Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-06-18
This and That
by Charles E, Tracetoeu -
CONNECTICUT AVE.


Dear Sir:
II wasn't exactly An eyewitness, but
this Is the way it was told to me, and,
as have seen hundreds Of such incl
dents since coming to Washington, I'm
adding 1t to my scrapbook as evidence
that the Nationai Capital is the most
unusual busy In the United States
and perhaps I'M the world.
"A crowded bus was coming down q
busy street at a pretty good clip (they
at any time) when the driver stopped
suddenly, pulled up the brake, and
got out.
The passengers, uncomfortably
packed in and impatient to be rolling
very curious-it wasn't a stop station,
were no other vehicles directly ahead.
They watched the driver walk in
front of the bus. He picked up = piece
Of cardboard Cor maybe he already had
1t in his hand and started gently push
ing something toward the sidewalk
with it,.
when he reached the curb he gin
gerly hoisted the object on the cardboard
and placed it on the grassy space be-
tween the curb and the sidewalk.
TT was a tiny baby bird-a sparrow.
TT couldn't fly at all. 1t just staggered
around on the grass with both wings
and tail spread out in nuttering at
tempts to take OF.
But at least it was safe from trafic
for the moment.
THE driver got back In and drove OF.
fa~ nd et
ments, but not much was said. Each
thoughts. For me 1t was the human
interest story of the day-and it hap
pens something like this every day to
different individuals in different little
ways all over this colorful, crowded met
ropolis, with its fantastic contrasts be-
tween the traditional old and the cratic
new and between sophistication and
simplicity, like which there is no other
simplicity. Sincerely, M. s. s."
~ 4
We saw some birds on Brookeville
road the other day which no kind per-
son had slowed up to 60 around.
They had squashed them squarely, a
wood thrush and a robin.
Just why some thoroughfares make
for rapid driving, and hence some
times cruel, thoughtless driving. is q
mystery.
It Is 50, however. And Brookeville
road, in nearby Maryland, Is one Of
these roads.
Over on Connecticut avenue it is i'm
possible to stop and wait for 4 bus with
out some motorist stopping and offering
lift. but on the winding road to the
east there is never any stopping.
Dead squirrels and rats and birds are
not rare, and occasionally there Is /
crushed rabbit.
The rats are no loss, but the rest Of
them are, and all could be saved by
the slightest slowing of the killer car.
Birds and squirrels, In particular, need
but fraction of = second to get to
safety, but they do need that second,
and those humans who will not give 1t
to them are odd, to say the least.
Here thoughtlessness often plays a
part. Few persons who run over birds
are cruel, or mean to do 1t, they just
do it without thinking. Thus thought
lessness and ignorance 60 hand-in-
hand to cause many unnecessary deaths.
Bus and streetcar drivers are often
farm boys who not only have tender
hearts. but also realize the good work
birds do In the world toward making
full crops possible
It Is no new thing for . driver or
motorman to slow down vehicle to
let stray dog or cat cross. The papers
over the years have chronicled such
good doings. Surely goodness and mercy
should NOT 60 unchronicled In . world
where every bad deed gets It's full share
Of publicity. =. .-.