The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-07-22
1t Was a Thing
of Beauty i.
fCopyright.)
n by JANE OSBORN s


y pipes that dreary December day
that there was no satisfaction to be
found in smoking another. And7for a
day or so there wasn't much work to
be done just watchful waiting for
himself and his companion, Barry
Brown.
Jim Dawson and Barry Brown, two
promising young men who had special
lied in ceramics in college, had been
sent out here to this forlorn, almost
deserted settlement in the woods, to
reopen the deserted clay works in
that region The few Iaborers WHOM
they needed to start with drove their
ancient flivvers over the soft sandy
paths to the works every day, rather
than risk the ennui of living there. 1t
had seemed best that Messrs. Dawson
and Brown and a man to cook for
them should remain there night and
day.
Wherefore and why the smile?"
asked Jim Dawson Barry Brown
sat there, pipe in hand, gazing at the
discolored wall on the opposite side
of the room with suggestion of
smile on his face,
81 contemplate the beauty of the
wild cherry" replied Barry. MY phys
ical eyes may be looking at that man
gy space of discolored. peeling plaster,
but my inward eye is feasting on a
vision of -massed blossoms against a
blue spring sky"
Jim snorted his disgust.
"You could also contemplate the
beauty of wild cherry" went on Barry.
"At least that's what a young Jap
knew used to tell me. He was a stu
dent in college getting along on next
to nothing and, honestly. his theory
seemed to work.
well, never did have much imag-
nation" said Jim. shifting uneasily In
his kitchen chair.
But it isn't Imagination. persisted
Barry. "At least my Jap friend said
it wasn't. He said it was just close
observation and good memory
faculties that any one can cultivate.
Whenever you see some joyous object
which to our Jap would have been
wild cherry tree-you observe it in
tently. Later when you need some
thing to cheer you up you just have
to draw back the curtain
Jaw, bunk" said Jim. 1.-THE whole
idea is all wrong"
Two days later Barry sat lingering
over the bare wooden table where he
had just dined with Jim, and regard
ed the discolored walls opposite with
look Of dire gloom Then he looked
I at Jim and he whistled, for Jim-for
the first time in many weeks-wore
blithesome smile.
IT contemplate the beauty of wild
cherry blossoms" parroted jim.
Apparently Jim's happy mood was
not mere transitory affair. He
smiled at times for a full week At
length Barry could stand it no longer.
"See here, Jim he said when
told you about that crazy Jap and his
theory of happiness you were right
in what you said. It's no sort of mo-
ton for white man. And great
Scott" he went on with considerable
animation, "you seem to be bitten by
it. Well, you've got good imagina-
| ton"
mot at ALL" cried Jim, jumping TO
his feet and waving his pipe at Barry.
'Tmagination wouldn't satisfy me at
all. It's just close observation and
good memory That's what you said
yourself I acted on your advice.
observed my cherry blossoms and
then as 1 sit here of dull evening I
exercise my memory"
Cherry blossoms are crazy"
Barry scoffed. "Where have you seen
cherry blossoms around here?"
"Figuratively speaking, Barry-7your
Jap friend would have told you that
any beautiful object would answer
the exquisite beauty Of the seaguH's
fight, the magic of wild cherry in
bloom, or perchance even a country
schoolma'am hurrying through the
woods on dreary December after
noon. All schoolma' ans are not UNI
calmly. This one was charming as
charming as cherry blossoms to
make a long story short, profited by
your instruction and that of your Jap
friend-and observed. To observe
more fully I followed her. Not I'M
Outstanding my purely philosophical
interest the little school dame was
frightened and ran and l had to run
after her in order to catch up with
her and apologize. She accepted my
apology and I escorted her home.
Later-when / had my afternoon off
and you thought I'd driven into the
city, called again. Then l explained
the cherry blossom theory-or rather
your cherry blossom theory, Barry"
"She must have thought you were
in love with her" said Barry
NATURALLY wanted her to think |
was in love with her" announced Jim,
"and to prove my sanity told her
that the cherry blossom theory was
not my own. That it was you who
suggested it-and said I'd. bring you
around to call this evening. We are
practically engaged"
LET me out" began Barry, but Jim