Article July 12, 1913 Issue

THE RUGGED WAY

D. M. LEAKE.

The character of the Carpathian mountains is described in the guide-books as rugged, bold, and forbidding, with mountain scenery of the wildest description, — "barren fissured rocks, precipitous and inaccessible crests, and bleak, rock-cumbered valleys containing deep and lonely tarns." On gazing at these wonderful mountains, the writer could only affirm all that is said of them, and an expedition over the heights and down through the valleys of the black lakes made one realize the roughness of the way, Rugged indeed it is, with sharp stones and ascents that one can only climb hand over hand by a clamp in the rock; but every moment of the way is a delight and a rejoicing, as the scene opens out and changes from one glory to another. Forms of magnificent beauty loom above one; the distance melts into softness or merges into sunshine; the play of light and shade reveals unthought-of colors and beauty; the strong air makes one feel it is no difficulty to climb, and everything lures to a higher plane, where we pause and give vent to our joy. There is no effort at rejoicing, no trying to be happy; we simply cannot help it.

We should be very much surprised if in mountain climbing any one was to grumble at the path, and we should advise any one so unsportsmanlike to stay below. Sometimes we remark that it is difficult, but we add vigorously, "It is well worth it," and go on till our limbs get accustomed to the new work we are demanding of them. One thing is important, and that is, to be well shod. To attempt these mountain paths in thin shoes would be fatal, but with good thick boots we walk through watercourses and stride from boulder to boulder without trouble.

Mrs. Eddy tells us, in her beautiful hymn, "Shepherd, show me how to go" (Poems, p. 14), that in climbing the heights of Science, we should also rejoice "all the rugged way," and she knew that she was telling us to do only what was natural and fitting, because there is always cause for rejoicing in the path where divine Love is leading us. At a distance we may shudder at the sinister look of the difficulties in our way, but as we come near we find them not half so difficult as we thought, and this added spirit of rejoicing is like a new gift to us, while a beauty beyond all our dreams appears.

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