Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-01

An English review bewails the de-
generation of landscape beauty through
out England and attributes 1t largely
to the great increase Of automobile
travel since the war"
The cause and effect do not seem
exactly associated, for in America we
are wont to note improvement in the
highways and in all that makes up the
beauty of the countryside. and We re-
mark, "See how Americans on wheels
begin to love the beauty of Nature!"
The dillapidated farmhouses have
been freshly painted or replaced with
modern architecture; farmyards be-
tween house and road are gay with
flowers, where once were cabbages or
weeds: the broken fences have been
patched or replaced with we'll trimmed
hedges. Shrubbery adorns the yards. and
is well set. The old mud road Is asphalt
or concrete, often bordered not only
with trees but with systematic paintings
of flowers for many beautiful miles.
shackle lunch stands and barnlike
wayside dance halls of shady repute,
now are neat, attractive eating places,
with clean, appetizing food; State
inspected water supplies. duly marked.
and homelike lodgings offered in
private domiciles and camps, under
careful inspection. with modern equip
ment of water and electricity! These
make all outdoors geritable park, from
Canada to Mexico.
So, If the story about the English
poem. and make 1t read sincerely:
"Oh, to be in America, now that June
to October is here!"
A lover Of outdoor beauty Is Harvey
M. Watts, who wrote in Scrihner's
Magazine as follows:
1T seems to have escaped the critical
eyes Of many observers, who seem to
be ready to accept q very small and
undermining part Of very large
whole, that the great ellipse that runs
from one focus, Portland, Me-, to the
second focus, Washington, D. c., with
its longer axis along the Piedmont
Divide. parallel to the coast, contains
within its varied surface at the present
day the most supreme appeal in the
way Of beauty of rural landscape that
this hurrying globe knows. In
this enchanted ellipse the characteristic
aspects range from the most concen-
trated urban appeal-since despite its
Businesses. in population 1t is over
whelmingly urban with nearly 10000
600 people. representing in their highest
aspects a civilization of such reflnefnents
and elegances as puts the whole world
in tribute to satisfy the needs and
supply the luxuries that flow to it as
If drawn by some overwhelming mag
net-to the suburban. while the tribu-
tary rural districts, varying in
topography and climate, reflect a New
World beauty which is the result Of
natural conditions and Of a settlement
Of culture running back 800 years."
In spite of the long and complicated
syntax, let us infer that Mr.. Watts ad-
mires our beautiful landscapes. Whew!
So do we all.
This recalls the story of the Amer
lean enthusiast on his first visit to Eu-
rope. The wonders OF England and The
Continent drew, in ever increasing eff
feet, upon his vocabulary, until the cli-
max came as he entered st. Peters, in
Rome. He had no more superlatives
adequate, 50 he gazed and exclaimed
"Gosh!"
Driving over the mountains Of Penn
sylvania and Maryland, past the rolling
hills and valleys of Ohio, alongside the
exquisite farm homes everywhere, our
vocabulary was easily reduced 70 plain,
emphatic, thrilling Gosh! What mar
velous beauty"
The road to Gettysburg? Bejeweled
every few rods with rose-adorned trel,
Uses on both sides of the highway!
The National Highway across Penn-
sylvania and all points West, running
for miles as straight as Dlro can my
and as smooth as the floor OF d oance
hall. or rising and falling over rouing
land waves. penetrating superb glorles
of farms and villages and cities!
And ali this region so rich in historic
;rterssti The half has not been told,
nov ,narked with suitable STORED urns
~ minated busts," that some day will
te,l ,he roraances which this glorious
beauty holds locked In its secret ar
chives.
Il is not alone what geology has writ
ten in rock and plain which makes up
the thrill Of the beholder Natures Sc
crets are hidden forever to all but the
researcher, and If only Natures own
story Is told, it is like the short and
simple annals of the poor" to all hear
ers except the ultra Learned, who alone
can understand its vernacular. Only
when we know the story OF humanity
can we feel the touch of Nature which
makes the whole world kin" Call that
Literary value" II you must, or measure
it with human interest"
Americans indeed" says Mr.. Watts,
could well agree with Rupert Brooke,
that the Canadian Rockies. or our own,
possess less interest than the Alps, since