b66 



CONSERVATION 



trap is set down, he jumps gaily out 

 and runs home. Such being a mouse- 

 trap, the tastefully looped net looked as 

 much like a rabbit-trap as anything. 

 Susy suggested that the bits of rag 

 might have been dipped in something of 

 which the rabbits liked the odor. 



So we stood for a long time, contem- 

 plating the curious whole, and then we 

 tore ourselves away and went home to 

 ask questions. 



The forester, whom we asked, said 

 that it was all a wood nursery — the rags 

 wave birds away, and the net keeps out 

 the rabbits. His statement was final, 

 so now we simply wonder. It is im- 

 possible to disbelieve or doubt, but one 

 may still wonder. I should like a dic- 

 tionary that would elucidate the um- 

 brella — even a glossary as to why peg 

 or why not peg, would help a little. 



But whatever they put down or tie 

 up in this careful land, still one must 

 give the most unqualified praise to the 

 results. The trees are aflame now, and 

 even the continual rain of gold cannot 

 disturb the calm and beautiful order of 

 the German forest. Every wide and 

 imposing avenue is carpeted with yel- 

 low and brown, and on either side, 

 stretching endlessly, lies the same fair, 

 soft covering. I don't know when the 

 work is done- — we never see or meet a 

 man. The gutters are latticed neatly 

 to keep the leaves from choking the 

 covered ways, the piles of firewood 

 grow steadily greater, the troughs are 

 kept spaded clean, the roads are 

 mended with a skill that puts our coun- 

 tryways of dust and pebbles to eternal 

 shame — and yet one sees no one. They 

 must do it all early, early in the day. 

 Or else it is gnomes. I am so glad that 



I believe in fairies, dryads, and the 

 whole blessed troupe of wooJfolk. It 

 makes me better and happier, more full 

 of reverence for the green Heaven, 

 which is so much nearer than the blue 

 one, and more trusting and hopeful 

 that if we prove worthy the kind little 

 creatures will come our way soon, build 

 us big, wide, liard roads, and open all 

 their treasure-sacks for those two pre- 

 cious factors in society — the poor and 

 the generation to come Germany is so 

 thoughtful for both of these ; the vil- 

 lage is getting in its firewood daily 

 now, and over there, beyond the open 

 pasture, are trees that will grow until 

 1950, while the net over which we 

 looked, laughing, hedged in the trees 

 that will ward away the sun from the 

 weary-footed of 2100. 



And to think that all this beavtty and 

 order is fixed and changeless. That it 

 is not a problem, but an answer. I 

 began with a riddle because, like all 

 seekers for knowledge, I find riddles 

 easier than their reading — but I end 

 with an answer for one of the world's 

 greatest questions — a question which 

 Germany has answered. And answered 

 in such a splendor of perfection, for 

 out of the royal generosity of its good, 

 practical purpose, the German Gov- 

 ernment's forestry not only pays profit 

 as an investment, but feed health, 

 strength, and happiness into all its peo- 

 ple. And not only in its people, but 

 into the stranger within its gates. 

 When I think that in Napoleon's day 

 these trees were being guarded for me 

 to walk beneath this year ! 



(There is a moral which belongs 

 right here, but no one likes morals, so 

 I'll leave it out.) 



