The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-01
M. PLUMEPATTE, BOTANIST
In Country Stroll He Finds Foot
for Body and Mind.


beautiful, inspiring and .restful is the
country at this time OF the year for the
tired but interested city dwelier!"
The foregoing was uttered by my
friend Alphonse Plumepatte, the famous
chef. as We were walking together
! through a narrow path alongside a Jsr-
sey country road.
Look at that" continued Alphonse,
pointing to a field full OF buttercups,
which. under the blazing sun. appeared
Ike solid mass OF FURNISHED gold
how fine!' A little further down: do
you see that patch of deeper and duller
yollow7 That's the golden raswort, or
sQuaw weed. At the edge of that brook
yonder the yellow flower OF a still diff
ferent hue Ia the meadow gowan, or
marsh marigold
Here In this field the daisies are al
ready In the button stage, with a full
| bloom here and there and. ali, aren't
these red clover flowers also beautiful
Right at our feet and trampled by us
are violet plants. Although little late
In the season. some blossoms are yet to
be seen among the deep green leaves.
Down the hill, in the swampy land.
behold that sea Of blue. contra sting
against the greenish background. made
BY numberless skunk cabbages That's
the blue flag. on fieur de lis"
Once started. the great Plumepatte
could keep at II for hours Everything
growing around him, down TO the tiniest
blade Of grass. he seemed to know by
name.
Doubtless. nature has been very pro-
life as to colors," l said, interruptlng
the chef in the midst OF his inspired
contemplation. but all told, fail to
see anything good to eat hereabout-"
That's Just like you. Lescarboura."
retorted the wizard. visibly hurt by my
remark. '"That part OF the body known
as the stomach is by far OF more conse-
quence to you than your soul. Let US
drop, then. the beautiful etherealism and
come down to ugly materialism again.
You'll better understand II. l am sure.
There" resumed NJ. Plumepatte, lis
a very conspicuous and very common
plant. growing almost everywhere It's
right name is dock. and II is colloquiaily
known as donkey's ears. The leaves.
when the plant is young. may be cooked
as spinach and are not only very good
TO eat but also act as a spring tonic,
being very rich in iron"
So saying. Alphonse tore a few hand
fuls of the leaves from the stalks and
buried them in an immense paper bag.
"Ah ali ! this will make a very good
SOUP" was his next ejaculation as he
uprooted a large bunch of wild sorrel
from the edge OF corn field, and the
sorrel followed the dock into the
receptacle.
Now. get busy, Lescarboura. and cut
couple OF dozens OF these milk weeds
standing in front of you"-as he hit
one with his cane the milk could be
seen flowing from the wounded plant
while 1 fetch some of those fine speci-
mems OF poite weed that perceive grow
ing near that bush. The two things
combined will make an excellent vege-
table dish"
A little further down the road Plume
patte's nostrils seemed to dilate.
mint is around" he exclaimed, and
sure enough not only mint but any
amount OF watercress as we'll was
hourishing in and near a small running
brook twenty yards distant from the
road. Some mushrooms. of the genus
coprinus. known as shaggy name. were
also gathered on an abandoned farm.
II am angry at you, Lescarboura."
remarked the great Alphonse after the
huge bag was filled with the various
ingredients. land Just as a punishment
you'll have to carry the load back to the
city. Furthermore l also condemn you
to eat dinner with me and partake of
all these comparatively obscure vege-
tables which are to compose most of
that dinner. I want you TO understand
and admit once and for all that nature.
even in its widest state. can satisfy
stomach and eyes. also body and SOUL"
DESIRE LEscARBoURA.
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