Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

/ Thousands Of home owners had dreamed
OF such a perfect lawn: but never had
seen one to approach it, Star gazers
peering out windows tonight, saw 1t.
There 1t was, in all its perfection,
spreading out from tree to tree and in
between-the perfect. lawn of dreams
apparently without a flaw, thick, green,
perfect.
Few wild creatures were abroad
Perhaps rabbits and the like know
when the moonlight reveals them. and
tend to stay in their burrows. SOUR
res are asleep wherever 1t Is they
sleep probably in the crotches of trees,
high and safe from prowling cats.
4 4 u
Street lights, especially when few and
far between, cast shadows of their own
lacking the intensity Of sharp moon
light, but fading quicker on every edge
and becoming as dark as possible at nc
great distance.
The strength of street light, like Sc
many OF mans creations, Is illusory
Too much CT the electricity goes up in
heat, not enough in light, but within q
! certain narrow radius the light is in
tense enough and throws capable
shadows.
These dwindle to insignificance, how
ever, when an automobile passes down
the street or turns up a driveway
Then broad band Of intense light il
cast on houses and yard, darling in
windows and outlining bushes and
flowers, almost giving to them that edge
OF purple which the eye creates under
the stimulus of too strong light.
An automobile light is a species OF
| hoodlight and sets OF flowers in q
wonderful fashion The shadows ii
casts are very dense, CT q Velvety, inky
blacknesS.
! The shadows SO far considered flicker
very little, unless the wind is blowing
enough TO wave the boughs of trees.
The flicker from a fire in the open,
however, is very strong and gives the
one touch which distinguishes its
shadows.
There is an inimical and a friendly
type, the dread fire and the bonfire.
The clamor Of fire engines, and the
rush OF people, and the work of the
fre fghterS-these tend to prevent any
one, even the nature lover, from study
ing the characteristics of shadows cast
by such flames
The small bonfire, when kept within
bounds and so kindled and watched
that 1t will not injure trees and shrubs.
gives the lover of natural things a
NAoAlSC w hdLCu the DSunQl0R shadows
as the flre heightenS and then dies
down.
In the main. the four types of indoor
shadows are those cast by sun, moon.
electric lights and the fireside.
What Is more pleasing than a warm
band OF sunshine across the living room
floor?
1t is so lively sight that It should
never be entirely barred. even in Sum
! mer. Those who bar it out with closely-
pulled blinds and awnings make more
than one mistake, We believe.
Many people do not like moonlight
as 1t falls through windows, probably on
the basis of the century-old supersti-
ton that its rays cause madness.
although they would be the last to
admit as much
Shadows from table lights are the
most pleasing Of indoor shadows, rot
commonly given the credit they deserve,
| they are so soft, so unobtrusive and so
pleasing in their total character.
Pickering shadows from the fireplace
are their peer however. When curtains
are drawn and lights turned out the
flames In the fireplace cause dancing
shadows to make furniture and metal
and wood and ivory and glass shine
and sparkle as If alive. And human
beings become mellow in the glow of
the wine Of light.