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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
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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。
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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
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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。
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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 vess