Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-02-14
THE BEAUTIRS OF NATURE

q II r.
THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE
speak to the earth and IL shall teach tbee.'
We are told in the first chapter Of
Genesis that at the close of the sixth
day "God saw everything that b,
had made, and, behold. it was yer,
good" Not merely good, but YER,
good. Yet how few of MS appre
ciate the beautiful world in which
we livel
There are four Wonders of Ma
ture for which no description eve,
adequately prepares us - the frs
sight of the sea, the first journey is
the desert, the sight of flowiny
molten lava. and a walk on a grea
glacier. We feel in each case tha
the strange thing is pure Nature
as much Nature as familiar Eng
lish moor, yet SO extraordinary tina
we might be in another planet. Bu
it would be easier to enumerate tn,
Wonders of Nature for which de
scription can prepare us than those
which are altogether beyond the
power of language.
Many walk through the world lik,
ghosts, as if we were in it. but MOI
of it. We have "eyes and see not
ears and hear not"
The love of Nature is q great
gift, and il it is frozen or crushed
out the character can hardly fail tc
suffer from the loss. will not in.
deed, say that person who does no,
love Nature is necessarily bad, o,
that one who does is necessarily
good, but it is to most minds q
great help. tSss.5
There are doubtless some to whom
none of the beautiful Wonders OF
Nature, neither the glories of the
rising or setting sun; the msgnifi.
cent spectacle of the boundless
ocean, sometimes so grand in its
peaceful tranquility, at others Sc
majestic in its mighty power; the
forests agitated by the storm OF
alive with the song of birds; nor the
glaciers or mountains. There are
doubtless some whom none of these
magnificent spectacles can move,
whom call the glories of heaven and
earth may pass in daily succession
without touching their hearts or ele-
vating their minds"
For most of us the early summer
has a special charm. The very life
is luxury. The air is full of scent
and sound and sunshine; of the song
of birds and the murmur of insects;
the meadows gleam with golden but.
tercups-it almost seems as if one
could see the grass grow and buds
open; the bees hum for very Joy.
How delightful fine summer day
in the country. To linger in the
midst of the long grass, the beauti.
fal flowers, the luxury of the leaves
and the song of birds. The hours
when the mind is absorbed by beauty
are the only hours when we really
live, SO that the longer we can stay
among these things 30 much the
more is snatched from inevitable
Time. These are the only hours
which are not wasted-these hours
That absorb the soul and fill it with
beauty. This is real life and all
else is illusion or mere endurance
To be beautiful and to be calm, with.
out mental fear, is the ideal of Ma.
ture.
Flowers are, undoubtedly, one Of
the Beauties of Nature. They seem
intended for the solace of ordinary
humanity. Children love them; quiet
tender, contented. ordinary people
love them as they grow; luxurious
and disorderly people rejoice in them
gathered. They are the cottager's
treasure. There are flowers for al.
most all seasons of the year and fol
almostall places. Flowers for spring
summer and autumn, while even in
the very depth of winter here and
there one makes it's appearance
There are flowers of the fields and
woods, Of the seashore and the lakes
margin. and of the mountain side up
to the very edge of the eternal snow.
And yet, lovely as flowers are,
leaves add even more to the Beauty
of Nature. Trees in our Northern
latitude seldom own large flowers.
What flowers they have only last for
a few days. while the leaves last for
months. Every tree is, indeed, a
picture in itself. The gnarled and
rugged oak, the symbol and source of
our navy, type of strength and sacred
to the memory of the Druids. The
chestnut, with it's rich green, glossy
leaves and its delicious fruit. The
birch is the queen of Northern
traaa with har faothor. -f~l,u