Evening star., 1944-05-03
This and That
By Charles E. Trace,uell.
ARLINGTON, Va.

Dear Sir:
THE mention of moths in YOUR in
tereStlng column of recent date brought
70 mlno an unusual and happy expe-
rience OF few years ago.
With my three youngsters we we're
camping In Yellowstone Park for two
weeks. Our camp was near Fishing
Bridge, at the head of Yellowstone
River on Yellowstone Lake. The fishing
was excellent. Beautiful cut-throat
trout with red meat like the rainbow
ana fne eating. An old Dare Devils
imp from my fishing kit brought all the
way from Mississippi made the limit
easy to reach any day.
One night we came into camp with
good mess all cleaned and ready for
the pan, and found we had acquired
neighbors during the afternoon. A
Packard sedan was parked near our
tent. camp table and two canvas
chairs nearby appeared about the only
equipment In sight. No tent nor Sleep
ing bags. which was the general rule
Tor all campers thereabouts.
About the time we got our sumner
going over an open fire, we noticed our
new neighbors had come on the scene.
1hey were couple pretty well along in
years, but with a mark of the outdoors
ABOUT them. Both were sun tanned and
hearty looking.
To get acquainted, we offered them
a brace of the trout. They accepted with
many thanks and we noticed very
shortly a camp stove come from some-
Wnere, and the aroma of potatoes and
onions, strong coffee and fish irving in
deep fat mingled with our own sayorv
smells. All the time many smiles from
our new friends.
\
After supper and the dishes done.
every tnlng put away out of reach of
pears that roam the camp grounds in
searcn OF food we called on our new
heignoorS. He was retired from busi-
ness IN chicago. His money in rental
properly and under satisfactory man
agement. His hobby collecting butter
mes ana moths. They had been every-
Wnere IN the United States, Canada and
Central America, wherever it was pos
slpie 10 drive. She was as enthusiastic
as ne was, and her eyes lighted as thew
ore" out great trays of mounted speci-
mems from special compartment of
thelr car, which was cleverly arranged
1or sleeping at night and contained full
equipment for stops anywhere along the
road and highway. WIN
ihelr equipment for catching the
night flying beauties was described as
hanging a sheet over a rope between
mandy trees or long stakes in the desert
country. A light burned brightly on a
oox next to the sheet, and attracted the
!hotn. AS he circled around the light
ne was soon captured when he hit, the
sheet and stopped.
Ihelr trays were full of beautiful and
rare species. They described a great
room at home full of many more. Far
horizons beckoned with others to he
nad. In Mexico in a certain place. for
instance, -. Or maybe it was the
Eolsto River country in Colleton County
s. c., near Walterboro, or some Other
equally romantic spot.
II nave often thought of them
Theirs was g life of fullness and con-
tentment. Always searching for the
rare beauty of a moths wing Some
tlmes envy them. Their fortune made
now adventure
Cordially, G. B."
The advantages of having hobbies
That may be carried on in your older
days are plainly set forth in the above.
vigorous athletics, for instance while
possessing many advantages at the
time, are impossible for older persons,
Reading, fine needlework, and other
things requiring close application often
must be given up, with advancing age
and sometimes the age is not so ad-
vanced. either
Collections, on the other hand, no
matter what they may be, offer the ad-
vantage that they may be pursued for
ever
Most hobbies cannot be carried on
except with certain amount of health
Even that one for which no man is
too old or too young" gardening, re-
qulres certain amount of good health.
So, with all your hobbies, get health.
Bird watching and the collecting of
postage stamps, we believe among the
finest Of all hobbies, and may be car
ried on either In good or poor health.