THE ABUSE AND PROTECTION OF ALPINES 133 



for Swiss and for foreigner ; alike for collector, 

 peasant, and tourist, this word holds the key to the 

 greater part of the necessity for the protection 

 of Alpine plants. It is the old, old story : men 

 mouth the word, but miss its finest flavour. Irre- 

 sistibly one is reminded of certain of Juste Olivier 's 

 well-known lines : 



' . . . vraiment, quel sujet de satire ! 

 Alors qu'on voit tout un peuple en delire 

 Qui se dit libre. . . .' 



It is the old, old story : the story that has caused 

 jungle, * park,' and forest to be set aside for the 

 fauna of India, America, and Africa ; that has 

 necessitated a close time for birds ; that has required 

 a protective cordon to be drawn around the Matter- 

 horn ; and that has made it imperative to create 

 ' jardins-refuges ' for the flowers of the Alps the 

 old, old story of licence being supposed to spell 

 liberty. If certain of the public think that liberty 

 is menaced by the Ligue Suisse, it is from a faulty 

 comprehension of the word's best meaning. The 

 Society makes no attack upon liberty. Why, 

 * Liberty's in every blow !' Every blow dealt by 

 the movement is dealt on the side of healthy enjoy- 

 ment and delight ; every blow, therefore, is dealt 



