Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-06
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRAcEHELL.

The decline Of the park system began
years ago will. the changes In Dupont
Circle. Whether there will be q pro-
gressive fall" depends upon the people
Of the District Of Columbia and the
parks oficials We are hopeful enough
to believe that the latter will not lose
sight Of the real reason for being of
these parks, and will make them better
as time goes on.
Invalids and those who are less than
well ought to be able to visit these parks,
and not be subjected to noise and tur-
mol ali the time. 1t must not be for
gotten that there are thousands of
apartment jewellers, and these, in the
main, are dependent upon the parks,
squares, circles and little triangies of
open land.
ar really don't know anything about
plants or birds except that love them"
This Is all that is necessary, really.
But q little knowledge is helpful, and
this may be secured from books, maya
zines and newspapers, and especially
from other humans who may happen
to know something. There is no better
way to know the birds, for instance.
As for the scientific names, these are
mines Of interest and romance, once
one stops being afraid of them. Fear
of them arises, mostly, because one Is
fearful of mispronouncing and often
refuses to look at them carefully, or to
take the time to try to spell them out
at first syllable by syllable. The common
names ccountry names" the English
call them come first, and are beloved
of all. The better acquainted one Is
with scientific nomenclature, the more
he cherishes the wonderful old names
given life by the plain folk Of the world.
Another voice speaks up, above, for
the English sparrows, and offers most
excellent reason why they should not
be despised.
The sparrows, bless their little hearts,
often come when one needs them most.
1t is so with many other small and
unimportant" things, which can be
made important enough, as they are, II
one sees them Alright.
Tennessee Is not the only place where
the yards are more important than the
houses! This is fairly universal state
of mind. 1t means interest in plants and
planting, so that one experiences at first
hand some Of the healing powers of
Nature spoken of so often through the
centuries.
Today science is showing us the why
of it, but all down the ages mankind has
known these good powers existed. Many
and diverse have been the means exc
plotted to get at these powers. They I'LL
books. Some of the best of them, such
as sun bathing, are free. We know now,
to a certain extent, what makes the
sunshine sunny, but those OF the old
times got its benefits without knowing.
The fear that we may get too much vita
man D, by too great exposure to the
sun, need not worry most of us. Those
who have no outdoor sports will run a
risk Of getting too little Of the great
sunshine vitamin.
Here is where amateur Nature watch
ing comes in. 1t can be conducted
almost anywhere, and almost any time.
Waiting for q bus or street car. Does
1t bore you? 1t won't, II you know even
the littlest about flowers, shrubs, birds,
animals. A little knowledge is won
derful thing. 1t builds interest, interest
guilds more interest, more interest builds
more knowledge, interest and knowledge
together help make happiness. If CEN
tered on the right things. Going around
in a circle is swell, If you know enough
to swing on the right axis all the time.