The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
AUTUMN At ITS BEST.
Painting OF tho Frost and Sun and Lullaby
of the Mist.

OF the mibt.
Those MINDLESS days that made a mockery
Of the international yacht races gave New York
nearly a fortnight Of ideal autumn weather Two
or three early frosts had silently done the work
Of preparation. and when the sapphire sky was
let down like giant bellglass over sea and land.
shutting up the city and its suburbs in dream
less quiet, the red autumnAl sunlight went on
mclowing and mellowing the landscape, adding
shade on shade and tint tint To the foliage
until il seemed that the splendor was not that oi
earth, but Of some happier planet.
New York is peculiarly situated for the enjoy
ment U: autumn at its best and in is widest var
iety. Her miles Of salt marsh seem 10 flow in
molten gold under the touch Of the October frosts.
Her upland meadows take on dense green. HI
foreground for the spendors Of her wooded hill
sides. Her snssafras thckets tan 10 the richest
and softest pale reds and golden yellows; her
hickories rise like towers Of pale gold, and her
beeches. as fine any in the world, glow in
warmest russell The sea, too. takes on a sympa
the,ic sottness with the mellowing land, and
flows in oriental languors all along the island
and its neighboring shores. Meanwhile, the
parks and public places bring home 10 those that
dwell in the heart OF the town sense Of the new
glory encircling the whole city: and Diana. swing
ing in softcned splendor her airy perch. be
meath the half-purpe neighborly sky, looks down
upon the following Square and seems 10 rule II
congenial cline.
Mid October usually brings with its sudden
flush of color sense of peace, touch OF that
quiet which with late November some tines dcepens
| into melancholy. This year the note Of peace
| was singularly impressive Morning after morn
ing the town woke to find itself wrapped in fold on
fold Of softest mist Banners Rugged their slaves
or iuttered feeby az II struggling to oat in an I'M
accustomed medium In the charmed n atmosphere
the dead leaves chung undsturbcd 10 their twiga
or Heated earihward obedient to gravity. Far
urban prospects were lost in the general haze.
not the cold mist Of winter but something infinitely
| soft and rich, with suggestions OF warmth ana
color. There was nowhere hard outline; sharp
| definition or crude coloring, hut the whole town
seemed 10 have undergone n sort OF chromat tic
| atOnemrnt. II ransfOrma ton architectural as well
Every one knew that the EMBEDDING mist was a t
/ most a thing Of hours and morning after morning
| the town saw the miracle of the sun triumph,
| saw the golden red rays burn through the fog
blanket and fall in molten russell bars across Fifth
| an unwonted warmth, to the busy chaos OF its
vehicles peace tina even the roar Of tralIic could
Those dim mornings came upon the northern
| suburbs with d fullneSs Of magic and mystery
Out OF the almost impene,rable folds came fragrant
| odOrS born Of ermentng leaves and distilled
| from new fallen nuts, and wit the odors came the
accustomed suburban sounds but soltened and
| attuned TO the atmosphere. Suburban cocks
| crowed dreamily and far away they do ON moon
| lit Christmas nights when walked by the Ginning
church bells Ont Of The mist came soft signs
and whisperngs of peace, and from time to time
! gently hnttered down silent flights Of brilliant
autumn leaves: not az from earthly trees but
as il from the very bosom of the skies themselves
AS the mist thinned. the dim trees, bare clad
| in slowly thinning splendOrs shone through the
frostkc veil. and soon the solid woodland wall
| was dimly bodied forth. its almost unmaginablc
| gores slowly burning through the veil.
IL was not time for thought, or yet for active
feeling, rather for dreams and memories. Every
| dimple OF the woodland was well of mist. Slug
gsh rivers Of mist flowed through all the folds Of
| the hills AS evening came mists rose in thun-
drouS masses about the setting sun, and closed
| anew in dim soft folds about suburban home
| steads. The waxing moon later filled the mist
| with soft diftused lights and there was a perpe'-
ual drip. drip. drip Of condensed moonshine from,
| all the trees Only this liquid sound broke the
| midnight silence OF the suburbs Suburban
| homes stood spaTsely islanded in limitless a.
| and the whole aspect Of the suburban mig was
strange and charming. Dripping leaves sent forth
| doors more pungent than those OF the morning.
Familiar objects were magniird in the dim diff used
| mist-lght Huge trees cast ther giant limbs
| abroad in fantastic fashion: homely shrubs took
| on weird. unfamiliar shapes
| half revealed beneath the strange transforming
| the gorgeous daylight world, save its damp pun
| gent odorS and its soothing calm. As the mos-
| ture gathered and condensed objects visible
and invisible, the drip and patter Of the tiny gob-
| ules falling earthward through the still air came
| 10 the ear a sleep compelling lullaby. ana sub
| urbans, closing their chamber windows. found
| cosy comfort in the contrast between familiar
| indoor sights, and that strange outside world OF
din phtS and giant shadows