A WALK IN THE PARK: Chinese student makes me appreciate Compton's work

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

— This week completes my series of articles on the Compton family, culminating with an emphasis on the continued benefits of one of the accomplishments of the late Dr. Neil Compton, physician and naturalist from Benton County. I had intended to share some history about the life of the man himself, but decided instead to relate a recent experience that probably echoes the point more clearly.

While returning from a trip to California last week, I visited with a young man seated next to me during the plane ride from Las Vegas to XNA. Since sittingshoulder to shoulder with someone for two and a half hours without speaking is practically out of the question for me, I said hello and asked him if Arkansas was his final destination. Luckily for me, he was talkative and the interesting conversation that ensued made the flight seem much shorter.

The young man explained that he is a current University of Arkansas student and was returning to Fayetteville after spending a few days with fellow students at a conference in Nevada. His homeland is China and he is in the U.S. just long enough to complete a Ph. D. in Chemistry. He had begun to learn English in high school and was doing quite well, I thought, at speaking his nonnative language.

Seizing this unique opportunity, I showed him some items I had purchased from Chinatown in San Francisco, and he read some of the Chinese writings to me. He also interpreted the headlines of a Chinese newspaper that came from there.

The young man had many good things to say about his time spent in Arkansas. He has encountered friendly people, likes his professors, and feels that he is in a good place to complete his education.He has been pleased with all that the Fayetteville area has to offer, he told me, although he must cook for himself in order to get the “real” Chinese food he is accustomed to back home. Hetalked about his family and how, “like parents always feel about their child,” his mother and father worry a little about him being so far away.

Although we discussed a wide variety of topics during the flight, I thought of one more thing to mention as the plane was descending. I suggested to him that he take the opportunity to visit the Buffalo River before leaving Arkansas.

He smiled broadly and began to talk with excitement. “Oh, I have been there already, two times. It is my favorite place.” This was the most animated he had been throughout the flight.

Imitating rowing with paddles, he explained that he arrived in Arkansas last year just in time to go canoeing with a group from the Chemistry Department and they had gone again this past May. He had obviously enjoyed the trips and was quite impressed with the beauty of the area.

I later thought how this young man’s experience at the Buffalo River could easily have been impossible had that river not captured the heart of another University of Arkansas student some eighty years earlier.

At about the same age as the young man seated next to me on the plane, Dr. Neil Compton visited the river and formed a lifelong attachment. That passion fueled his drive years later to join in the fight to save it.His work was instrumental in gaining support for legislation that kept the river and surrounding landscape intact and halted plans to build dams. The Buffalo River remains free flowing and accessible, ready and waiting to be enjoyed by loads of enthusiastic college students and others, now, as it was back then,and as it will continue to be, thanks to the good work and leadership of Dr. Neil Compton.

Note: The Ozark Society is planning an event in honor of Dr. Compton’s 100th birthday on August 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Compton Gardens in Bentonville. They will also celebrate the “50th birthday” of The Ozark Society, which formed in 1962. Food, music by Still on the Hill and films about the river will be included. A new exhibit that includes Dr. Compton’s canoe, paddle and other memorabilia is planned. The event is open to the public and all are welcome.

Annette Rowe is a freelance writer from rural Gentry and a speech-language pathologist at Siloam Springs High School. She may be reached by email at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 6 on 07/04/2012