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like best to hail the flowers by the names that the fairies gave them；
and the children know them by； especially when my longing for them makes
them grow here in the city streets。 I have a fancy that they would all
vanish away if I saluted them in botanical terms。 As long as I talk of
cat…tail rushes； the homeless grimalkins of the areas and the back fences
help me to a vision of the swamps thickly studded with their stiff
spears； but if I called them 'Typha Latifolia'； or even 'Typha
Angustifolia'； there is not the hardiest and fiercest prowler of the roof
and the fire…escape but would fly the sound of my voice and leave me
forlorn amid the withered foliage of my dream。 The street sparrows；
pestiferous and persistent as they are； would forsake my sylvan pageant
if I spoke of the Bird…foot Violet as the 'Viola Pedata'； and the
commonest cur would run howling if he beard the gentle Poison Dogwood
maligned as the 'Rhus Venenata'。 The very milk…cans would turn to their
native pumps in disgust from my attempt to invoke our simple American
Cowslip as the 'Dodecatheon Meadia'。
IV
Yet I do not deny that such scientific nomenclature has its uses； and I
should be far from undervaluing this side of Mrs。 Creevey's book。 In
fact； I secretly respect it the more for its botanical lore； and if ever
I get into the woods or fields again I mean to go up to some of the
humblest flowers； such as I can feel myself on easy terms with； and tell
them what they are in Latin。 I think it will surprise them； and I dare
say they will some of them like it； and will want their initials
inscribed on their leaves； like those signatures which the medicinal
plants bear； or are supposed to bear。 But as long as I am engaged in
their culture amid this stone and iron and asphalt； I find it best to
invite their presence by their familiar names； and I hope they will not
think them too familiar。 I should like to get them all naturalized here；
so that the thousands of poor city children； who never saw them growing
in their native places； might have some notion of how bountifully the
world is equipped with beauty； and how it is governed by many laws which
are not enforced by policemen。 I think that would interest them very
much； and I shall not mind their plucking my Barmecide blossoms； and
carrying them home by the armfuls。 When good…will costs nothing we ought
to practise it even with the tramps； and these are very welcome； in their
wanderings over the city pave； to rest their weary limbs in any of my
pleached bowers they come to。
A CIRCUS IN THE SUBURBS
We dwellers in cities and large towns； if we are well…to…do； have more
than our fill of pleasures of all kinds； and for now many years past we
have been used to a form of circus where surfeit is nearly as great
misery as famine in that kind could be。 For our sins； or some of our
friends' sins； perhaps； we have now gone so long to circuses of three
rings and two raised…platforms that we scarcely realize that in the
country there are still circuses of one ring and no platform at all。
We are accustomed； in the gross and foolish…superfluity of these city
circuses； to see no feat quite through； but to turn our greedy eyes at
the most important instant in the hope of greater wonders in another
ring。 We have four or five clowns； in as many varieties of grotesque
costume； as well as a lady clown in befitting dress； but we hear none of
them speak； not even the lady clown； while in the country circus the old
clown of our childhood； one and indivisible； makes the same style of
jokes； if not the very same jokes； that we used to hear there。 It is not
easy to believe all this； and I do not know that I should quite believe
it myself if I had not lately been witness of it in the suburban village
where I was passing the summer。
I。
The circus announced itself in the good old way weeks beforehand by the
vast posters of former days and by a profusion of small bills which fell
upon the village as from the clouds； and left it littered everywhere with
their festive pink。 They prophesied it in a name borne by the first
circus I ever saw； which was also an animal show； but the animals must
all have died during the fifty years past； for there is now no menagerie
attached to it。 I did not know this when I heard the band braying
through the streets of the village on the morning of the performance；
and for me the mangy old camels and the pimpled elephants of yore led the
procession through accompanying ranks of boys who have mostly been in
their graves for half a lifetime； the distracted ostrich thrust an
advertising neck through the top of its cage； and the lion roared to
himself in the darkness of his moving prison。 I felt the old thrill of
excitement； the vain hope of something preternatural and impossible； and
I do not know what could have kept me from that circus as soon as I had
done lunch。 My heart rose at sight of the large tent （which was yet so
very little in comparison with the tents of the three…ring and two…
platform circuses）； the alluring and illusory sideshows of fat women and
lean men； the horses tethered in the background and stamping under the
fly…bites； the old； weather…beaten grand chariot； which looked like the
ghost of the grand chariot which used to drag me captive in its triumph；
and the canvas shelters where the cooks were already at work over their
kettles on the evening meal of the circus folk。
I expected to be kept a long while from the ticket…wagon by the crowd；
but there was no crowd； and perhaps there never used to be much of a
crowd。 I bought my admittances without a moment's delay； and the man who
sold me my reserve seats had even leisure to call me back and ask to look
at the change he had given me； mostly nickels。 〃I thought I didn't give
you enough；〃 he said； and he added one more； and sent me on to the
doorkeeper with my faith in human nature confirmed and refreshed。
It was cool enough outside； but within it was very warm； as it should be；
to give the men with palm…leaf fans and ice…cold lemonade a chance。 They
were already making their rounds； and crying their wares with voices from
the tombs of the dead past； and the child of the young mother who took my
seat…ticket from me was going to sleep at full length on the lowermost
tread of the benches； so that I had to step across its prostrate form。
These reserved seats were carpeted； but I had forgotten how little one
rank was raised above another； and how very trying they were upon the
back and legs。 But for the carpeting； I could not see how I was
advantaged above the commoner folk in the unreserved seats； and I
reflected how often in this world we paid for an inappreciable splendor。
I could not see but they were as well off as I； they were much more gayly
dressed； and some of them were even smoking cigars； while they were
nearly all younger by ten； twenty； forty； or fifty years； and even more。
They did not look like the country people whom I rather hoped and
expected to see； but were apparently my fellow…villagers； in different
stages of excitement。 They manifested by the usual signs their
impatience to