Evening star., 1936-02-07
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The new foods for wild birds, ordinary
mouse cheese and shredded coconut, are
added to the long list Of possibilities.
not sorry when they 60.
The first was suggested by a reader
who telephoned the news that the fam
ily's pet mockingbird, Crackdown II, had
lust sung for the first time that morning.
That was February 3. Last year his
father, Crackdown T. sang on February /.
The second suggestion, shredded Coco
nut, is contained in letter from a resi-
dent of Garfield street.
Thus we see that in addition to all the
grains and seeds which ordinarily are
used for the purpose, large and varied
diet may be given the birds, including
suet, cornmeal, raisins, etc. Cornbread,
of course, is highly acceptable.
Nor would most families find these
items expensive II the members thereof
would give up, as one family has, the
use of certain luxuries in order to help
the birds.
One correspondent speaks of the trial
and error" method Of feeding the birds,
and no doubt that Is the best way, after
all.
WldG one IcdEuS 1IOih dIbud1 CAPCAA-
ence is much more likely to be real and
genuine, somehow, than what one is told.
Those who begin to feed the birds ordi-
narily find out great many things,
facts which others have found out long
ago, perhaps but which are always new
and interesting to the newcomer.
There is, too among bird feeders a
feeling of comradeship which is not ex-
celled in any other fancy" Everybody
is willing to share knowledge gained with
everybody else There is no jealousy
here, as is sometimes experienced in 9TH
er hobbies.
The birds are free, and their feeding
must be free. The birds come as they
will and 60 as they please, and their
feeding, as done by human beings. must
take on some of this freedom, to the
good Of all.
Though we attract many birds to our
gardens, and properly call them 'our"
birds, they are not ours, but Natures.
really, and we must acknowledge 1t at
last.
With the birds, perforce, we must put
into practice, whether We realize it or
not that good stole doctrine that all
things are merely lent US; that nothing
actually belongs to us.
Often this is too hard doctrine, in
this life, but with the birds it is easy,
because it cannot be helped.
Every one who puts out crumbs, or
seeds, or grains, or yellow mouse" cheese,
or coconut, or any other edible fancied
by the birds, comes to a cheerful accept
ance of this doctrine.
There is no ownership here. Every
bird is its own MASTER in the best sense.
Each one Is the captain Of its own soul
and must make out the best it can.
Whether it flies alone or belongs to a
flock. each bird is on its own and must
fly or sink so.
They bring to human homes quite
fresh evidences of the great power which
made us and keeps us ALL
They come and go as they please, and
we can be glad when they come, and
not worry when they go.
We are not sorry, only worried, if they
should not come. We realize that they
are in the care Of vast forces, of which
they are part. What sickness and death
they experience is far from us. Very few
persons have seen bird die, except,
alas, at the hands Of man. We know of
but one account. and a beautiful one, of
the natural death of a bird.
Hence wild birds, of all creatures, bring
us the breath Of the good and happiness