The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-18
CITY FOLK AFIELD.
The Humor and Kindness of Country
Criticism.

Criticism.
Country people are commonly sup-
posed to be legitimate game for city
folk, but there is another side to the
story, and it is only poetic Justice that
the tables can be turned The two wo-
men were lingering over their supper at
northern New England inn, as one
gave her friend, Just arrived the out
come of three weeks observation. Il
find that the country people criticise us
quite as much as we do them-only they
are more kindly
They are probably just as good
4 judges of human nature as We" COM
mented the newcomer. DISCRIMINATE ton
and insight are developed quite as well
/ in the solitude of farm or workshop as
! in the schools and streets. You remem-
/ Der Thoreau says: We rarely meet a
man who can tell us any news which
he has not read in a newspaper or been
told by his neighbor; and, for the most
part the only difference between US and
our fellow is that he has seen the news
paper or been out to tea and we have
not -
There is vastly more of nature that
belongs to the country folk than to US
the eternal things of nature, it's birds
and flowers, trees and stars. AS for
ways of living, they have a perfect right
to their own, even if it does not al
ways agree with ours. Mrs. B tells
a story of her Uncle John, who was Wis
iting them. One day, when they were
dining en- familie, Mrs. B remonstra-
ted: John. you see we do not eat with
our knives Quick as a flash Uncle
John said, Now, Lucy, when you came
to see us we didn't say anything about
your eating with forks.
1T is hard getting ahead of the New
Englander,' replied the other. "On the
stage this afternoon, coming through
dismal stretch of stunted woods, with
its dreary houses here and there, 1 said
to the driver. How can anybody live
here?' Well he answered, when the
Lord made pitch pine woods, l reckon
He made pitch pine people to live in
them
I'VE are just 'rustica tors to most of
the countryside, but they show a hu-
morous indulgence for our foibles- Old
Mr.. Peterson, who lives above here,
was out moving along the mountain
path the other morning. This is what
we call a ladies day, he saiu, cause
there's so many of you out. That al
ways means it's going to rain, and I'm
cutting the grass SO you won't get your
skirts wet tomorrow. Then he told me
couple of ories-commentaries or
city folk-one of man who came here
for hunting. What kind of game is
there? the man asked. oh, big game.
very big Mr.. Peterson answered. How
big? asked the man, looking. kind of
scared toward the woods. Well 1 guess
foxes is about the biggest said Mr..
Peterson. And then,' he said, there
was woman here from the city, and
she carried a cane when she was out
walking and kept switching it through
the grass ahead of her. saying Shoe,
SHOOT" to scare off the snakes Coun-
try people have many a good natured
laugh at us, 1 assure you. But we
might we'll borrow some of their viz
tues. 1 will tell you about our waitress,
outside"
When the two left the upper room
for the veranda the sunset sky beyond
the irregular blue outline of the noun
tains was a glorious copper gold. THAT
Sarge as Mr.. Peterson calls it,, said
the older conner. Here is our flower
friend" A bent slight-framed woman
was coming deprecatingly toward them.
holding out for inspection charmingiy
arranged single coiored punches of
sweet peas. set in a small wooden
frame
Who is she?" asked the new conner
as the woman's slow steps wandered
from group to group on the veranda.
Some one who lives near here. She
comes every few days with flowers, and
after we have admired them she gives
them to US. She has done this sum-
mer after summer The innkeeper tells
me the woman takes the greatest care
of her garden, so that she may have
flowers to give away. She does it pure
~ for the love of it. l wish you had
seen her fine scorn when a Dompous-
the other day. Our little lady drew
herself up and said, proudly, Madam,
it is my pleasure to give the flowers"
Just then the bent figure, in its quiet
shawl and bonnet, approached and shy
ly pressed a bunch of flowers into the
hands of each of the two.-New York
Tribune.