Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-19
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
vapcr suspended In the atmosphere

Vapcr suspended In the atmosphere.
This old enemy of mankind. often
encountered along the coast, at last
descended upon washington.
Not often does this low-lying wetness
settle along the streets of the National
Capital in enough strength to be
noticed.
On this day. however, automobiles
rad their headlights lit on the way to
Aork in the morning
This was not fog of the seashore
or even the LONDON, variety, but rather
general mist, which hid things at q
|, blocks distance, but made no per-
ceptible blur close at hand.
Yet 1t held all the mystery, some of the
danger. and great deal Of the nuisance
Of any fog anywhere.
It blotted out houses in the distance
and dripped from the trees in way
to make the timid wish for umbrellas.
1t held constantly before the pedes-
trian an ever-moving veil, which ad-
vAnced as he advanced, and never left
him for q second.
The walker realized that this was q
real fog in every sense except thickness
One could not "cut it with a knife,
but a bit more concentration and 1t
would be as thick as the proverbial
pea soup.
Just why pea soup should be held
I'D as the zenith OF the opaque 1t Is
dificult to imagine unless due to the
fact that in the days when this figure
of speech was invented soup made from
peas was one Of TIE thickest Of thick
soups.
Good cream Of tomato soup, for in
stance, would be every whit as difficult
to see through as the very largest bowl
Of pea soup.
There Is no good reason why soups
OF other vegetables should be dis
eliminated against. There Is no good
reason eXcept-fact. Usage is stub
born thing. Grammar Is not an exact
science. AS Dr. Vizetelly says, there
are more exceptions to prove the rules
than there are rules.
The figure of speech says "as thick
as pea SOUP" and pea soup a fog will
be, must be, to the end Of time.
FogS prove interesting to Nature low
erS because of the sense of isolation
outdoors which they bring him.
In sunlight he can see for miles in
all directions. He is never alone, even
with his thoughts. so long as a figure
of a human being or a dog or a cat
or even a bird is to be seen anywhere
Limpid atmosphere makes for imagi-
nation in adults. AS the lover of ma
ture walks along sunny road he finds
his mind stretching out to take in
those unseen. He is not and cannot
be alone.
Fog, on the other hand, wraps him
in a sort of invisible cloak, depending
upon its intensity, wrapping him
around and taking away from him his
sense Of being surrounded by other
human beings, even those whom he
cannot see.
Not even night gives him such a
sense of alonenesS, because lights CLEAN
everywhere when darkness covers the
land, but here in the fog lamps are
mere glowwormS, flreflies out of work
and seeking jobs.
The light fog gives this sense of
being separated from ones kind as well
as the heavy, thick variety. The cur
tain, ever advancing, Is just a little
farther off. that Is all. 1t is there,
just the same. One can see houses at
a distance of 800 feet, rather than
only from 100 feet. 1t is difference
of degree, not of sort.
For real fog, Of course, one has to
go to the sea or other great body of
water. Even river fogs scarce can
touch, for solid thickness, the dense
mass of white grayness which rolls