Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES 3. TRACEWELL.

/ through the medium Of his eyesigbs, 20
that ne takes on more than segen.
league boots, and goes roaming, not
only through space, but through time.
Just as the imaginative Balzac, when
q lad Of IA years, stood by the garnet
window, looking out over the City OF
Tours. planning even then his life to
be-. 50 many an American boy has
looked deeper into futurity from such
q vantage point than many proud
father has given him credit for. Who
can say what dreams fit, almost un-
recognized, through the mind OF, yonder
SOBER youngster, as he looks out over
| the far-fung city, and sees the WASH
ington Monument standing majeStically
by the silvery Potomac, near the white
temple to Lincoln?
Longfellow said the thoughts Of youth
! ARE long. long thoughts; surely he
meant that. not only in a metaphysical
sense, but IN purely physical one.
Youth stretches out toward the horizon
with all its eyes and ever seeks for
views. It wants to see things, not just
as they are at home, but as they seem
70 be away OIL In the distance. Many a
boy has begun his career from an attic
window, just as many q genius has
starved in one. With the latter it may
be that hunger was more than compen-
stated by the high vistas which he re-
ceived as he gazed over the city. Man
prefers to look down on others and to
behold life at his feet. He wants to
look up and out. but preferably out,
away to the horizon, where the I'M
known hopes and aspirations seem 10
linger. II one cannot even look, the
hopes and aspirations may fade away.
| + \ \
The importance, therefore, Of secur-
ing bit OF scenery with ones home
cannot be stressed too much. Untold
thousands will never be fortunate
enough to carry out their dreams In
this respect, but II they never give them
up they have gained something. When
the chance comes, they will appreciate
the actually. In the meantime they
must carry In their hearts a dream Of
q home with grand view from it,
Such a view need not necessarily be
majestic mountains, or bold cliffs, or
waterfalls. Such objects are not to be
had In or near every city upon demand.
There are plenty of plain views. as one
might call them, which are both beau
tiful and inspiring. After all, there is
nothing 50 soothing as the sight of
some spectacle OF Mature. Such views
have the power both to inspire and TO
oOUtAlS. 4uey enVer lntO the spirit OF
man and keep him close to the eternal.
A high hill Of trees, waving their tops
in the wind, may be the only object of
Nature to be seen from q city home,
but Is enough If the beholder remem-
bers his need for 1t. At the least 1t
may be said to be better than nothing
better than the nothing Of brick wall
or far-stretching perspective of q
street. The endless rolling Of automo-
biles cannot compensate for the peace
Of the hillside. The serenity Of lake
in the mountains, with the trees re-
fiected so that they appear to be grow
ing both up and down, SO clear Is their
image, holds the visitor as II by the
hand. The clasp is gentle and mag
netic. The power of the sea is even
greater. in its changes from calm to
storm and back again. High mountains
and rolling plains exert similar infiu-
ences. If the city dweller can see these
only occasionally, he can keep their
images In his heart, and remember
them as no less precious treasures than
| gold and silver. Thus he may help to
overcome, to some extent at least, the
inimical lack Of vista, panorama, per-
| spect.ve Of city living.