Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-18
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

, better. If you want to know how cul-
tured Englishmen regard the so-called
New England group of poets, including
Longfellow and Whittier, read Lord
Charnwood's Lincoln There he de-
livers well deserved rebuke to those
who would sneer at these scholars be-
cause they took their work and them
selves seriously.
1t is fascinating to realize, If one Is
not able to discover the fact for ones
SELF that the snow crystals are of in
finite pattern, no two alike. They are
seldom to be seen without the aid of a
miscroscope. They are best collected
on a p. of black velvet, or similar
material, and examined in some place
secluded from the wind, but where the
temperature is practically the same as
outdoors. An Enclosed sun porch with
out artificial heat is ideal for this.
Most people, however. have neither
the equipment nor desire to study snow
crystals for themselves This will not
prevent them, however, from realizing
that these beautiful and diverse shapes
exist. The realization will add to their
wonder at the snow, and will prevent
them from regarding the fall as COM
posed of mere sodden Jumps.
What tragedy it is in this world If
one falls into the habit of seeing only
Jumps in things! Snow as Jumps, blood
as fluid, merely, foods as masses of
vegetable fiber only!
In truth snow is crystals, blood is
cells, food is cells and vitamins, nlys-
FERROUS principles almost Godlike, GER
sainly God-given.
1t is the duty of every intelligent
person to make determined attempt, in
the face of Sneering, sophistication and
the like, to keep his sense of wonder
well developed. Such a person knows,
what the Psalmist only sensed, that he
is fearfully and wonderfully made.
X X
In such a season as this, snow has
very pointed unitarian aspects, which
also have ramifications leading forward
to beauty.
Snow has been called "the poor mans
fertilizer" a happy phrase, it would
seem. II blankets the ground, keeping
the plants warm, and, upon melting,
carrying needed moisture and dissolved
food elements to the rootlets.
Every one knows how warm a house
is when it SHOWS, even when the wind
blows. This blanketing effect is what
makes the Eskimo village possible.
(Although most of us can thank Heaven
that we are not EskimoD
The warm, wet blanket of snow is
peculiarly good for the grass. We never
see a lawn covered with snow, even
though lightly that we do not suspect
that the grass is getting a great deal
more good from it than from all the
manure ever put on.
Snow carries no weed seed, for one
thing When it begins to melt, it's re-
sulting water is at exactly the right
tenDeratlIre to do the grass the most
good.
Shrubs and bushes of all kinds are
helped immensely by snow water. The
only difficulty lies in the inability of q
light snow to make its way to sheltered
corners, where such bushes are in most
need of water.
Those who do not like the appearance
of their shrubs should shovel snow
around them, if available. Lacking this,
water should be applied at this season.
Experts say that brown, thin shrubs
apparently dead, can be revived by
copious watering. 1t is at least worth
attempting.