Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Rain is as natural as sunshine, and
sometimes twice as welcome.
1t Is only when we come to be over
civilized that we find a rainy day I'M
pleasant.
People in tune with life. as it were,
seldom express dissatisfaction with rain
fall, but rather welcome 1t as the re-
verse of the medal.
The water comes down in accordance
with natural law. The same law, as ap-
piled to the mind. demands that one
like what is, II at all possible.
There are many natural events which
the mind of man cannot find pleasant.
1t is, therefore. all the more pleasing, in
the face of this impoSSibility, to find
good in such things as transforms.
** X
The person who possesses what We
like to think the right attitude toward
rainy days will never be too busy to
stop to watch the phenomenon.
Perhaps bit Of the wholesome juve-
nile has stuck in his character. It is
not good to put away too thoroughly
the thoughts OF childhood. If one is
going to be a prophet. or something,
perhaps it Is just as well, but most Of
us are not gong to be SO serious.
Rain occupies large part in the f1c-
ton of childhood. Fairy and other tales
are filled with it. The great drops beat
down on gray slate roofs and pour out
rainspoutS.
In the cutters Of childhood's books
children sail paper boats. Such pic
lures, Of course. come to us mostly
from our European ancestors, because
few American children sail paper boats
in cutters.
Fiction OF larger growth uses rain
as a mainstay, sort OF picture back
ground for a certain melancholy or the
mind and action.
It Is an cid and booky trick, but one
which never fails to make its mark on
the mind of the reader.
Somehow he accepts the fact that a
storm impends at the time some crisis
is about to take place in the narrative.
1t seems highly appropriate that Nature
should in some way take cognizance CT
the moods of these. her creatures.
In real life We ask no such conni-
vance on the part of the universal
mother. There are sunny days ana
rainy days, gloomy days and bright
days, following each other with no par
ticular rhyme or reason, but only as
the result of certain obscure factors
which happen to happen so.
It is just as well. The barometric
nlRIlS' ana lows ana Tie COlu WnlOS
from the Arctic regions belong to the
unknown quantities, amid the great
bulk Of phenomena to which names are
given without any real understanding
Of the eternal why.
Rains must be met by mankind ply
sically as well as mentally.
No doubt the physical Is the most
important end Modern man does not
welcome a good sousing on the public
streets. He invented the umbrella to
escape the impromptu shower. He has
raincoatS at his command.
Shoes are made as watertight as pos
sible. and rubber overShoes are in order,
all to help him escape the too impetuouS
incoming of the elements.
Sidewalks are made elevated from
street and cutters for the same end.
There are covered entrances to theaters
and stores: private homes have pro-
tected doorwayS; buildings Of all sorts
have good roofs and footings.
A human being has little chance Of
welcoming rain, mentally, If he Is not
prepared physically to meet It. This
means that his health must be fair, and
his house waterproof. There are few
home anncyances greater than a leaky
roof. Often such leaks are tiny affairs.
but let In water enough. Their detec-
ton and repair is sometimes matter of
good fortune, rather than expert ability
Often a couple of coats CT good paint
will find and seal small leak in siding