EVENING IN THE GARDEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 18, 14 October 1937, Page 4

EVENING IN THE GARDEN.

In a few meltiug rnoments before fevening twilight, at th.e close of a tropically-liot day, wlien the last glpw of a roarlng sunset is dying down, I like best of all to sauuter iu the gardep aud stand a while among the roses, writes Mr Godfrey ISellick in his collection of essays entitled, "The Fair Beauty." For, at that, hour when a fatigued day is drowsy and its high lights dimming, 1 faney the roses are seen at their best. The air is stilj — so still that one hesitates to move, Kight approaches softly with imperceptible touches for the tired sun-filled flowers. There are no bird calls. Yot there is still a lingering light — a light without colour, whiqh alloiys the blooms of the garden to reveal their own lovelincss d,efinitcly and without alloy. Also I have imagined they then give out a gentle light of their own. But the rose moro than thenx all knows and acclaims it for its own hour, and. it never appeals in vain for my humblo adoration. At no other time of the day are the pink beautios so clearly drawn and so strikingly pink, the whites so chaste and untouchable, the yeliows so delicate and pure, the reds so profoundly dark. Like regal and stately princes and princesses they stand out, claiming the central place, and deign tp acknowledgo my homjage with a gentle dip of the head, yet demanding all my eyes and conimanding my stops to a halt but refusing the spoiling toueh of my fingers. It is their hour, and who am I to deny their claims and rcject their royal epelb-to them who make my days and thougbts beautiful?