WALKS, PATHS, ENTRANCES 81 



from it, every creature making the trip will 

 choose, without stopping to think, a certain 

 course — and all will choose practically the same 

 course. Naturally we should expect this to be 

 the most direct, all creatures being constituted 

 similarly in that they are somewhat averse to 

 unnecessary effort; hence a perfectly straight 

 line between the two places. Actually, how- 

 ever, it almost never happens that a path fol- 

 lows a perfectly straight line — for which there 

 must be a reason. 



Of course there is; and equally of course — 

 when one stops to think — it is a reason that has 

 its basis in that natural indolence just noted, 

 common to man and beast. For the straight 

 line is not usually the easiest way; and it is the 

 easiest way that is followed, even though this 

 must deviate from being the shortest for noth- 

 ing more consequential than an ant hill or a rank 

 tuft of grasses. The longer distance is invari- 

 ably less objectionable than the effort to sur- 

 mount even so small an obstacle; feet instinc- 

 tively seek the level. 



This element must be permitted free rein in 

 planning walks, even in formal garden design, 

 if they are to provide really satisfying strolls — 

 and this is of course the ultimate purpose for 

 which such walks should always be designed. 



