Evening journal., 1903-10-03
TIE NUTS ARE FALLING.

II is a favorite saying that not one
OF US is many generations removed
from the farm. and this may account
for the finer instincts which In spite
OF tho hustle. the sordidnoss and sell
fishness Of the cities, yet fourishes,
breaking forth like a CLEAN of sun
shine IN unsuspected moments and
unpromislng places. But we might go
step further and say. that we are
not many generations from the woods.
and thus we should account for inn
pulses which lnger IN the breast Of
the busiest stock broker or tho haut-
lest devotee OF society.
When men from the country come to
the city and by thrift and industry
gather IA fortune or even a competency
they select a spot on some crowded
thoroughfare and build a house with
pressed brick front. or q brownstone
or marble monstrosity. But the olty-
bred man who knows the country only
through an occasional boyhood visit
becomes your suburbanlte. and II his
means permit he win have his coun-
try place ana his summer camp. hut
tho cry Of back to nature" which ii
SO variously applied. appeals to al
classes after one generation OF oIts
life.
The man or woman who has no re-
membranes OF days spent IN roaming
as fancy dictated over the fields. along
the brooks hunting wild grapes OF
gathering nuts, has a void In life that
nothing can fill. Most OF us have such
memories, and there are few 80
treasured as are the days Of golden
autumn when we sat out across the
fields and into the woods In quest OF
chestnuts. We remember the warm,
still air. the falling Of leaf could be
distinctly heard. The sun was warm,
but had lost its intense glare. There
is tinge Of purple IN places. and the
chestnut trees are beginning 10 show
touch OF yellow. while beneath ia a
carpet OF brown leaves.
A tree is found. and slancing upward
we see the brown burrs that have beer
opened by the fingers of the frost. A
rush TO gather tho nuts that have
dropped-nnd disappointment. Their
someone suggests that the tree b,
beaten. You cut long sapllng, trim
OF the branches. and after securing
promise from your companions tha
they viii "divy up" you squirm up tn,
tree. trailing the pole after you. Ther
comes strenuous work. Holding OF
to the swaying limbs with your toei
while you belabor the branches. and
hear the nuts rafting down, and from
below come eager and excited exclama.
tions showing that the harvest Is beinl
reaped.
So all day you saunter through IN,
woods. Overhead the crows ar,
sailing lelsurely along. and an occa.
sionsl cav" carries far across tn,
woods. Perhaps you hear rustic and
a sudden scurrying. and then you ar,
aware that you have disturbed an in,
dustrious squirrel. your co-iaborer, VIII,
Is busy laying up ri- ~fnter provender
The shadows len ana the frs
chill OF evening comes upon you or,
you are aware. So homeward you 20
there to empty your hulging pockets
Of their treasures. and to experienc,
something OF tho feeling OF the minoi
who has gathered sack fun OF mug,
gets. Then how heartily you ate. an,
how honestly you slept Is II an,
wonder that you remember itY
SO you, ye inhabitants Of cities, y,
dweilers IN the busy haunts OF trade
be sure that you deny no memory O.
such happy days to your children
Gather them all together some day and
go with them to tho woods Climb IN,
. trees again and laugh at the stiffness
, in your joints. No matter whether 20,
gather chestnuts or acorna. your triE
q VIII not have heon In vain In tho oit
days the girls went along. too. and q
there was no boy willing to shiny VI
the treo-well. there was another per,
son. They wero good. wholesome girls
too. and today they are earning tn,
rents IN small garments that have beer
damaged from sliding down the trees