises uHnumbered,
rains and SHOWS without count, and moor
land winds from the west, blowing solemnly
through generations Of mankind, have be-
desked and adorned the old-time stones and
the earthwork on the top of them, have
painted the granite with grey and silver,
ebony and gold, have draped the crooked el.
bows aud knees Of the blaokthorns above
with a lace Of lichens. have knitted and
woven and finely wrought into the mural
fabric a changing tapestry Of many aod
glorious coors. The wall, indeed, = an altar
at which nature, as high priestess, worships
by night and by day without cessation. Here
her ritual Of spring is duly elaborated in all
The venal glory Of newborn buds and flow
ers; here rpen her treasures through the
soft rains and sunshines Of high summer
hours; here she gathers in due season the
fHst frsiits Of the completed seedtine and
holds high festival with scarlet poulp Of
berry and Of briar; and here, when the bar
vest Is over, she brooda among the dark
roots in the heart Of the old wall and labors
unseen amid the cryptical and magic Sc.
crets Of winter growth. Anon the twisted
blackthorn foams into life again and sends
white petals flying with the chance snow.
fake OF March; anon the arums spread
their riotous green, the lesser celandines
them gold; and then the old wall shares the
waking life again aAd follows its accus-
toned progress from spring to summer, and
from autumn into the cold peace and rest
Of the years end and beginning.
To name the life of that sequostered spot
would be TO write you little history Of the
birds and blossoms Of wide district. Suf
fee It, therefore, that pafnt it to-day bask
ing under May sun; its blaekthorn-trees and
hazels bReaking into green; rs whitethorn
a,budding; its grasses hanging out their ban
ners and pendants; its flowers shaking forth
the very soul Of the spriRg from petals Of
lemon and purple, of snowy white, seablue
and sky-blue. Take first the round glossy
foliage Of the penuyworts above, which
soon will rise little apple-green towers hold
ing many bells and next, scarcely less com
mon and a prime factor in the mosaic Of
grey stones, there winds and twines, clus-
ters and falls luxuriantly the LinaEia-or
ivy-leaved toaddax. Its Nny purple bios
som, each With two golden eyes, il not the
least dainty gem on its stony bosom, and
from late March to December the leaves,
with their dark under side and the little gal
axies Of twinkling flowers, flourish above
mans work aud win abundant life where
none might be promised Now they are
met.and welcomed; but presently, when the
eampsons, red and white, the tall steeples Of
the foxgiove and the mauve and turquoise
/ splendora Of the knautia aud scabious bright
en- the scene. tha grasses and ferns are in
/ their glory, and herb-robert's delicate leaves
grow crimson, we shall forget the ivy-leaved
toadhax until he reappears next spring.
Concerning this plBnt, by the way, there y
an interesting anecdots recorded by Prof.
Schmtes, to whom it was related " the late
Dr. Williams, an nmiabls and most leeraed
professor of botany a. Ox5or3 is Tine long
past. When LnBseus visited ERgland ia
1880 he presented himself before Dilloniul
and Sherard at Me university Just men.
toned. Though still a young man his sys
TEN was already challenging very cOnsid-
cradle attenNon and BE had made some
noise in the world Of science. Now, thoush
Sherr1rd received the youthful savaut with
considerable hesrtiness Of manner, Dilenius
remained more than cool, and even forgot
good manners by remarking to his friend in q
voice sufficiently loud TO be heard by their
visitor: 80 this is the youngster who il
putting al botanists and botany IN con
fusion" Happily, Linnaeus did not com
prehend the exact nature Of this comment
hut he was lighthing-quick to arrive at .
conclusion, and the expression on the oIel
mans face, together with the word ~coB
L. 81
Dilenins), enabled him 10 arrive at a Just
estimate Of the remark. iR that the LatiI
confrsio was familiar to him. He took nc
notice, hewever, but accompanied botl
professors to the Botanical garden q Ok
ford, and was there invited TO discNss
plant growing upon an old wall, no les'
than our familiar Lynara Cymbaie-ia
Much doubt then obtained copcerning it
but the young genius from Sweden had %,
difficulty in removing those difficulties tha
existed and illuminated dubisus pein.s with
ease and modesty. Sherard remarked
aside that, 40 far, he perceived but liitl'
confusion in ldnnaeua, and the interest o
both experts increased to admiration as h
; passed among the wonders of the gardens
Finally, be conquered the skeptsc wAo in
: vited him TO dinner, and when, on leavin,
= Oxford, the young raan bid farewell and re
marked that he should have been sorry in
deed to bring confusion into the perfec
repose and system Of the Oxford garden
Dillenius hlushed, like the good old scieptis
he was, and made frank apology for his hast
word.
Upon the wall under the moor grew blue
bells and trailing bryonies, while hid IN tn
: green, wild strawberries are blossoming an
preparing a ruby-red dessert for the birds
fruit filter for little mouths OF beaks thai
the purple harvest Of the twisted thorn
r bushes. Along the grass beHeathe lie IN
, umbels of Wild parsuips ard other such hE
r flowers, and above a few primrosos Still
? shine though their glory has passed; bu
p the dog-violets are at their brightest, albei
= man regards them but little before the 81
, perior distinction Of scent and color wher
!. the blue-behs nod
Concerning the life Of fur and feather
= there is scarce space TO speak, even had
n knowledge. The field-mouse.rus along h
J, little mouse-Nns and peeps with bead
1 eyes and rounded nose from under a she
l. tering ivy-leaf; the air is full Of the piping
J. callow and hungry young; there is flute
q OF busy wings, vision Of redhreasts. hede
sparrows, thrushes, and blackbirds. all wit
r IL.