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the hand； would not the harvest be a harvest of poplars？ A
veritable passion for poplars is a most intelligible passion。 The
eyes do gather them； far and near； on a whole day's journey。 Not
one is unperceived； even though great timber should be passed； and
hill…sides dense and deep with trees。 The fancy makes a poplar day
of it。 Immediately the country looks alive with signals； for the
poplars everywhere reply to the glance。 The woods may be all
various； but the poplars are separate。
All their many kinds （and aspens； their kin； must be counted with
them） shake themselves perpetually free of the motionless forest。
It is easy to gather them。 Glances sent into the far distance pay
them a flash of recognition of their gentle flashes； and as you
journey you are suddenly aware of them close by。 Light and the
breezes are as quick as the eyes of a poplar…lover to find the
willing tree that dances to be seen。
No lurking for them； no reluctance。 One could never make for
oneself an oak day so well。 The oaks would wait to be found； and
many would be missed from the gathering。 But the poplars are alert
enough for a traveller by express； they have an alarum aloft； and do
not sleep。 From within some little grove of other trees a single
poplar makes a slight sign； or a long row of poplars suddenly sweep
the wind。 They are salient everywhere； and full of replies。 They
are as fresh as streams。
It is difficult to realize a drought where there are many poplars。
And yet their green is not rich； the coolest have a colour much
mingled with a cloud…grey。 It does but need fresh and simple eyes
to recognize their unfaded life。 When the other trees grow dark and
keep still； the poplar and the aspen do not darkenor hardlyand
the deepest summer will not find a day in which they do not keep
awake。 No waters are so vigilant； even where a lake is bare to the
wind。
When Keats said of his Dian that she fastened up her hair 〃with
fingers cool as aspen leaves；〃 he knew the coolest thing in the
world。 It is a coolness of colour； as well as of a leaf which the
breeze takes on both sidesthe greenish and the greyish。 The
poplar green has no glows； no gold； it is an austere colour； as
little rich as the colour of willows； and less silvery than theirs。
The sun can hardly gild it； but he can shine between。 Poplars and
aspens let the sun through with the wind。 You may have the sky
sprinkled through them in high midsummer； when all the woods are
close。
Sending your fancy poplar…gathering； then； you ensnare wild trees；
beating with life。 No fisher's net ever took such glancing fishes；
nor did the net of a constellation's shape ever enclose more
vibrating Pleiades。
WELLS
The world at present is inclined to make sorry mysteries or
unattractive secrets of the methods and supplies of the fresh and
perennial means of life。 A very dull secret is made of water； for
example； and the plumber sets his seal upon the floods whereby we
live。 They are covered； they are carried； they are hushed； from the
spring to the tap； and when their voices are released at last in the
London scullery； why； it can hardly be said that the song is
eloquent of the natural source of waters； whether earthly or
heavenly。 There is not one of the circumstances of this capture of
streamsthe company； the water…rate； and the restthat is not a
sign of the ill…luck of modern devices in regard to style。 For
style implies a candour and simplicity of means； an action； a
gesture； as it were； in the doing of small things； it is the
ignorance of secret ways； whereas the finish of modern life and its
neatness seem to be secured by a system of little shufflings and
surprises。
Dress； among other things； is furnished throughout with such
fittings； they form its very construction。 Style does not exist in
modern arrayings； for all their prettiness and precision； and for
all the successeswhich are not to be deniedof their outer part；
the happy little swagger that simulates style is but another sign of
its absence； being prepared by mere dodges and dexterities beneath；
and the triumph and success of the present art of raiment〃fit〃
itselfis but the result of a masked and lurking labour and device。
The masters of fine manners； moreover； seem to be always aware of
the beauty that comes of pausing slightly upon the smaller and
slighter actions； such as meaner men are apt to hurry out of the
way。 In a word； the workman； with his finish and accomplishment； is
the dexterous provider of contemporary things； and the ready； well…
appointed； and decorated life of all towns is now altogether in his
hands； whereas the artist craftsman of other times made a
manifestation of his means。 The first hides the streams； under
stress and pressure； in paltry pipes which we all must make haste to
call upon the earth to cover； and the second lifted up the arches of
the aqueduct。
The search of easy ways to live is not always or everywhere the way
to ugliness； but in some countries； at some dates； it is the sure
way。 In all countries； and at all dates； extreme finish compassed
by hidden means must needs； from the beginning； prepare the
abolition of dignity。 This is easy to understand； but it is less
easy to explain the ill…fortune that presses upon the expert
workman； in search of easy ways to live； all the ill…favoured
materials； makes them cheap for him； makes them serviceable and
effectual； urges him to use them； seal them； and inter them； turning
the trim and dull completeness out to the view of the daily world。
It is an added mischance。 Nor； on the other hand； is it easy to
explain the beautiful good luck attending the simpler devices which
are； after all； only less expert ways of labour。 In those happy
conditions； neither from the material； suggesting to the workman；
nor from the workman looking askance at his unhandsome material；
comes a first proposal to pour in cement and make fast the
underworld； out of sight。 But fate spares not that suggestion to
the able and the unlucky at their task of making neat work of the
means； the distribution； the traffick of life。
The springs； then； the profound wells； the streams； are of all the
means of our lives those which we should wish to see open to the
sun； with their waters on their progress and their way to us； but；
no； they are lapped in lead。
King Pandion and his friends lie not under heavier seals。
Yet we have been delighted； elsewhere； by open floods。 The hiding…
place that nature and the simpler crafts allot to the waters of
wells are； at their deepest； in communication with the open sky。 No
other mine is so visited； for the noonday sun himself is visible
there； and it is fine to think of the waters of this planet； shallow
and profound； all charged with shining suns； a multitude of waters
multiplying suns； and carrying that remote fire； as it were； within
their unalterable freshness。 Not a pool without this visitant； or
without passages of stars。 As for the wells of the Equator； you may
think of them in their last recesses as the daily bathing…places of
light； a luminous fancy is able so to scatter fitful figures of the
sun； and to plunge them in thousands within those deeps。
Round images lie in the dark waters； but in the bright waters the
sun is shattered out of its circle； scattered into waves； broken
across stones； and rippled over sand； and in the shallow rivers that
fall through chestnut woods the image is mingled with the mobile
figures of leaves。 To all these waters the agile air has perpetual
access。 Not so can great towns be watered； it will be said with
reason； and this is precisely the ill…luck of great towns。
Nevertheless； there are towns； not； in a sense； so great； that have
the grace of visible wells； such as Venice； where every campo has
its circle of carved stone； its clashing of dark copper on the
pavement； its soft kiss of the copper vessel with the surface of the
water below； and the cheerful work of the cable。
Or the Romans knew how to cause the parted floods to measure their
plain with the strong； steady； and level flight of arches from the
watersheds in the hills to the and city； and having the waters
captive； they knew how to compel them to take part； by fountains； in
this Roman triumph。 They had the wit to boast thus of their
brilliant prisoner。
None more splendid came bound to Rome； or graced captivity with a
more invincible liberty of the heart。 And the captivity and the
leap of the heart of the waters have outlived their captors。 They
have remained in Rome； and have remained alone。 Over them the
victory was longer than empire； and their thousands of loud voices
have never ceased to confess the conquest of the cold floods；
separated long ago； drawn one by one； alive； to the head and front
of the world。
Of such a transit is made no se