Evening journal., 1919-03-06
THINGS
OF IN TkREST
BY MRS. KINGSLEY.

u
W your town. Do you know ex-
setly why they are interesting? Could
you direct a stranger how 70 reach
them?
Do you know the names Of the trees
that line your streets, or grow in your
parks and gardensl Have you visited
the various places of interest or do you
postpone that visit until some indefinite
future time, when you have visitors TO
show around? Do you pass by daily
with unseeing eyes the things that visi-
tors come miles to see-iust because
hey are familiar sights, and require no
effort on your partl
Last year when visiting strange city
I was very much impressed with the
beauty Of the trees that lined its streets
and parks. Ny admiration naturally in
spired curiosity as to the names Of the
different varieties.
Either was unfortunate in those OF
whom | ventured to inquire, or else the
average citizen and citizens are indiffer-
ent to such matter, for they all pro-
fessed ignorance.
At the time / was very much sur
prised and annoyed at such indifference
70 those beautiful trees, which they saw
every day Of their lives. ] could not
understand it.
Some months later ! was walking
along one of the principal avenues OF
my own city when ! was aoeosted by
stranger. who said: 81 beg your par
don, but was admiring this fine old
tree, which is not familiar to me. Could
you tell me its name. / have seen a
number Of its kind in your city"
Do you think could tell him? Not a
bit Of il. / stood there stupidly trying
70 recall what must have known or
heard at some time in my life, but final
Iy had to confess my ignorance.
The tables were turned on me, for the
incident brought back the experience of
my summer travels. when so severely
criticised the natives of another city for
aot knowing their own trees.
STOPPING down, l picked up leaf
which had blown of the tree, and with
4 fastened TO the public library. There
l secured Guide to our Common
Trees" and before the day was done /
had learned the answer in which ! had
failed 50 dismally earlier in the day.
After that ! couldn't pass tree with
out wondering what it was and looking
L I'D in my tree book ] became so in
crested that ] bought a book. OF my
swn, when ! had to return the library
,ook.
And from that ! went on TO historic
buildings and other places of interest
had nervous fear that some inquir-
M stranger would again ask me some
thing that should know. and didn't so
kept eyes and ears wide open for any
and all information that / could gain
have systematically visited the city
as though ] had never seen 1t before,
and, to tell the truth, hadn't seen
very much Of It secured a guide
book and went with the sightseeing
tour, and / am still marveling at the
depth Of my ignorance and indifference
and the undreamed-of stores of interest
and enjoyment to be had for the asking.
If this is one OF the off-seasons when
you can not take a trip. don't waste
your time bemoaning your misfortune,
but look around your own locality and
see what there is there of beauty or in
tcrest or wonder. No matter where you
live, you viii find enough to keep you in
terested and curious within the limits
of days excursion for your whole
leisure time. Try it and see