The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-02-01

There were faces unreSdrQeQ, lnere
were faces to forget;
There were fires of grief and fear that
are a few forgotten ashes;
There were sparks Of recognition that
are not forgotten yet
Van Wycks Brooks in his recent
book, "The World of Washington Irv
ing" has much to say concerning
many writers and artists of the early
1SO0's in America, among them the
uaturalists, Alexander Wilson and
John James Audubon. There was good
reason to include these not only be-
cause they were the pioneers in orni-
thology, but because they Implement
ed their studies by actual experience,
and in the case of Audubon adding to
his descriptive words the paint brush,
which gave US the inimitable Birds
Of America" Brooks points out that
such art could not have thrived eX-
cept for the support of the public.
In prcsent-day America the tradi-
tons Of Audubon and Wilson are
still maintained in such artists as Err
nest Thompson Seton, Charles Dudley
Warner (dcceased), Archibald Rut-
ledge, John Burroughs (deceased,
and many Others These writer's are to
be distinguished from the small fry
who make big money catering to the
SwiniSh. crapulous taste of our So
called sport and outdoor magazines.
Unfortunately at present, we do not
have one magazine on outdoor life
of large. national circulation that pub
fishes articles for the sake of their
literary merit Instead the articles
must report a sensational "klll' of
game, or elaborate new technique
of procuring game. As for the wider
perspcctives of nature-the various
observations of the landscape, the
moods of the seasons, the sights and
sounds that form the sctting-these
are passed up as unworthy of attcn-
ton. But to the real outdoor enthu-
siast these features are the very
fc of the sport. The big-gamc hunt
IS heaven is nothing but horde
y animals-no sky, no field nor for
SITS, flowers nor birds-just a noun
cain of flesh.
Another name should be added to
our authentic artists of American
outdoor life. This new name to most
people is an old and very beloved
name among Baltimore sportsmen-
Percy Thayer Blogg. Mr.. Blogg is the
euthor of There Are No Dull Dark
Days" published this past year by H.
G.. Rocbuck and Son, Baltimore, Mary
land.
Every person who has been alert
enough when making an excursion
into the outdoors to observe how the
various sights and sounds poured into
his waking consciousness, thus giving
him an imagery that could be re-
called around the winter hearth, will
be very grateful to Mr.. Blogg upon
reading his book In this book a per-
sonality is always blending himself
with the landscape. 1t is a person
ality with very old soul excluding
images out of ''recollected years
with the rare charm of mcllowed med
itativcncss. He speaks Of his fate as
being imprisoned in the city, but also
that his fortune has been his escape
with dog and gun, a rcd and book
of flies" The city to him is soulless.
Nowadays | don't think it necessary
for most mortals to read Spengler to
find that out 1t is outside the brick
walls and off the cement and steel; at
dawn in August by a stream that the
uprush of soul meets the down beat
of angels wings and in this ecstasy
of the solitary tryst man finds a new
mystical imagery Of life.
Mr. Blogg implies in his title that
each season of the year is marked by
its own brillancy and rythm. The par
ticular RHYTHM of nature that he would
have US ken thru his eyes is flight of
Iirds. All other observations. includ-
ing allusions to fishing and hunting,
are in the book only to serve as dec
orativc motifs for his main theme.
His word-pcturcs, both of game and
song birds, are novel in that they eX-
press in warm literary style a bal
ance between fancy and fact. How
Audohoncsquc is this crcumspection!
"Whcrcvcr placed (thc Baltimore orr
olc) however, it seldom fails to be
under a canopy of leaves. Almost any
thing in the way Of elongated tibers,
strips or threads that can be easily
woven. serve his lordship for nest
building materials. Often have
placed at his disposal colored yarns
and twincs of every description. My
reward has been their incorporation
into nest the brillancy of which de-
fcs Descriptions fantastic treasure
of bird architecture"
Mr. Blogg develops his themes in
slow, gentle rhythms in the minol
laodc, commencing in January wher
I'll is white and black. He proceed,
from the barrenncss of winter to the
abundance of autumn with its bril-