12 THE MOUNTAINS 



Just here, however, a fine touch of dis- 

 crimination is necessary. The mass of the 

 mountains does not evince dynamic 

 quality, the mountain-power is not sensi- 

 bly active. We do not expect the moun- 

 tains to move, we simply expect them not 

 to be moved. As a New England farmer 

 said: "Those old fellows stay put." And 

 the mountains stay in place, not as any 

 unmolested bulk might stay in place, but 

 as a great force stays in place when 

 smaller powers are storming against it. 



Of course, as a matter of scientific fact, 

 the mountains are yielding and chang- 

 ing all the time. "Every mountain is be- 

 ing pulled down in the very process of its 

 elevation." But as phenomena appealing 

 to our senses, as cosmic poetry appealing 

 to our imagination, and as spiritual sym- 

 bol appealing to our inner craving for 

 something abiding, the mountains, in 

 some way, create for us the impression of 

 potent immovability. 



In Jefferson Highlands, New Hamp- 



