New Walks in Old Ways 



and in point of fecundity holds all 

 manner of records. Every state and 

 county and township has a Canada 

 Thistle Law, making it a misdemeanor 

 for any property owner to permit it to 

 run to seed. There are thousands of 

 these seeds ripening within five 

 minutes' walk of where I write, but I 

 am no commissioner for the execution 

 of this law repealing a natural law; 

 moreover, I do not own the soil where 

 they are laughing as their seed-heads 

 swell and grow fat these autumn days. 

 Any man who discovers a human use 

 for the real Canadian thistle-down will 

 have earned a generous reward. It is 

 a fibre so super-refined, so amazingly 

 sensitive to the faintest breath of air, 

 that I would say that in comparison 

 with this prickly pest that far-famed 

 spinner the silk-worm, whose handi- 

 work we value so highly, is a mere 

 novice in the business. 



I am no botanist. I claim no expert 

 knowledge of these things. I make no 

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