Evening star., 1936-09-22
THIS AND THAT u
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

Look up. not down." Is 4 good motto.
but not when one Is collecting bird
feathers.
There Is q resident Of this town who,
In q period Of six years, more or less,
has picked up more than 400 feathers
as he walked along the streets Of his
suburban community
Looking down Is what has done 1t.
This does not mean that the queer
collector has kept his eyes glued to the
pavement, as the saying is.
But he does keep on the watch for his
feathers, and has been rewarded with
many a choice find, ranging from long
pigeon feathers in gray, blue and brown,
to tiny ones from warblers and the like.
These feathers range from seven
inches long, to an inch or two, with some
only half an inch in length.
They are the bold blue and gray Of
the blue jay and the bright, glorious red
of the cardinal and many shades Of
brown. blue. gray. etc.
This collector has become SO expert IN
catching sight of feathers that he really
believes he senses them. rather than
merely sees them.
A feather, after all, is not very large
and mostly attracts little attention.
Most persons walk over them without
ever seeing them. In the downtown
areas such pinions as are dropped by
the birds, in moulting, or due to disease,
or the results of fights or accidents, are
practically lost as they fall.
Onrush of heavy traffic spoils them
in no time at all. The wind kicked up
by moving cars whirls them to one side.
In the suburbs there is q great deal
more chance for SO light a thing as q
feather to stay put until 1t is found by
some interested person.
=
Perhaps few persons, even in outlying
communities. are interested In such
things.
1t requires an unusual mind. a curious
mind, in the best sense, to look for such
things in the street.
All those persons interested in the
wild birds might undertake this pleasant
search, however. without adding any
thing to the burdens Of the day.
1t may be conducted as one goes to
and from work. 1t takes no time, and
no particular effort. AS indicated, it is
not even necessary to look, in the usual
sense. The eyes will not be harmed.
What is necessary Is the interest in
the search. Once this is established
the search becomes merely a part of the
daily walk.
1t is by making such things as neces-
sary walks, etc, things to be interested
in. rather than be bored at, that some
wise persons make life more liveable for
themselves.
Such people, as q sage once pointed
out, can never find life dull, because
they do not permit 1t to impress them
SO. Even In the most prosaic tasks they
are able to find intriguing aspects.
Containers Of all kinds-toothpaste
tubes, bottles, tin cans, paper bags-these
are found immensely interesting, in
their variety, coloring, uses.
One does not have to be q manufac-
turer to find these good points. Many
containers on the market today are
immensely clever in conception and
manufacture, but most of them are
scarcely recognized as such by the great
majority. who simply empty them and
throw them away without q glance.
One gives ones self added dividends
in every way if such opportunities-and
they are innumerable in modern life
are seized as they arise. Such an atti-
tude is neither eccentricity nor childish