Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-22
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT as
The Romance of Roads
ny DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
chapain Of tht uuited states ssnats

Between new leaves and
falling leaves the uree for the
elsewhere grips untold mil
lions. II Is the season OF the
year when gypsy blood Is In
the ascendancy. With SUM
mer comes the compelling
cali OF the road. Then Il Is
that a popular song expresses
the creed OF a host which
cannot be numbered. Il was
made 10 wander. I was made
10 roam" Work which once
was exhilarating and chal-
longing has somehow lost It's
lustre as the long months
have dragged on. coercive
schedules loom as tyrants.
When that mood becomes
dominant the road Just be-
yond the swinging front gate
becomes vocal. It's tempting
invitation rings In ones ears.
Cushioned tires wait at the
door TO whirl away 10 forget
fulneSs those who. turning
the key In the front door, are
eager to abandon themselves
70 the lure OF the road.
How the popular periodi-
Gals and travel literature ca
ter 10 this tugeing at the
leash Of the routine and the
expected. Resort advertise
ments are signposts TO every
where. Far places begin 70
weave q tinted tapestry of
anticipation. In a riot OF rich
color they tell Of delectable
spots. where amid still wa
tiers and green pastures. amid
tempted hills or towering
peaks. or where the curling
surf alternately pounds or ca
reSseS white sands. body and
soul may be restored.
With the call Of continent
throned in beauty between
the seas, no wonder Ameri-
cans are inveterate roadsters.
When the glories Of America
are kneedeep in summer the
Wanderlust gets most of us.
One whose boyhood was spent
IN rural England tells how.
with other lads. he would
often trudge several miles
Just to stand at q signboard
and to gaze, with an inward
thrill, at the mysterious fin
gers which pointed to tenn
ing cities. 1t was worth walk
ing the miles from the home
cottage Just to spell out the
words - ITO London - To
York" What vistas were
opened into a fabulous un-
known!
But really such signposts
are lifted up at every place
no matter how remote. High
ways tie the world together.
All roads lead everywhere.
ANY lane goes on to the ends
OF the earth. That road which
passes your door will take
you to the Tai Mahal. The
great highways that wind
like ribbons over the hills
and far away have an imper-
alive authority all their own
Charles Hanson Town.
strikes a universal note wher
he sings
4 like a road that leads aDat
ito prospects fair,
A road that is an ordered road
like a nuns euenino
prayer,
But best OF all I loUe a road
that leads to God knows
UheTe.
Alas, If with a mania fol-
speed, bent just on gettins
there. one misses the TO-
nance of the arteries OF
travel which crisscross oul
vast land. How easy it is Al
sixty miles an hour plus t.
miss the splendor of a roaC
which has been sanctified b.
the bones Of the brave. Tit
pathfnders on all continent
have left a glorious record
There is no story in tn,
worlds literature more he,
roic. The great pioneers hav'
all understood the vital i'm
portance Of roads. One whit
crossed a vast desert. in ,
sumptuous, heated and lighte,
sleeper, wrote: 1T seemed (
gigantic impertinence to b
invading those solemn soil