17 AUGUST 1929, Page 14

A RURAL REPLY.

A townsman, enchanted by a rare visit to an English harvest field, sends the following " imaginary dialogue " between a townsman and a harvester :-

" Oh, the stooks in the field, When the shadows are long ! What thoughts they must yield, What words for a song !"

"Why, the sheaves and the shadows, And lights that are caught, In the stubbles and meadows • Are the song, are the thought."

It is perhaps the reason why the countryman is held to be stupid that he is content not to think. The elemental things about him suffice in themselves. When he does scratch his head his thoughts are apt to be " tremendous but trite," and are perhaps none the worse for being well-worn.