The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-12-22
Frnm the . WindoW.

In one Of his essays Stevenson
speaks Of the admirable brevity and
simplicity Of the glimpses Of the cOun-
try and the country ways that fash
upon the traveller from the windows Of
a train; little glimpses that have a
character all their own; sights seen
as a travelling swallow might see them
from the wing or Iris, as she went
abroad over the land on some
Olympian Grand
This he regards as one Of the
chief attractions OF railway travel
His words came back to me as 1
leaned comfortably back among the
cushions, and watched the beautiful
landscape OF the Berkshire unrOu it
self to view. Scene after scene i'm
pressed itself upon my mind, like
flashes Of light, each one coming only
to be replaced Immediately after,
forming an endless procession OF
images and sensations
am storing up pleasure for the
winter, I told myself, as a bee stores
up honey, or a squirrel stores up nuts,
Some bleak and bitter wintTy day,
maybe, when my spirits are low as
the mercury, and my eyes tired Of city
streets and lowering skies, this after
noon will take eat with me, and I'll
raiment far better than I ever could
a fine Iady's rich gown. This leisure
hour Will live again And then as
now, I shall be wholly glad to be
alive, even though the white-rObed
winter, Of the cruel and angry hands,
stalks like a gaunt by my barred and
bolted door
am not sure that it is nature that
I love so much when I am looking
from out the window OF a Pullman
car. Nature and I are en- rapport
only when am close to her, can feel
her breath upon my cheek, can bask
like any animal in the warm radt-
ance Of her summer smile I like to
feel that ecstatic sense Of freedom that
one finds when wandering sOlitarily in
the woods, or all alone, behOlds sun
rise or a sunset from a mountain
height
There is something 50 practical and
prOsaic about riding in a railway train
which is luxuriOusly equipped with
modern comforts, that one feels city
born and tied to civilization, not like
an emancipated spirit that reveals in
its liberty
Therefore, when travelling on the
cars I like best those portions Of the
landscape where people dwell; pre-
Ter the FduEESs anu SAIAA 4------N-~
slopes as offer footing for little farms
and humble homes better than do
the Erander places, rugged and in
hospitabIe I like to see the thrifty
farmyards, the churches, the occas-
fonaI school house. And when espy
AS I did this time-a little girl skip
ping along the high road twirling her
handkerchief lightly, for the very joy
Of the morning, appropriate the pic
ture as a personal blessing OF my own
I believe in taking a journey in the
autumn OF the year Then you get
more for the money which you pay for
your railroad ticket than at any other
season For in spring and summer
outdoor joys pass from plenty 10
plenty. When you enjoy the beauty
Of the autumn il is almost like going
to a feast and carrying away part OF
it for hungry tomorrow For moth
ing starves your appreciatng OF out
door beauty more than does & winter
in a close and smoky city
True, you can get much from books
as you sit by your wood IRE on long
winter evenings-that is II you are
old fashioned enough still to pass long
evenings at home among your books;
but descriptions are dull reading IN
less they strike a responsive cord in
your memory.
The pictures in your mind are bet
ter company than word pictures in
book. or sketches On your wall
Dorothy FennimOre-