Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-04-19
NOTES By OBSERVER.

friends the birds the past few weeks,
and he notes with pleasure that the
vanguard of our GUNNER visitors is al
ready here. The robins came early
and are very numerous, and arrange
meuts for setting up housekeeping have
been commenced. The redbirds are
doing their best to entertain with
their sweet music, and they, too, are
looking for summer homes in the he'd
ges. Observer saw pair OF fiickers
in town the other morning. but the
English sparrows pursued them 80
maliciously they few away and ne
has not seen them since.
Wonder if the readers of the REGIS.
TER know how quickly the birds res
pond to invitations of the humans to
have them for friends. Last year OBJ
server put up plumber Of small box
es in the trees in his lawn and In
corners about the buildings, and every
single one of them was used by the
birds. The dear, friendly little wrens
took possession Of every box intended
for them, and they paid for the slight
trouble over and over again by their
sweet music and their cunning, inter
esting ways. A box put up especial
ly for the martens attracted two pairs.
and no more charming birds were
seen during the whole summer. They
were friendly in the extreme and de-
lightful to have around. A few days
ago they came back. and when they
found that their home had not yet
been set up they began to scold in
such a way as to make Observer thor
oughly ashamed of himself for neg
lecting their shelter. It's ready for
them now. though. Let's all invite
and encourage the birds to stay with
US by feeding them and helping as
best we can to provide homes for
them.
One Of the speakers at the arbor day
exercises at Shepherd College last
Friday suggested that squirrels be
.. ocured and induced to make their
homes in the trees surrounding the
old college building. Observer thinks
that this would be charming thing
In the capitol park at Richmond. Va,
and Harrisburg, Pa, in some Of the
parks in Washington and at various
other places in towns and cities the
squirrels add delightful variety to
these bits of nature, and we think
they would be equally enjoyed in
Shepherdstown.
Now that spring has opened up, the
automobilists are becoming numerous
once more. 1t is well to remember
that they have rights Oh the public
roads, and most of them are sensible,
reasonable persons who take all pre-
cautions to prevent accidents by scary
horses. There are, however, a few
reckless persons who need to be siren
uously dealt with, especially by their
dangerous methods in town. Obser-
yer suggests that the town authorities
take steps to protect the children and
other folks by restricting the speed of
automobiles within the corporation
limits. Heavy fines ought to be
levied upon the foolish fellows who
make a race course of the Main street,
especially upon Sundays.
X
There ought to be some way by
which the sidewalks in Shepherdstown
could be improved. There are few
old, rough stone pavements that should
by all means be replaced by good
brick or concrete, and for the good
appearance of the town as well as for
the comfort of pedestrians we hope
that the new town council will take
the matter up and remedy the evil.
Everybody in town, almost, ought
to plant tree or 30 this spring. One
of the attractions of our village ia it's
pretty shade trees, and there ought to
be more of them along our streets.
Handsome sugar naples and elms may
be gotten for a trihe, and if you
haven t the money to spare to buy
them you may get them yourself with
in a mile or two of town just for the
trouble of going after them. And
what a change would be made in
some Of the unsightly old buildings
If they were covered with vines The
Boston ivy, English ivy, honeysuckle.
Virginia creeper, clematis, wistaria.
apd dim ;lor uipoa NAV he ooftap with