Evening star., 1932-05-25

we tett Iempletcn Jones the other
DAY On downtown corner in the sun
shine. IN his right hand paper bucket
OF soldfash, which he was transporting
personally 70 his lily pool,
The next scene In this everyday
drama shows Mr.. Jones gingerly get
ting into his tus, trying his best to
give the impression that carrying gold
fish was an everyday matter with him.
Hut since not . soul in the vehicle
gave whoop whether his bucket con-
tanned oysters. Ice cream or what not,
Jones pretensions went for nothing,
It was dark in the container. and the
flSh We're in no mood for stirring up
trouble. They had Just been snatcheu
from great tank, and now found
themselves In sort of midnight.
One did not have to be a nature
faker, In any sense, to believe that the
goldfish knew something was wrong in
their habitat.
Goldfish are used to ell sorts of liv-
ing places. from round bowls much too
small fer than, to huge tanks in which
they swim hither and yon. mostly yon,
with scores Of their brothers and sisters.
Light. however, Is the essence CT their
Lives. as one might judge from the
blazon which nature put upon their
their red-sold eoloration.
Here they were In the bucket. shut
out from the light, like the poor old
horse which zola told about in his
novel of the coal miners, 'Germinal."
They were travelling at a speed un-
known to goldfish; they had no way Of
knowing whether this night III which
they found themselves would last for
ever; perhaps they remembered, in their
sluggish way. the great iGnt of o.her
Gays, as the mine horse did the sun
OF his meadow life.
While the humane Templeton joni S
was doing aA this musing for his fish.
who, no doubt we're in pef2ct tlan,,
as well as a complete huddle, he sud-
denly discovered that the northwe3s
corner of the square paper bucket. or
container, was becoming slightly damp.
Horrible idea!
Suppose the bottom should ccme out
as Jones set there on the bus, and ne
should be left with three goldfish, a
snail and three oxygenating plants in
his lap
Stranger things have happened
aboard buses, and Jones knew 1t,
from meny years OF intensive expert
ence One can never be sure.
Gingerly he felt the corner.
Yes, a small leak had developed,
there could be no doubt OF 1t. Jones
moved the bcx over on his newspaper
and noted that there was slight wet
ness where it had been.
He would see If the new spot got wet
in similar manner.
Here Was an experiment which nigh.
be conoueted quietly, without attracting
no o. for Nf Nf
sengers, who did not for a moment
realize, evidently, that they were going
home with an aquarium.
The bus had gone two more blocks
when Jones sid the bucket over its
full length.
Out, damn spot" said Jones. un-
consciously quoting Shakesps are, who's
works he had a habit of f1outing in
public, but of reading in private.
The spot would not go away, but
began to grow larger, not very much
larger. but just enough to cause the
fisherman a grsa. deal of small worry
Templeton Jones was an expert small
worrier. however, so he did not mind
the leak very much. after all He had
the happy faculty. which he shared IL
common with many human beings (and
1t was always q satisfaction to him to
realize that this list included some OF
the greatest men and women who ever
lived of worrying less and less the
larger his troubles became He worried
terribly over small matter, but left
the large ones to Nature or to Natures
God. Just common sense. he s2id: but
many people have preferred to call it
religion.
Jones wondered what he would do
if the bottom came out, and the fish