Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-02-05
This and That
By Charles E. Trnce1DelI.
FALLS CHURCH, v,

Dear Sir:
Greetings from small but charmed
and devoted family group of readers in
suburban Falls Church. might say a
privileged group, too, for We are privi-
lodged to live in a sequestered woodland
spot and our neighbors are the feath-
cred tribes and small animals of the
woods; and there daily we are privi-
lodged to read your column in The Star,
and CLEAN SO much of interest, which
from your observation and experience
you are passing on to your readers.
Tonight 1t Is again the blue Jays.
want to tell you of blue jay I once
hnew. 1t was down at Camp Wilma
taska IN Alabama, summer camp for
boys. This jay was found aground,
either with broken leg or wing, by one
OF the leaders. The injury was bound
and put in splints. And long before
the bird was we'll he was thoroughly
tanned and, in fact, quite familiar with
every one at the camp, taking rides on
heads, shoulders or any part of the
body that seemed to provide q perch.
THE writer himself had the ex-
perience while lying upon a bunk of
having Jiggs, as he had been dubbed.
shirt, pecking ct each button he en-
countered on the march.
When the camp closed, Jiggs accom-
panied his rescuer and healer to his
home, and later to Washington and Lee
University, where he remained for some
time, but one day he went out and
: never returned. So far as have heard,
Jiggs is the only jay ever to enter coll
lege or university.
With best wishes and assuring you
OF our appreciation and unfiagging in
terest IN your column, am
Very truly yours, r. A. L."
Blue jays, being naturally wild birds In
peculiar sense, always fly away ulti-
mately, no matter how long they have
been captive.
We have heard OF jay which was
the house guest of nearby family for
eight months.
It had the run of every room, and was
beloved by oil, but one day It new out
and away and was never seen again.
This particular bird had made pre-
vtous excursion into the open, and had
been set upon by band Of Jays and
driven In again. For several months he
seemed willing to stay inside, but at last
showed signs of distress.
The blue jays make interesting pets,
and certainly those who help them In
time OF need have q right to keep them
for time. at least
When young bird owes its life to
some humans Intervention, it often
shows great fondness for human So
ciety.
Probably most Of the friendly birds
one encounters have received such train
Ing. at some time or other. We have
carried here, from time to time, accounts
Of particularly friendly wood thrlshes,
jays. robins and bluebirds.
Most Of these were rescued, as orphans.
and Brought up "hy hand"
No matter how much they Ike the
society Of their two-legged friends. 80
Infinitely larger, they at last reach the
state when the very air Of mankind
grows tiresome to them.
Perhaps they scent the murder and
stupidity which blot out the fair name
OF humanity.
Al any rate they ny away, and the
sensitive person who raised them will
wonder what was wrong.
Nothing Is wrong. Everything Is right
It Is right for . bird to be outdoors.
wnere = belongs, rather than IN the
stale Air Of the indoors.
the outdoor air must have IN eouixite
fragrance and rightness to III the Wild
creatures, lure which Is utterly un-
Known % ~ but faW Woodsmaa, poets
- eaants. 80