Evening star., 1944-07-10
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trdce,Deu.
LOWER MARLBORO, MD.

Dear Sir:
Il enjoy your interesting column in
The Star ever so much. as am deeply
interested in poetry. art and nature
study, and also write music.
Here are a few facts have cleaned
from my tramps through the fields and
woods and by the beautiful Patuxent
River, by the side Of which I have my
music and writing studio.
Il pray Gods kindest blessing on you
and your work. Were the world filled
more with the spirit of your writing,
there would be less tragedy.
"A study Of nature brings one closer
to Almighty Gcd most high and most
holy, have found in my pilgrimage
in this dark valley we call life; and as
it is part Of my philosophy to help
my fellowmen, send you the following
notes:
IAN owls wings are silent In fight.
Eagles rob osprey or fish hawk Of
their prey by diving at them, causing
the osprey to drop its FISH, and then the
eagle dives on the falling fish and fire.
quently succeeds in seizing 1t in its
talons before the fish hits the water.
"CalamuS root or the root OF common
marsh flag is good for the 'bellyache.'
according to local legend.
"Elder-berries and sasafras root make
an excellent tea.
1T is said that these teas are a good
laxative.
The young shoots Of the pokeberry
plant form a very delicious salad. I
have eaten poke salad many time.
ic
The crab, in shedding, goes through
five stages:
Il. The hard shell or normal state.
- The peeler in which an entire new
skeleton is formed under the outer hard
shell.
IS. The burster state, in which the
outer hard shell is splitting in the back
and the under soft skeleton shows.
a. The soft state. in which. for time,
the crab is perfectly helpless. 1t is
in this state that the crabs are taken
and they provide delicious dishes for
you.
IS. The paper shell state, in which the
soft shell is in the process of becoming
hard again. The crab is very sour in
this stage. and not very good to eat.
IT you want some information on to-
bacco culture, can supply that also, as
this is tobacco country and have lived
in 1t all my life; in fact, raise some.
Il am sincerely your fellow nature
lover and brother in the fraternity of
our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, the light and hope of the
world, R. E. H."
Pleasantly filled with roots and berries
and barks. this letter points the way
to a whole world of interest for the
person who is willing to believe that
there is something else in the world
besides war and politics, as important
as those are to struggling humanity.
Walt Whitman, who might be called
Washington's poet in a peculiar sense,
often tramped through the fields in and
around the District of Columbia, and
always was amazed and delighted at the
things he found
The calamus root was a favorite of
his Indeed, one section of his Leaves
OF Grass" is named in honor Of it.
One summer day he wrote:
"Forenoon-aS sit under the willow
shade, little bird Is leisurely dousing
and flirting himself amid the brook
almost within reach of me.
He evidently fears me not-takes
me for some concomitant of the neigh
boring earthly bank, free bushery and
wild weeds.
THE last three days have been perfect
ones Tor the season four nights ago
copious rains, with vehement thunder
and lightning). write this sitting by
the creek watching my two kingfishers
at their sundown sport.
The strong, beautiful, joyous crea-
lures! Their wings glisten In the slanted
sunbeams as they circle and circle
around, occasionally dipping and DASH
Ing the water. and making long stretches
up ana down the creek.
Wherever 60 over fields, through
lanes. In by-places, blooms the white
towering wild carrot. its delicate pat Of
snowhakes crowning its slender stem,
gracefully oscillating In the breeze"