Evening star., 1934-01-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES +. TRACEWELL.

given . chance at all to come out
again. One learns against a day Of
reckoning-and when the day comes,
one either finds no call for the old
knowledge or needs something ac-
quired since.
And SO 1t goes.
There are surprisingly few opportuni-
ties for the average human being to
learn something and then apply 1t at
once. -
There is no theory in the little world
of the aquarium, 1t is all actuality,
upon which depends the life or death Of
the fishes.
He who comes to this art obsessed
with the idea that the keeping or fishes
in home aquaria is invariably a SIMPLE
thing is going to be fooled.
If he thinks that color, and color
only, is the chief charm, he will miss
a lot right under his eyes.
He will have the opportunity to find
out great deal, as sicknesses develop.
as tanks get cloudy water, instead Of
keeping their desired crystal appear
ance.
He will have the chance to select the
UTuLIl lIUul LIE IlOCuIH ana Tie plduS-
ible from the fanciful.
He will learn to believe the evidence
Of his own eyes. to believe in what he
observes, no matter how counter it runs
to what some one else has said.
Green algae in the tanks, for in
stance, those minute plants which will
collect on the inside walls, and some-
times even through the water itself
what do all the books say?
They warn the newcomer against
algae, as If these tiny plants were some
thing inimical. Yet the amateur will
learn, in time, II he is true to himself
and to his fishes, that there is nothing
more desirable in tank than algae, If
kept within bounds
After a while no tank will look right
to him unless it has in 1t its quota of
algae. He will learn how to manage
these plantlets for his fishes sake.
The opportunity to overcome-is not
that the real charm?
To ovrecome inimical conditions, Of
course. means to succeed. to use knowl-
edge. although in a restricted sphere,
to better, to bring victory out Of what
seems to be defeat
Keeping fishes properly is not Just
and without thought; in the cases
where 1t appears to be such, you never
hear about the fishes that die. Moth
ing is ever said about them.
One problem follows another In this
hobby, as perhaps in most, but prob
ably just little bit more SO in this
than in any other, some way or other.
No matter how much one thinks he
knows, no matter how well he follows
his own directions" unseen factors
enter into the picture, with the result
that the conditions are altered.
Then there is nothing to do but
study the whole matter from A to q,
and find out what is wrong. and cor
rect it.
The result is that one perpetually
has the opportunity to learn to apply
that knowledge.
Put stamp into an album. and there
1t Is forever, but put a fish into an
aquarium; it may be there today, but
gone tomorrow. ut may jump out the
top. II the owner forgets to put the
glass cover back after feeding.)
The amateur aquarist is he who over
cometh. indeed. II his learning, and
his application of knowledge, and his
overcoming Of difficulties, are in mat
ter which some might choose to call
small, let him not worry about that,
but remember that he who is true in
small things will be fit to be trusted in
great things at last. 1t is the way of
salvation. both for men and little fishes