OUTINGS
AT ODD TIMES
Often, during a long and dusty walk in midsummer,I have chanced suddenly upon a waysidespring, and stooping drank directly from thebosom of Mother Earth. Filled with the pleasantrecollections of such moments, how tame isall other tipple, even though the crystal is a marvelof art, with “beady bubbles winking at thebrim”!
So, too, I find it with matters of graver import.I would that no one should aid me in gatheringmy stores, but with my own hands I woulddelve at the fountain-head. The spirit of suchan aim is a spur to youth, but becomes a sourceof amusement rather than a more serious matterin our maturer years. I am more than willing nowto take nature at second hand. But is this safe?How far can we trust another’s eyes, ears, andsense of touch and smell? There are criticsscattered as thickly as motes in a sunbeam, veritableknow-alls, who shriek “Beware!” when natureis reported; but, for all this, outdoor booksare very tempting to a host of people, and in thelong run educate rather than misinform. Thatever two naturalists should wholly agree, aftercareful study of an animal, is not probable.There will be the same differences as exist betweentwo translations of the same book. Whata crow, a mouse, or a gorgeous cluster of bloominglotus is to me, these will never be to another;but, because of this, do not persist that yourneighbor is blind, deaf, or stupid. I recently hada horse ask me to let down the bars; to anotherit would have been merely the meaningless factthat the horse neighed.
Having an outdoor book in hand, when andhow should it be read? It is no doubt verytempting to think of a shady nook, or babblingbrook, or both, in connection with the latest outdoorvolume. Possibly, as you start out for aquiet day, you string together a bit of rhyme concerningthe book, as Leigh Hunt did and othershave done since. It is a common practice tocarry a book into the fields, but not a logical one.How can a book, even one of outdoor topics,compete with Nature? Certainly if Nature is tothe reader but a convenient room, a lighter andmore airy one than any at home, does it not signifya serious lack in the mind of that person?From a notice of a recent publication I clip thefollowing: “A capital book to slip into o