The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-01-15

is ABOUT as nOrrlQ III lCS Renerdl
makeup as any place | know. 1t
has no beauty, and mud is always
present. hasten along with my
eyes shut.
Now | am in Lansdowne, one
of our finest suburban towns.
Here is beauty in all seasons.
Many people of great wealth re-
side here. Their houses and
lawns are superb-wait until
summer comes and then behold
the attractive displays of cultiva-
ted shrubbery and vegetable gar
dens. See this huge Black Wal
nut-a typical specimen, with a
limb outstretch of ninety feet,
giving gracious shades to two
yards. But, hark! what sound
falls upon my ear? OH see, it
is the Downy Woodpecker, a
winter resident. He is drum
ming upon a dead limb of that
noble twin chestnut tree that
stands on the brow of yonder
hill, overlooking the valley. He
is dining on grubs, insects, etc.,
which he knows are there.
Downy is friend to the farm
er and deserves protection. With
my glass | bring him close to me
and note his black, white and red
markings.
| run down the steep hill to
Darby Creek, note its rocky bed,
and the many Alder bushes,
lavishly adorned with dull-red
catkins, along its sides. Two
months hence the display of vel
low blossoms and pollen here will
be immense. Crossing the bridge
| leisurely walked up the hill and
entered the town of Clifton
Heights-a dingy old place indeed
have known it for thirty years,
but have never been able to speak
in its praise. 1t seems to pro-
gress backward. The pavements
are poor and scattered, with
plenty of debris everywhere. 1t
is in strange contrast to its neigh
Dor Lansdowne. The sch ool
houses are antiquated- they need
a baptism of fire. In fact the
entire place should be wiped out
as a town, and either built up
anew, or sown with-wheatl
But here it is | meet my class:
so, after an hour with them. |
hurriedly skip along to the home
of my friend, who welcomes me
heartily and takes me at once to
his "den," where he is prepar-
ing a paper for Golfers on some
phase of Natural History; for
my friend is an all round Natur-
alist, and a good one. What he
does not know of local birds, the
smaller animals, and insects is
hardly worth knowing. He first
invites me to a tramp which | am
obliged to decline. He intro
duces me to his well-groomed 12-
pound jet-black cat. which he
AYERS, is the sweetest disposition
ed feline he ever knew: and, to
prove his assertion, he puts him
through a course of rough hand
ling that would put almost any
living thing out of humor, but
Puss does not seem to be per-
turbed by it. On the contrary,
he manifests a strong desire for
more-to my astonishment. Then
we gossip and gable and even
seriously discuss several inter-
esting nature problems, until the
old clock on the stairs reminds
: us of the flight of an all-too-shor
hour, when | rise to take my
leave; he insists, however, in
showing me the latest additions
to his working library (already
} replete with the generally accept
ed authorities in every branch Of
J Natural Science), and his COL
lections of birds and butterflies,
all of which are beautifully pre-
served and classified. Now we
say the parting word, and | am
soon on the pike again, retracing
my steps to Angora. On this
back trip l see nothing Of NOV
ment excepting a flock Of snow
birds. | reach my home a 3 p.
M, after a day of pleasure and
profit.