Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-25

Rain!
Nature, into whose caprices man can
lcok but little way, had at last sent a
real thunderstorm to break up the
deadlock with drought.
AS the first clouds began to gather,
those who had waited in vain for their
coming for weeks failed to be inn
pressed. There had been clouds before
and no rain. What chance was there
that these clouds would be different?
1t had almost seemed as If nature
had dropped rain out of her category
of accomplishments, so steadfastly had
she refused to send any down to the
parched earth.
Living things, men, animals, plants,
needed water. In the great cities its
need was felt more as a matter of pride
in lawns, parks and flowers, but out in
the suburbs and country there was felt
more drastic necessity.
Rain, therefore, when it came took
on the Importance of an event. Even
those the least sensitive to weather
changes talked about the chances for
rain. Physical discomfort made the
city water minded.
Meager clouds, banking up to the
north. were inspected closely. At last
peal OF thunder broke across the city.
was RAIN aDOu1 10 Idllg
Were human beings to be taught that
nature still knew how to rain?
In about Is minutes came smat-
tering of raindrops, but the sun, coming
out nightly all Of a sudden, stopped
their downpour.
It was some time later that the dark
Tening process began again, this time
followed by a real rain, which swept
along concrete streets and sidewalks
and across garage roofs in the old-time
and almost forgotten manner.
For solid satisfaction in observing
rain nothing is better than the garage
roof, not from which to observe it, of
course, but along which to watch 1t
swish.
There is a vast satisfaction to the
rain observer in watching the water
beat on tin garages in particular; some
thing solid, satisfying.
A rain observer must be born in order
to get the greatest amount Of satisfac-
ton out of the process. Not every one
is equipped to make the most OF o
thunderstorm.
One class of human beings, for in
stance, regards rain as a mere nuisance.
Another can see its utility, but is able
to find nothing spectacular in the
process. A third is much too busy.
Nothing short Of typhoon would hold
their interest.
The genuine rain observer finds some
thing peculiarly intriguing in any rain.
The very sounds of it, its swish through
foliage. its drumming upon tin roofs, its
swirl along streets, gives him enjoy
ment.
He can recall wildly the memories Of
seashore storms, with their vast black
clouds racing along over the ocean,
their terrifying lightning and mighty
claps of thunder, their very seas OF
water let loose from the clouds at last.
His memories of books recall many
literary rains, used by the masters of
all languages. There was great storm
in Job, and the Bible is filled with
illusions to transforms.
X X
No rain of recent years has been
more welcomed by human beings and
the thirsty earth than the one which
broke up the hot spell.
Parched grass seemed especially CRATE
full for the first taste of cloud water in
many weeks.
No doubt there is pecliar quality
to rain water which the growing things
of earth appreciate more than we do.
Surely the grass looked infinitely
greener after the rain than before, al
though water from the hose had done