Evening journal., 1899-08-10
JUST AN OLD WALL.

plOmeratlOn, plcd mere Oy man Tor MS con
venicnce, and many are the generations that
this earth and granite have seen. Those who
built it, themselves long since dust, took the
great stones from the ruined foundations Of
Etill more ancient architects-from the hut
circles and algnments, the sepulchral memo
rials and hypaethral chambers of ihe Dam
ronii-those stone men who dwelt on Dart
moor wastes in the FIRST dawn Of history.
For my wall lies upon great eastern slope
at the foothills of the central tabe-land
Of Devon; and there sunrises unnumbered,
rains and SHOWS without count, and moor
land winds from the west, blowing solemniy
through generations of mankind have be.
decked and adorned the old-time stones and
the earthworlz on the top of them. have
painted the granite with grey and silver,
ebony and gold, have draped the crooked ell
bows aud knees of the backthoms above
with a lace of lichcns have knitted and
woven and finely wrought INTO the mural
fabric a changing tapestry of many and
glorious coiors. The wall, indeed, is 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 new born buds aud flow
ers; here ripen her treasures through the
soft rains and sunshines Of high summer
hours; here she gathers in due season the
first fruits of the completed seedtime and
holds high festival with scarlet pomp of
berry and of briar; and here, when the har-
vest is over, she broods among the dark
roots in the heart Of the old wall and labors
unseen amid the cryptical and magic se-
crets Of winter growth. Anon the twisted
blackthorn foams into life again and sends
white petals flying with the chance snow.
flake Of March; anon the arums spread
their riotous green, the lesser celandines
their gold; and then the old wall shares the
waking life again and 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 sequestered spot
would be to write you little history Of the
birds and blossoms Of a wide district. Suf
fee it, therefore, that paint it to-day bask
ing under May sun; its backthon-trees and
hazels breaking into green; its whitethorn
a-budding; its grasses hanging out their ban
ners and pendants; its flowers shaking forth
the very soul Of the spring from petals of
lemon and purple, Of snowy white, sea-blue
and slzy-blue. Take first the round glossy
foliage Of the pennyworts above, which
soon viii 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, tdere winds and twines, clus-
ters and falls luxurantly the Linaria-or
ivy-leaved toadnaz. Its tiny purple bios
som, each with two golden eyes, is 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 and win abundant life where
none might be promised Now they are
met and welcomed; but presently, when the
campions, red and white, the tall steeples cf
the foxglove and the mauve and turquoise
splendors Of the l,nautia and scabious bright
en- the scene, the grasses and ferns are in
their glory, and horb-robert's delicate leaves
grow crimson, we shall forget the ivy-leavcd
toadhax until he rcappears next spring
Concerning this punt, by the way, there is
an interesting anccdote recorded by Prot.
Sehultes, to whom it was related by the late
DR.. Williams, an amiable and most learned
professor Of botany at Oxford in time long
past. When Linnacus visited England 10
1896 he presented himself before Dillenius
and Sherard at the university just men,
toned. Though still a young man bis sys.
TEN was already challenging very consid-
erable attention and he had made some
noise in the world Of science. Now, though
Sherrard received the youthful savant with
considerable heartiness Of manner, Dilcniu:
remained more than cool, and even forgo,
Z good manners by rcmarbing to bis friend in q
voice sufficiently loud to be heard by theiI
visitor: $50 this Is the youngster who j.
putting al botauists and botany in con
fusiony" Happily, Linnaeus did not com
/, prehend the exact nature Of this comment
but he was lightning-quick to arrive at .
, J conclusion, and the expression on the Older
, mans face, together with the word Econ
liuschien" $50 pronounced by the German
T Dillcnius), enabled him 60 arrive at a JUS
: estimate of the remark, in that the Latin
T confusio was familiar TO him. lle took ~,
notice, however but accompanied boil
{ professors to the Botanical garden q Ok
7 ford, and was there invited TO discuss
plant growing upon an Old wall, no ies
h than our familiar Lynaria Cymbsiaria
q Much doubt then obtained concerning il
: but the young genius from Sweden bad n
difficulty in removing those difficulties tina
existed and illuminated dubious points viii
ease and modcsty Shernrd remarkel
aside that, so far he perceived but littl
II Confusion" in Linnaeus, and the interest o
both experts increased to admiration as h
+ passed among the wonders of the gardens
Finally, he conquered the skepiic wso i
vited him 20 dinner, and when, on leavin
Oxford, the young Ilan bid farewell and r'
marked that he should have been sorry IL
= deed 10 bring confusion" into the perfeC
rcpose and system of the Oxford pardeI
B. Dillenius blushcd, like the good old scienti.
Is be was, and made frank apology for bis hast
word
Upon the wall under the moor grew blu
bells and trailing hryonies, while. bid in III
green, wild Strawberries are biossoming an
v preparing O uhy-red dessert for the birds
4 fuHt filter for little mouths or heaks tha
r. the purple harvest of the twisted thor
m bushes. Along the grass bencathe lie q
is umhels Of wild parsuips and other such dl
a flowers. and above few prmroses sii
= shine though their glory has passed; hl
) the dog-violcts are 40 their brightest, albe
~ man regards them but little before the S
perior distinction of scent and color whe
the blue-bcls nod
AZ Concerning the life Of fur and feather
e. there is scarce space TO speak, even bad
ID knowledge. The fo'lmousc rustlcs along
et little mousc-ruus, aad peeps with beal
yr eyes and rounded nose from under sh
Is tcring ivy.leaf; the air Is full Of the piping