The Washington herald., 1914-07-18
Mount Monadnock.
ny EMoRY J. HAYNEs.

This grand old mountain, in New Hampshire,
has been made common" That is, the State has
bought it and will preserve it for all the people.
This conservation of mere beauty was new idea
when the preservation of the Palisades was begun
Ia few years ago The old idea was that beautiful
scenery mere accident anyway and Of no pecu-
mary value Now the thought is that, as population
is rapidly increasing in density the beauty spots in
the landscape will soon be obliterated by more or
less ultarian occupancy and subsequent generations
be the losers.
Monadnock Mountain has been very largely the
victim of the wood-pulp people already. Its grand
forests have been cut all too much away. The bare,
bald foreland is not by any means refreshing in
its grandeur of giant trees and shadowed wales. Let
hope nature will hasten to these great trees
the delight of former years.
No artificial park can ever be llid out that will
compare with the White Mountains. And these su-
bme hills are right at our doors. A few hours from
the city streets to handsome mountain range as
is found in the world. The grandeur is by means
contemplate if compared with Alps or Rockies,
the variations of light and shade exquisite totally
differing from the unbroken white of the Swiss
mountains and, by the wooded slopes, quite beyond
such exhibitions of light and shadow in the
Rockies.
Fierce forest fires have swept these heights two
of them historic-the fires of 1904 and 1890. There
is nothing unfortunate for low mountains FIRE.
The thin soil is then exposed to the erosive rains
and soon disappears. The rocks are rarely pictur
esque and the general aspect is debased. Every effort
of the conservation is to be directed to foster
ing timber growths and preventing destructive fires
The oompanionship of a mountain like old Mo
nadnecl is most decided and real You say good
morning to the mountain the first thought on being
Il ~,
to greet your chamber window.
1t is an abiding friend. No words can express
the homesick longing which oppresSss the wanderer
who was born amid mountains. This longing for the
sight of the dear hills is in fact the very best de-
scripton of homesiccness. The prairie seems desert
Oh, for the mountanss The city streets seem prison
aises. Oh for a vision of the mountain that stood
opposite my window No passage of time can ever
eface the nsatiate hunger for that horizon line,
rugged high upon the sky, so faithful The idea
OF faithfulness is breathed out all the dwellers
in the valley Hence patriotism has always fourished
best among the inhabitants of mountainous regions.
Old Monadnock has been father confessor to
countless thousands One gets into the habit of talk
ing to it. The lover makes his vow looking up at
the steadfast mountain. When sorrow darkens the
home the sad-eyed dreamer sits at the window and
almost prays to the mountain.
When the westering sun sinks lower, amid blaze
of glory beyond the mountain, almost see
the gates eternal just over and above. The noun
tain is the earthly wall only and heaven is on the
other side.
When everything seems changing, new conditions
and trials, a swimming, swirling world of change,
then l go look steadfastly the changeless hills,
They speak of truth that changes and Of God,
who is always true.
When time seems leaden-footed and so slow, so
long since my away to a far duty and now
the date of his return is so tardy then look to the
l cannot sleep for watching. The sea
is so wide. But l gaze at the mountain my faith
is strengthened. have only to be stouthearted and
to wait. The solid earth will remain. The road up
the valley will still be thek. The boy will come
safely back again.
No one man should own big mountain. 1t be-
longs to all. 1t belonged to fathers. 1t be-
longs to children's children. As soon think Of
one owning the the stars. Every one
may say "My own, my native hills" Every one
should 60 back to his mountain home at times and
stretch out his hands to the crags and peaks excam
ing. 81 am with you once again. hold to you the
hands that ye knew show they still are free"
There is spirit in the air among them, like the
spirit of mother impaired in birth. No castles
of kings, no tour of foreign lands recreate the
child of the hills like day of walking in their purple
shadows.