Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-05-04
lures that will keep Summer for her into

The midst OF " lnlof.
Not less interesting than the flowers
are the ferns. They are not the easies
in the world to learn to know, although
at first they may seem a tritie compares
with the flowers. But they have so
many minute variations that it is
puzzling to distinguish between differ
ent kinds. 1t is keen pleasure, how
ever, when one has learned even a few
of them by name and is in position t.
display ones superior knowledge to the
ignorant.
But, some one may say, one cannot put
in all ones time studying some ONT
thing. 1t makes a vacation too much
ike work.
1t certainly would, if one did it. But
the thing to do is to make the fad an
incentive to other things. If one has
heard, for instance, that there are pitch
er plants at such and such spot three
OF four miles distant, what an object for
a mornings ride! The woman who puts
wheeling in it's proper place in her es-
TEEN and who takes her bicycle as much
as a matter Of course as she does hel
walking skirt, will not need to be told
what a pleasure it is to find some excuse
for an excursion. She is always ready
for something of the sort and has the
delight of knowing that she is having d
4 w do in VII
1t may be said, by the way, that the
woman who is accustomed to riding q
wheel is the woman who is quick tt
perceive the new plant, the new bird
1t was very well known educator who
said, in speaking of the bicycle, that it
not only furnishes exercise for the
muscles but occupies the mind, trains
the eye and gives frequent occasions,
for quick decisions. All of these are
needed if woman is to get the best out
of the fad she has taken up. Moreover
she does not want a fad that is going to
keep her in one place, bending all hel
attention upon some near-at-h hand object,
If that is the effect, she might, ful many
reasons, get as much good from tht
cy work on the hotel veranda. She ha
enough of toll in one place when sh,
is in her own home. When sic
goes away she must widen her horizon
and change her environment in every
way she possibly can.
AS one keeps up tile fad habit it is
likely to broaden. A woman may begin
by watching for certain wild flowers OF
terms, but she does not stop there. She goes
on to something else. 1t may be birds,
for as some one has said: Such things
can develop suddenly, unexpectedly, III
persons that have lived along very com
fortably half a lifetime and not felt the
need of bird in their existence"
Or it may be mushrooms. This is
find books on birds and flora at popular
prices, those that deal extensively with
mushrooms are prOfusely illustrated and
come high. But it does not require a
very extensive education in these mat
tiers to distinguish between the edible
and the poisonous mushrooms and then
there is a material object in ones pursuit
of knowledge. In nearly every section OF
the country one may find wholesome
mushrooms and they are SO easily
cooked and $50 good to the taste that
those who like them are eager to en-
courage the fad of their study.
Only one warning may be uttered
concerning the fad,-and this is for the
sake of others rather than of the fadist
herself. Don't make it bore! bore
by the way, has been defined as person
who talks SO much about himself that
he gives you no chance to talk about
yourself. This may be applied to the
faddist,-WhO would do well to take for
his principle the motto Live and let
live" Talk about your fad, if you must,
but let others talk about theirs, too.
When you are on your wheel with all
your senses alert for the golden robin or
the scarlet tanager you have been told
yen might catch a glimpse of in this
especial spot, do not.be 80 earnest in your
quest that you have no patience with
the company of the woman who is on
the search for this or that rare plant or
fern. If you wish to 60 on your still
bird-hunt with no other company than
that OF your opera glass and your silent
steed, do so. But if you go in company,
grant to your associate the courtesy
Of the road.