(_Goes back a little, the group following him, and points right rear_) Back there you see the swamper clearing brush, Man's first assault upon primeval forests. And then the feller with his broader stroke Hewing a way for apple trees and cities, And incidentally moving on himself. And here you see my teams. And, by the way, They talk of how the horse has followed man In his march across the ages, but the tree That sheltered the lost saurian, think of that! GOVERNOR BRADDOCK. You must have been a tree in some past life; You seem to love them so and understand them. EGERTON. There's nothing in this world so beautiful As a pine forest, gentlemen, just at dawn; The infant breathing of a million needles. It's like our organ, Bishop, those soft tones. (_Comes forward_) BISHOP HARDBROOKE. He ought to have lived in old cathedral days. EGERTON. And here the rising rollways; then the drive, The river man. (_Points across left_) GOVERNOR BRADDOCK. Come out to get a view, A broader view. THIRD STAFF MEMBER. You had men pose for this? EGERTON. I'm following the tree. FOURTH STAFF MEMBER. That fellow's face. EGERTON. These 'broader views' don't interest me much. GOVERNOR BRADDOCK. And you think this idea's capable of extension? EGERTON. How do you mean? GENERAL CHADBOURNE. (_Returning from a word with the Butler, to Ardsley who comes to meet him_) I don't see what's the matter. GOVERNOR BRADDOCK. A while ago you said---- RALPH ARDSLEY. O it's all right. GOVERNOR BRADDOCK. You were the first Captain of Industry In all America to build a house. That has a meaning in it. EGERTON. That's what I said; That has the least relation to the land. RALPH ARDSLEY. This snow you'll see will bring them to their senses. GOVERNOR BRADDOCK. Suppose you'd made your fortune out of copper? FIRST STAFF MEMBER. Yes, we all build our houses out of timber. SECOND STAFF MEMBER. Or cotton? GUESTS. Ha, ha, ha! RALPH ARDSLEY. Or oil? SEVERAL. Yes. RALPH ARDSLEY. How would you spiritualize the oil business? EGERTON. Ardsley here wants to quote me in his paper. GENERAL CHADBOURNE. The Lumber King upon the late decision. EGERTON. It's Art, not rebates, that I'm speaking of. Couldn't I show my derricks on the walls? And back there red-skins striking fire from flint? Then our forefathers with their tallow-dips Watching the easy drills slip up and down? The tanks here--Ah, you laugh, you dilettanti. I'll tell you gentlemen what the trouble is: You're frightened by our natural resources, And you despise the life of your own land, The crude, tremendous life we're living here. The force is too much for you. You want polish. O I can prove it to you. RALPH ARDSLEY. Now you'll get it. EGERTON. Yes, Braddock, there's that Capitol Commission. I'd be ashamed.