New-York tribune., 1903-07-25
CITY FOLK 4FIELD.
Gimpses Of Country Criticism Its
HunpOr and KindhneSS.


legitimate game 1or city folk but there is another
side the story. and it is only poetic justice that
the tables be turned" The two women were
lingering their supper at Northern New
England inn as one gave her friend, just arrived,
the outcome Of three weeks observation Il find
that the country people criticse US quite much
as we do then-only they are more kindly
They are probably just as good judges Of hu-
man nature as we' commented thu newcomer.
Discrimination and insight are developed quite as
well in the solitude Of farm or workshop as in the
schools and streets. You remember Thoreau says:
We rarely meet man who tell any news
which he has not read II a newspaper or been told
by his neighbor: and. for the most part the only
difference between Us and fellow is that he has
seen the newspaper or been out to tea and
have not "
there is vastly more Of nature that belongs to
the country folk than TO us-the eternal things of
nature its birds and flowers, trees and stars. As
for ways OF living they have perfect right to
their own, even II It does not always agree with
ours Mrs B tells a story Of her Uncle John,
who was visiting them. One day. when they were
dining en- fzrnilie. Mrs. B demonstrated: John,
YOU see We do not eat with our knives. Quick as
q fash Uncle John said Now. Lucy, when you
came to see US we didn't say anything about your
eating with forksr
.It 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 dre1ry houses here and there said TO the
driver. How can anybody live here?' Well he
answered when the Lord made pitch pine woods.
reckon He made pitch pine people 10 live in themr
I'VE are just rusticators' 10 most Of the cOun-
trvside but they show a humorous Indulgence for
foihes. Old M Peterson who lives above
mere. was out moving along the mountain path the
other morning. This is what call ladies
day he said, cause there's so many Of you out.
That always means it's going 10 rain, and I'm cut
ting the grass 50 you won't get your skirts wet TO-
morrow Then he told ne couple Of stories
commentaries on city folk-one Of man who came
5ere for hunting. What kind Of game is there"
the man asked oh. big game: very big, Mr. Pc
:erson answered. How big? asked the man. look
ing kind Of scared toward the woods. Well. I
foxes Is about the biggest" said Mr. Peterson.
And then he said. there was q woman here from
the city, and she carried q cane when she was out
walking. and kept switching il through the grass
ahead a her, saying Shoo shoo,' TO scare off the
snakes Country people have many a good natured
laugh st Us. assure you But we might well bor-
row some Of their virtues. I viii tell you about
out waitress. outside"
When the two left the sumner room for the We
randa the sunset sky beyond the irregular blue
outline OF the mountains was q glorious copper
gold "Ehat nearest peak is Kearsarg-'Carrie
Sarge as M. Peterson calls It" said the older
conner. Here is our flower friend" bent slight
fra1neo woman was coming deprecatfnglv toward
them. holding out for inspection clarrningIy ar
ranged single colored b1nches Of s1eetpeas set in
a small wooden frame.
Who is sheP" asked tre ,s--,o-~,- -. -. -
ans slow steps wandered from group to group on
the veranda.
Some one who lives near here. She comes every
70" DAYS with flowers, and afte! We have admired
them she gives them 10 She has done this sum
ner after sumner. The irukeeper tails mo rF,a
woman takes the greatest care OF her garden so
thst she may have flowers to give away Sbo docs
i purely for the love Of II. I wish YOU had seen
oered her some money the other t5Iog 5sy & woman man
Is y s pleasaTe s 10 e A a9S the sada aoIs eoay Madam it
, Just then me bent hEprs n its quiet shawl and
flowers into the hands Of each Of the two N''~ u
newcorer' softly after The wor51 said the
hardly waiting for thanks but there is a touch Of
elyinity about such simplicity. Tell me about the
Waitress, she added, a few moments later.
,G9sl- 70 begin with; she is a student from the
t[-.%as - was taking over ortve, and told in an
~ siGre We had passed, with a sign over its door
ri Son9than smith Dealer in Everything. It was
Eeeper out from his hayield and Of the long Iist
vaterneIon- But Re was a gentlemaIl-tho1leh thar
1' - tt etttaoentiy escapea Mrs D for she rattled
iSs 2eser12izg ne store and its keener and the
was passing the cake / saw that her hand erooI
&c &C glancing up. noticed that her face was sur,
others left and asked the reason Jonathan smith
man ne,e, sle stl1 Fs-iantly .aId better
sclk as ourselves And The o:b.r 9 giis! EenIs tbs
house are quite on IeveI with he q,5sr5rs =. ba2 te
So So . 5Le possible distinctions Of savor faire
~ @ @et.Ines wonder If their ideals are not lowered
Og eontact with US city people"
- Le Lext Gay. Sunday, the newcomer saw a phase
5-Le = -Le Y THIS far away hill country which STAYED
long @ in he~ memory. After the brilliant sunset had
lAs z stormy oay. and the eighty more board
- were OF necessity shut rs" An evening ser
80, Nss proposed and the tall rector a disrin-
s-1siieo man vas asked TO conduct IL Word spread
t-5-cAly, and far, for AZ the hour appointed not
Sa.g ma fority Of the household, but more than
asndful Of outsiders. assembled
Isn't that waitress % asked the newcomer OF
Aer Trend. after the service
y IS and with single rurpnse the TWO moved
NoHarc father and daughter.
make yOL with father said
- her tace colOr1ng with pleasure.
ne old man rose heavily. but to comma anding
~ ent, and they noble head above the round
m M shou!ners, face cAildike in its simplicity. hero
Glad TO meet you ladies' he said. holding OUT