Evening star., 1944-01-22
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeu
DECATUR STREET

Dear sir:
Recently Ill with the flu, tried to
find out how much OF Gods out-of-
doors could see from my window. And
the changing sky was always there for
me to look at. Sometimes it was gray
and heavy with clouds and then again
1t would be clear, with the sun shining.
Several evenings about sunset it was
lovely with pink clouds.
These glimpses of the out-of doors
meant so much to me when I was kept
in my room. But how thankful each of
us should be for restored strength and
the privilege Of walking out OF doors
and seeing so many more beautiful sights
OF trees and birds and blue skies.
I enjoy reading your column so much.
I usually save it for last as read the
paper.
VERY respectfully, E. d. B."
1t is plain fact that few of us ap-
preciate just the ability to 60 around
1t is only when we become Ill, from
time to time, that we realize what the
outdoors means to us.
This appreciation is not for the ath-
letic side of outdoors. Sometimes one
might almost think that outdoors, in
usual parlance, is synonymous with
athleticism.
This is not all there is to the great
outdoors" however
There Is the side Of beauty, the
freedom of being on the move, the close
appreciation of all the trees, birds and
animals, the buildings, which we see
only as through glass. darkly, when
we are sick.
y X *
No doubt many a person feels graft
tude when he does not know it.
Perhaps we cannot all be consciously
glad for the simple privilege of being
up and around" but without 4 doubt
we all know what privilege 1t is, when
we think Of it.
There Is nothing dramatic about it.
We are no heroes, we have not been
shot, and no grateful nation will give
us its thanks
At the same time, we do appreciate
the simple things which moving about
makes us heir to; we know better how
the Eleventh street sparrows look, as
they cluster around some bread which
has been put there for them; we feel
the keen cut Of the winter air, and have
to run to preserve our lives at corners.
Here 1t might not be inappropriate to
say few words on running for street
cars and buses. Our advice is: Don't.
Never run, except for the sport of the
thing. There is nothing more dangerous
IN the average daily life than running
for transportation. It is much better to
walk. 1t is much better to walk and
miss the bus, than to run and perhaps
catch 1t at the risk of ones very life.
Life is much too precious to risk it in
such manner. Preserve the risk for
time when 1t may be necessary.
+ X X
Robert Louis Stevenson told us the
delights and adventures to be met in
the land of counterpane.
Some day another poet may arise who
will tell as simply the sights to be seen
through any ordinary window.
No matter what it looks out upon, If
only brick wall and tin roof, it can
show something Of real interest.
The fascination Is to find it. We know
man who, i'll for a long time, had
nothing to look out at through his one
window except an ivy wall of a hospital
Yet IN that wall he found a whole
world, the world OF English sparrows
returning for the nights lodging.
He discovered that these little crea-
lures, far from being the pests they are
sometimes called, were veritable life
savers as far as he was concerned. He
came to know many of them by sight,
through various markings on wings and
tail. He learned to distinguish some of
them through habits, and found that
their lives were both respectable and in
teresting. When finally he became well
and learned at first hand again the joys
OF being out Of doors, he often went
back to watch his sparrow friends. and to
dop them . bit Of food. p