Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-14
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEwELL.

, not listen to US. He went right ahead
solemnly burying his chocolate against
rainy day.
Next to the birds and squirrels, we
suppose the children are the most in
teresting creatures to be found In parks
They exhibit more decorum than at
home or while playing on neighbours
property.
Now, we suppose that decorum is
what children today are more in want Of
than any other one quality. If you
were to say "decorum" to the average
utter establishment and then ask you if
1t were good to eat.
Most of the kids you see in parks are
very well behaved. Perhaps they have
been lectured good by mamma before
they were turned loose. Often they have
neat-looking maids attending them who
keep wary eyes open for their charges
and for the park policeman, that very
handsome young man who comes
around every now and then.
When Summer arrives many Of the
residential parks sport sand piles and
other of the more gentle play equip
ment for the benefit of the smaller
children. We have forgotten whether
roller skating Is permitted on the park
walks, but we rather think it is. and
| II so, the little ones at least are not In
danger of being run over, although the
old man with the cane had better
watch out.
Next to the children, the spectator
may rather fancy his fellow bench-sit-
tiers. Here you have humanity in little
grouped for easy inspection. We recall
the naturalneSS of one of Miss Lin
coins detective stories opening with a
gentleman sitting in a Washington park
AS we recall the tale, he waS supposed
to be dressed to the minute" with
frock coat. high hat, spats and cane.
He Is to be seen often sitting su-
perbly in one Of the medium uptown
circles, say Dupont. Is he waiting for
the villain to come along, or is he the
villain himself? No one will ever know
because few of the characters one sees
in parks are provided with self-explan-
atory books. That is why they are In
d1vidually so arreSting.
A great park sport, while one Is lazily
| enjoying the sunshine, is to speculate
upon ones fellow men and ATTEMPT ia
place them In their proper spheres in
life. The thing Is reduced to the ele-
mental one of looks" If yonder gen.
tleman looks sport, we set him down
as such, and let him go at that. II
diplomat, then diplomat. OF course, he
may tend store" In his on hours, but
now that he is of, no one has any right
to call him less than Caesar.
X X X
The fundamental charm of the parks
| however, lies in that superb Nature
which makes the sky blue, the grass
green and the flowers lovely to the eye
of man. Here one finds the appeal OF
| these beautiful things made all the
| stronger because they are in such direct
contrast with the uglier creations OF
mankind. Is 1t not a bit strange. and
yet bit hopeful, too. that when man
wants to dress up city he naturally
turns to green, growing things? Nc
matter how respondent his electric
lighting, no matter how glowing his
marble walls. he must have them set
! on against green grass, evergreens and
shrubs, to secure the maximum effect
from them. Then, and then only, will
his marble look as If it belongs to its
setting, and his lights have something
to play upon greatly worth while. We
would hate even to think of the National
Capital abandoning its smaller parks,
as it has permitted some of its great
trees to go down in the relentless march
OF progress. Even If one does no more
than rice by them, they are a blessing,
relief and benediction. They tie Us
to the earth, and help keep our feet on
the ground, and visitors here this Spring
from all parts of the country will find
In their grass, shrubs and flowers a
touch Of back home" for these things
speak universal LANGUAGE