144 THE MOUNTAINS 



The task merits the genius of John Mil- 

 lington Synge. 



"He loves the open air, the reinless run 



Of wind and star ; he loves the flying clouds ; 

 He goes companioned of the kindly sun, 

 Erect, with head unbowed." 



This stanza from "The Westerner," a 

 noble poem by Edward Wilbur Mason, 

 I quote because it exactly reminds me of 

 the spirit of "Doolittle Farm." You felt 

 there the independent simplicity of a 

 strong life in close and sensitive relations 

 with the primary cosmic forces. In my 

 bias of imagination, it often seemed to me 

 that the horses on the farm and all the 

 cattle even, showed an independent indi- 

 viduality quite unusual with such crea- 

 tures. In any case, they all were so 

 treated as to bring out the best innate 

 qualities. Then, as is the fact with many 

 a Western farm, the general bearing of 

 the place was aggressive. A bit of con- 

 trast here may help to make plain my 

 meaning. A typical New England farm 



