Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEFELL.

but the result Of their SO close nesting
Is a certain snloothness undcrl0ot
Now there are tao states of sand,
each distinctive end each very much
worth while Wet sand is one thing.
dry sand another When one thinks
abstractly Of the seashorc he thinks IN
terms Of dry sand. but memory tells
him that the wet sand played and
plays a most important part.
Sand closely con1pacted by water
makes not only the finest walking IN
the world a solace TO bare feet,
but also the best playmate. The most
monumental fortresaeS and castles may
be constructed from it, whereas tho
same attempted with CRY sand would
be . most sorry failure.
Walls Of wet sand hold their shape,
while tunnels stand firm against the
assaults Of all but the most pretentiols
breakers. To build such fairy palaces at
the shore 2 sort Of eddy must be Sc
lcCted where the water will come on
occasion. but not too often This Is
necessary IN order to keep the whole
moist
This means that a point far enough
forward on the beach must be chosen
where the largest waves run up in the
peculiar way they have, drifting in
with a s1itherinp sound. perhaps led
forward by a gentle declpity, thus
manifesting beyond dispute that water
seeks its level
Wet sand allows real tortitications to
BE- constructed with walls solid enough
TO resist dogs.
=
DIV sand. on the other hand has an
enhancing way of trucking through the
fingers. with II one may make dens,
if he is industrious enough with the
shovel Tor this purpose a solid back
Of some sort is necessary, perhaps a
box or a section Of the boardwalk
To have some one cover one up in
the sand, if no more than to the
waist, Is a popular seaside amusement.
A few minutes Of this immersion. If 1t
may be called such, invariably puts
ones legs TO sleep" Us the phrase
has it, for the numb sensation result
ing We have seen persons buried up
to the neck but would not recommend
the proceedings When one s feet and
legs have gone to sleep, as the re-
suit of such playful sepulture, much
walking Is needed to restore the proper
circulation Of the blood
Fights with dry sand Is something
h110Mn 10 flj IA tAit9' liz 'iAAA9 VIA
begin 1t hy pouring a handful down a
playmates neck, or By making a play
full toss at bis face
Into the eyes 60 the tiny grains, and
out of the confusion issues z. reCklessly
mad yo,naster. with but one idea In
the world that of throwing as much
sand as his fists can grab into the
eyes Of his opponent.
Eyes and ears and hair filed with
sand offer mother quite a problem,
but which happily is solved IN most
cases without undue disaster
The most unusual manifestation OF
sand, and in many respects the most
thrilling perhaps for that very reason)
is the sand storm Perhaps there will
not be more than one Of these at any
resort during a season. It seems that
lust the right conditions Of wind and
dryneSs must prevail
Once started, the sand blows through
the air as If il were the very air itself.
II cuts the face and gets into the eyes.
II piles up a foot thick on the board
walk, and drifts across porctes like
SNOW.
Afterward shovel and broom must
be brought out. exactly as If the dis
turbance had been a snowstorm
Worse than snow, however. the sand
penctrateS doors and windows. and gets
into the clothing and daily food II
Is lucky for seashore resorts that genu-
inc sand storms are rare,