Evening journal., 1899-08-28
JUST AN OLD WALL.

Ih u JUST a NNIIIlUUIN AAllAN| |HANANNn ANHr
glomeration, piled here by man for his con.
yenience, 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
ntl more ancient architects--from the hut !
circles and aliguments, the sepulchral memo
rails and hypaethral chambers Of 5he Dam
nonii-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 table-land
Of Devon; and there sunrises unnumbered,
rains and SHOWS without count, and moor
land winds from the west, blowing solemnly
through generations of mankind, have be.
decked and adorned the old-time stones and
the earthworl on the top Of them, have
painted the granite with grey and silver,
ebony and gold, have draped the crooked el-
bows and knees Of the blackthorns above
with lace Of lichens, have knitted and
woven and finely wrought INTO the mural
fabric changing tapestry Of many and
glorious coiors. The wall, indeed, is an altar
at which nature, az high priesiess, 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
seft rains and sunshines Of high summer
hours; here she gathers in due season the
first fruits Of che 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 cryptieal and magic Sc
orots Of winter growth. Anon the twisted
L.. trN. Itfn ufr4f4 and aQ4aHa
white petals flying with the chance snow.
fake Of March; anon tie arums spread
their riotous' green, the lesser cclandincs
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's sequestered spot
would be TO write you a little history Of the
birds and blossoms of a wide district. Sut-
fee it, therefore, that paint it to-day bask.
ing under May sun; its blacEthorn-trees and
hazels breaking into greeni 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 sky-blue. Take FIRST the round glossy
foliage Of the pennyworts above, which
soon will rise little apple-green towers hold.
ieg many bells; and next, scarcely less com.
mon and a prime factor in the mosaic Of
grey stones, there winds and twines, clas-
tors and falls luxuriantly the Linafia-or
/ iSyleaved toadAax. Its tiny parple blos'
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 ueir dark under side and toe Little gal
axies Of tMinkling flowers, flourish above
maRs work and win abundant life where
Esas might be promised. Now they are
met and welcomed; but presently, when the
eampisns. red and white, the tall steeples ci
the foxgiove and the mauve and turquoise
splendors Of the knautia and scabious bright
sn the scene. the grasses and ferns are in
sAeir glor1, and herb-Fobert's delicate leaves
grow crimson, we shall forget the ivy -leaved
teadhax untl-he reappears next spring.
Concerning this plant, by the way, there .
an interesting anecdote recorded BY Prof
Sehultss, 10 whom it vaS related BY the lat
DR.. WilliAms, an amiable and most learned
: professor Of botany at Oxford in time lon
!. past. When Linnaens visited England Il
, 1876 he presented himself before Dilleniu
and Sherard at the university just meu
y 6oRed. Though still a young man his ~.
teE was already challenging very consid
cradle attention and he had made som
noise in the world Of science. Now, thougl
! Sherrard received the youthful sovant will
considerable hcartincss of manner, Dilcniu
remained more than cool, and even forgo
good manners by rcmarking TO his friend in
voice sufficiently loud 20 be heard by thei
visitor: $50 this IS the youngster who !
putting an botanisis and botany in con
fusi0nw Happily, Linnaeus did not com
/ prehcnd the exact nature Of this comment
but he was lightningquick to arrive at
conclusion, and the expression on the oldo
mans face, together with the word ICON
iuschjen" $50 pronounced BY the Germa
, Dillenius), enabled him TO arrive at a jus
estimate Of the remark, in that the Lati
confusio was familiar 70 him. He took ~
notice. however, but accompanied bot
] professors to the Botanical garden Of Os
ford, and was there invited 10 discuss
, plant growing upon an Old wall, no les
than our familiar Lynaria CymbalariI
Much doubt then obtained concerning IL
but the young genius from Sweden had n
difficulty in removing those difficulties tina
existed and illuminated dubious points wit
j case and modesty. khenrd reniarke
I aside that; 50 far, he perceived but littl
''coufusien" IN 1innaeus, and the interest Z
buth experts increased to admiration az
passed among the wonders OF the gardon
Finally, he conquered the skeptio who il
vited him to dinner, and wheH. on leavin
e Oxford, the young man bid farewell and II
} marked that he should have been sorry il
I deed to bring Confusion" into the perfe'
i, repose and system Of the Oxford gardei
Dillenius blushed, ike the good old scientii
he was, and made frank apology for his hast
word.
y Upon the wall under the moor grew blu
$ bells and trailing bryonies, while, hid in Il
!, green, wild strawberries are blossoming an
G preparing a ruby-red dessert for the birds
g.. fruit filter for little mouths OF beaks tina
. the purple harvest of the twisted thor
bushes. Along the grass beneathe lie d
umbols Of wild parnips and other such hl
s flowers, and above a few primroses sii
Q shine, though their glory has passed; b
S the doeviolets are at theiDbrightest, albe
IS a man regards them but little before the s.
perior distinction Of scent and color whe
the blue-bells nod.
Concerning the life of fur and feather
there is scarce space to'speak, even had
e knowledge. The field-mouse rustles along
4 little mouse-runs, aud peeps with beaS
eyes and rounded nose fromaInder she