Evening star., 1933-06-20

The patter of steady night rain on
the roof has fascinated mankind for
thousands Of years. 1t still has the
power to bring peace to those who have
not attempted to Danish personal soil
tude with perpetual merriment.
There is, of course, such thing as
a personal solitude, into which one may
enter at will. Every boy reading in the
family circle is an example Of it. The
remainder chat and laugh, but he Is
lost in Africa or some place.
The companion who seems lost in
thought" as the world says, ana who
has to ask you what you said, before
he can answer, is an example.
Continual rain in the night merely
makes easy common mood. 1t Is
night life' We like and understand.
There is slap slap, slap on shin
giles, and a jingle. Jingle, jingle from
some downspout. where rolling drops,
joining millions OF others, cause a
slight disturbance in the night.
1t is the blanketing affect OF the mass
Of drops. however which soothes ears
long attuned to the intermittent noises
of mankind
The sound Of rain is a natural noise,
one which holds no disturbing factor,
s.nce it has nothing to do with the
worlds arch disturber, man.
Perhaps that is its greatest distinc-
ton, in sense.
Rain is a product OF this world, but
distinctly keeps its other-world air, as
much so as when first 1t descended IN
the reeking effluvia of antideluvian
days.
Alcng with other natural phenomena
rainfall comes into being without con-
sulting man. No amount Of planning
on the part OF the inhabitants OF this
sphere seems to be able to influence
when sit" shall rain and when 1T
shall not.
Rain. when it comes, is inevitable,
there is no stopping it, and, when 1t
stops, there is no starting it again. Like
a naughty monarch Of the old school,
it does exactly as it pleases.
No doubt part Of the happiness OF the
night rain to the we'll housed man lies
in the sense of protection from 1t. This,
he tells himself, is what a house Is
for, to protect me and mine.
The sturdy work of the roofing and
cutters, and downspoutS, Is all forgot IN
the general sense of security, which
envelops this house.
The best night rain is the leisurely
sort, which does not pick up one min
ute, merely to die away later, but which
continues steadily, at an even pace, as
If the perfect patter Of rains had been
evolved at last out of the centuries.
There are tempestuous rains, blown
about by winds; there are hurried af-
fairs, over and gone before the house
holder can get used to them: there are
rains of Summer and of Winter, and
the cold drizzle Of an Autumn day.
This night rain of Summer, coming
as it did when an exceptionally cool
spell struck the city. combined some
thing Of all seasons in its makeup.
1t did not hurry, it did not bluster, it
did not 60 around one way to come
back by another, but went right ahead
on its appointed task, to drench the
yards and shrubs and trees and flowers.
One, listening, hoped that 1t would
not harm the Regal lilies, just coming
into bloom.
Too much water tended to turn the
blossoms brown Not all charming
garden inhabitants care for natures
baths. Great white peonies of some
three weeks ago had hung their heads
in the mud. Iris stood up we'll. but
even some Of them suffered. Heavy
rains had damaged the blooms Of
climbing roses. at least had not per-