Evening star., 1926-10-31
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeH.

II read your column six days a
week" he said, but I draw the line
on Sundays"
Don't you like cats?" was our in
nocent rejoinder.
yes" replied he. "but every Sun
day is too much cat
Interesting. if true" was our some
what Snappy answer. Isn't it queer
how people differ" And we showed
him the following letter, received that
morning, from gentleman employed
in the Department of Commerce;
"Dear Sir: l have read and enjoyed
your This ana That articles ever since
you began to write them. Many times
and oft have / decided to write you
to that effect. But | am 81 busy man
and spend only about half of my time
in Washington and somehow | have
neglected to do SO. However. the let
ter of B. NJ. Nick. to you. published in
a late Sunday Star, is the proverbial
last straw to break the camel's back.
l can hold my peace no longer. !
doubt if the publication of that let
ter was a wise thing to do. Not many
people in civilized Washington ever
think of such crueltieS as suggested
by B. NJ. Nick. Not many people can
read his letter without a shudder of
horror to know that there is any one
now living outside of the hopelessly
debased and degenerate criminal class
capable of suggesting such crueltles.
They belong to remote and unciviliZed
countries or to an age long past, to
Il time when mans inhumanity to
man made countless thousands
mourn. to time when men and Wom-
en- were boiled in oil. as was Cecilia.
' the patroness of music: or skinned
alive, as was Marsyas, the rival of
Apollo; or burned alive. as was Sav-
onarola. the apostle of liberty and
freedom. In fact. to a time when men
practiced every form of torture, both
on humans and domestic animals, that
! could be devised by the most fiendiSh
minds.
II like Jack Spratt. Always have.
Keep on writing about him. He Is
real character now. Thousands of
Star readers have learned to know
and love him. a few may not. Some
people didn't like Christ. Some do
not believe in a heaven or a peace on
earth and good will to men, You are
not writing for them. You are writ
Ing for people who can see sermons
in stones, books in trees, harmony III
| running brooks and good In every
thing Your philosophy Is uplifting.
1t soothes and consoles with never a
sting or touch of pessimism. 1t is
always gentle. optimistic and kindly.
No matter how often you write. or
| how much you may say about the
| Weaknesses and foibles of man. you
| do it gently and often with q delicate
touch of humor that robs II of sting
or harshness.
II wonder IL you know how much
good YOU are doing in this busy world?
| The many readers of This and That
who cannot write, but can think ana
| feel. owe YOU debt Of gratitude
which can never be paid. Your YER
satility is most wonderful. NO mat
| ter whether you write about books,
| flowers. art. music. poetry. Jazz or
| the most commonplace subjects. you
are always instructive. pleasing and
sometimes amusing. Long life and
Godspeed to you. Sincerely yours.
&C. A. w"
Surely, no one will hold it against
us IL we incline to accept the latter's
| oninion. rather than the structures Of
| the former! Our hope is that we may,
| to some degree. at least, merit the
many kind things said by the busy
| Government official. Thank you. sir.
| Liking, or not liking, after all, is
largely q state of mind. A man who
| prides himself on being a ''he-man,"
| for instance, may be turned from an
article by some use Of word which
he regards as not quite in keeping
with his rank masculinity. On the
other hand. another gentleman, quite
as masculine, in every point. may be
| fascinated by the very article that
aroused the others ire.
| 1t behooves each one, in every walk
Of life, whether in relation TO these
articles or any articles, to consider.
now and then. if he be not missing a
good thing through mere whim, that
most costly OF caprices!