Excerpt from The Evergreen, 1895, Vol. 2: A Northern Seasonal; The Book of Autumn Amongst the Local and National Traditions which are interesting many Scotsmen to-day, the present issue of the Evergreen' is particularly con cerned with two. These are the Celtic Renascence, now incipient alike in Literature and Art, and the revival and development of the old Continental sympathies of Scotland - the development of the newer but increasing sympathies of England. The Ancient League with France and the later intercourse with the Netherlands have deeply marked our history, some times even theirs, and the 'evergreen' of 'spring' and 'autumn' give evidence that this association is still a living and fruitful one. Hence, while we would renew local feeling and local colour, we would also express the larger view of Edinburgh as not only a National and Imperial, but a European city - the larger view of Scotland, again as in recent, in medieval, most of all in ancient times, one of the European Powers of Culture - as of course far smaller countries like Norway are to-day. Our first appeal is thus to Magna Scotia beyond Tweed and over sea, but we would also share in that wider culture-movement which knows neither nationality nor race. The Return to Nature' is a rallying call which each age must answer in its own way. The ending century has written its answer large in Science and Industry, in Literature and Art; yet many solutions are still lacking. Many of us are no longer satisfied with analysis and observation, with criticism and pessimism; many begin to ask for Synthesis, for Action, for Life, for Joy. The solution lies through action, through experiment 'vivendo discimus.' Hence our open and growing group with its many activities, educational and civic, architectural and decorative, seeks to realise somewhat of the Cite du Bon Accord of our illustrious guest, the veteran pioneer of synthetic science and of social ideals, M. Elisee Reclus. But Social Life is not merely built upon the ground of Nature it is its out come and growth. Hence the need of fresh readings in Life, of fresh groupings in Science, both now mainly from the humanist side, as lately from the naturalist side. Yet if Man be one with Nature, her evolution is also his, and this not only through the ages and the generations, but through the year and its Seasons. Here then are some of the ideas of the Evergreen.' It makes no promise of perpetual life, but seeks only to link the Autumn of our own age with an approaching Spring, and pass, through Decadence, towards Renascence. V. V. B. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.