Evening star., 1936-03-27

suffers the common fate OF the plentiful.
1.-The first" of anything, however, is al
ways regarded highly by humanity, so
there is no real reason why these first
manifestations Of an endless urge can
not be watched with genuine interest by
any one who makes up his mind to do so.
Hence the entrance of mind into this
problem. as into all others. We may
merely look at the changing landscape,
which we call the garden, and accept
1t, or we may look more closely, with
keen interest in the little things, and
come to a better understanding of the
beauty and vitality of the process.
BY such steps, invisible to others, we
satisfy our own self of the fitness of
things, and at the same time manifest
to some unknown watcher in the skies
the greatest point of divergence from the
beast. For the animals, as wonderful
and beautiful as they are, walk over
these changes without knowing q thing
about them. To them they are as II they
were not. II we, as humans, are to even
try to be different, this is the point where
we begin.
Contemplation Of the fungus growing
at the base Of this tree may lead to no
new discoveries on our part, but it does
a great deal for us by keeping our indi-
vidual head just a little higher than the
rabbits, and so not too low beneath the
angels.
Poke and pry as we will among the
plants, no discoveries will be made that
have not been made thousands of times,
but it is well for US to make them, Just
the same.
A clever man could seize upon book,
and write out Of that book what he dis
covers therein, and he might do a very
good job of 1t, and few know the differ
ence.
But the book written out Of Nature, on
individual observation, Is bound to be q
more honest book and have in it some
things which the other could not. The
first hand is the first hand, and will
show itself, even If by its very mistakes.
1t Is what such first-hand observation
does for ones self that is the important
thing.
Few home gardeners will be able to see
what has never been seen before.
The important thing is to see what
others have seen!
II we stop to consider the matter, 1t Is
amazing how little of what is really
going on in the world average men and
women really see.
They are so immersed in the business
of making living that they commonly
fail to note the thousand and one things
outside their chosen lines. The fact
that those lines may have been chosen
by others for them. or by chance or cir
cumstances. should not prevent them
from keeping their eyes open to other
matters. This is not scientific. but
largely human. AS a wise man said, we
walk this way but once. The sad part
of it is that all too many persons miss
the chances they have; instead of ac-
tually looking at something they say,
"Oh. bunk" and 60 their way. Many
persons will not even attempt to pro-
nounce scientific names, not because
they cannot but mostly because they
will not look at word long enough to
see how it goes 1t is so with flowers and
buds and leaves and lawns and shrubs
and trees and insects and animals, and
the thousands Of natural things ami
mate and inanimate, which surround us
all in such profusion. The interest which
comes from looking at them is best be-
gun by adopting the old railroad slogan.
stop, look. listen" If We stop. look and
listen, at this time of year, We see much.