August 5—That there may be advantages in increasing adiposity I have often doubted, until I proved them yesterday in no uncertain manner. I had been climbing down a rocky path into a deep valley with the idea of callect~ ing botanical specimens when I made one vast error: forgetting that the valley had been in shade sinde the sun had risen (and that) the close growth of hard moss on the granite blocks was still wet) I put my foot on a sloping rock, and crashed down to the next level: the gods were good to me, itor I took the mhin blow on that portion of my anatomy where a hip-pocket takes my tin collecting case and this ig where the point of my story comes With & considerably braised arm I had to re~ turn home (climbing with hands andi feet fully occupied) and wondered where I could carry all the beautiful specimens which surrounded me, having regard to the fact that my tin case was flattened like a pancake: the brim of my hat was already full with plumes of lavender Chinese squill, similar yellow plumes still awaiting a name, sprays of virgin's bower (otherwise known as travellers' joy) and other flowers too numerous to name, Then inspiration came. My considerable frontage was surrounded by a' leather belt, ideal for Glipping flowers to my, body free from the movements of my arms-—SoT gathered specimens of purple vetch, Yellow elecampane (which the Chinese call by the beautiful name of singing fairy weed), harebell, Chinese pinks from magenta to various shades of pink and finally to pure white, thorrlapple lilies, dayflowers, yellow stonecrop and last but not least, the giant flowered bluebell with star-like flowers of deep gentian blue, All these I stuck in my belt before me and climbed homeward decorated like any bow-window in an English country cottage....observed only by a lonely wood-cutter. How I laughed when I thought of my skinny friends whose greyhound-like waist-line might accommodate at best couple of dandelions and a bunch of Mickey Mouse flowers!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.