Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-04

not care for trees as thee and 10: ~.
not our kind"
One golden autumn hunt with ! 49,.
and camera took me along New En-
land highway. tree-bordered in par,
hallowed by Revolutionary history. NJ
ripened into dignity and beauty. tz-
fruit-grower and university profes.a-
made up the trio, and I realized nno I.
the privileges OF the unconscious bro,ha.
hood. The busy fruit-grower cheerf,u.
drove the professor and the camera-se,s
along the 40 miles Of river and wooS
farm and town. which made I'D the bi,s
way. 1t was his horses amid his o.,
riages. he took three days out of n.
busy life for us. and used to the full ~
knowledge of this historic roadway.
Also, and incidentally. he and the nro-
fessor drew freely upon apparently a..
haustless reservoirs Of funny stories =
that the camera man was fain to h.
them to cease in mercy to the ian.
made almost too sore by much Iaurb,e.
to properly enjoy the sustaining food J,
the lovely home of the fruit-grors-
There was no sense of obligation amonv
us. We were square with each otber
for the joys of the trip. Why? Becaus.
we were all of one kind, and the bro,b
erhood provides these things among n.
self without question.
That the courtesy was due soieIv n
the brotherhood was made fully eyideut
upon another visit to the fruit-grower
when he dismissed with mere politenes.
wealthy visitor who also grew fr,,;t
but grew it, as my friend explaip,a
only for the money there's in it, ~
mean old sogpop." Sogpop, 1t NAV (.
hardly necessary to explain, is nv friends
expressive designation for those who a..
hopelessly sordid and mean, and M,
''of our kind
In the Pennsylvania mountains
CHANGED upon a timber-cruiser One
summer. 1t was his business to ranes
through the woods to which he was sent
forming in his mind an estimate of hos
much timber the great old hemlocks
would cut and how it might be most
readily gotten out to the little narrog
gauge railway that wound its way up the
mountain. He had that wonderful sens
of location which some woodsmen possess
so that he could go straight through the
unmarked forests for miles to his desti
nation. | think the wise call il orienta-
ton; l wish had half if not double por-
ton of it.
But this timber-cruiser, engaged in an
unsentimental and arduous occupation
had eyes for more than the feet Of lum-
ers on the forest floor the ferns by the
mountain springs. He was wise on
walks of primeval charm. and when he
met one of his brotherhood he could
talk. i wondered that another man We
knew, not so good woodsman. though
twice as noisy. should so little care for
the great and solemn beauty of the
primeval forest; but my friend tand i
was very glad to be able so to term himl
explained that John Just couldn't HELM
it; he amt of our kind" Here again the
password,
A variation came from a sweet souled
artist a man who had fought his way
when he told me. one day of trampinE
pleasure, he with his kit and / with my
that the reason a certain clergy
man we met trod ,underfoot,. unseeinG
scenery the beautiful flowers and ferns
that the mountain made possible was
because he was not the right kind" No.
he was not.
Each year my own mental roster Of
the members of the Unconscious Broth
erhood grows. and / have come to lock
FOR associates everywhere. One day
may be farmer who proves his fellow
ship. and then man in a totally different
walk of life. / find every one of them
an innate Christian, not necessarily with
spoken expression of the fact. So far all
are gentle in speech. clear of eye and the
men free always from faint of alcohol and
mostly from scent of tobacco. (Of course
the women are SO; that goes without say
ing)
Not all so called nature lovers be-
long. by any means; many such fail to
qualify. Children always look with
smile at the true brethren, | find. and
that is another OF the great privileges Of
. Now l have written of my own all too
limited knowledge Of this fraternity.
which it is very good to belong to. |
nave had the deep pleasure of seeing. In
some instance. those qualify as members
who have been aforetime mot of our
Kind" For here is another of the priv
leses; the door is never closed. and the
outsider, even the poor-rich sogpcp. may
nominate and elect himself to full mem
0erSh1p. with all the rights and pleasurrS
= duties. remember--of the fraternity.
he Will only open his eyes and his heart 70
he beautiful world in which the dear God
,f the outdoor has placed him.
To see and love flower and leave 1t to
bloom for another: to keep careless foot
rom the roadside fern. or even thistle; TO y
'nJoy everything that grows. without w
necessary or thoughtless destruction: 70
end hand here and give a smile win
{. to be frank and cheerful. as well ~
uSt, honest and fair-theSe things to DO
md see done as well as in one lies. WORK
1t once admission to the Brotherhood Of
which think heaven must be just
higher degree.-J. Horace Mcfarland In
rhe Outlook