NEWS OF SPRING 



him, instead of the heavy shadows for which his nature longs, 

 paltry clumps of verdure, flowers in rows and worn-out grass 

 that reminds him but too closely of the threadbare carpet of 

 the bedroom whence he has just escaped in vain. A surface 

 of a quarter of an acre thus arranged is nothing more than a 

 wretched, dusty hearth-rug. Plant it with beautiful trees, 

 not parsimoniously spaced, as though each of them were a bit 

 of bric-a-brac on a tray of grass, but close together, like the 

 ranks of a friendly army in order of battle. They will then 

 act as they were wont to act in the native forest. Trees never 

 feel themselves really trees nor perform their duty until they 

 are there in numbers. Then, at once, everything is trans- 

 formed: sky and light recover their first deep meaning, dew 

 and shade return, peace and silence once more find a sanct- 

 uary. 



8 



One could vary the appearance of these refuges in- 

 finitely, according to the needs or counsels of the spot 

 and the surroundings. Here, among these low houses, 

 we would have a square of lime-trees, matronly, round 

 and plump, placid, full-blown, imperturbably green and all 



[ 12] 



