Evening star., 1945-03-15
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,oell.
g STREET.

u STREET.
Dear Sir:
Have been here now for over \
year, and at once became 4 reader and
friend of your column.
:, md much pleasure roaming
through Rock Creek Park, for it re-
MINDS me OF my old haunts UP In the
Pennsylvania woods.
lived many years In a suburb of
PITTSBURGH near q 500-acre natural
woods donated to the city by one Of
Its big steel magnates.
Am great lover Of our wild birds.
birds which work hard to keep down ali
manner of insects.
I md many species here new to me.
which adds greatly to the interest. /
md the best way to enjoy wild life is
TO go alone. I never take a dog or
children.
I usually select a quiet sanctuary
a little of the beaten path, and from
there, after sitting almost rigid for
perhaps Is to 20 minutes, with a few
choice morsels Of their favorite foods.
l soon have quite collection OF visitors
During the winter and early spring
the birds are more willing to visit for
at that time they are usually looking
for food
The subject of squirrels often comes
up In your column
AS you say, they are natural acrobats
and schemers.
1t is hard to make food platform
they cannot reach. Also, I have seen
them make of with large portions of
suet that had been wired to a tree for
the winter birds. Gluttons they are.
Even when not hungry, they will
come around and beg a nut If It Is
whole, at once they will scamper of to
bury it.
"One can get a little entertainment
also by making them do q little work for
the food. Thus-select a spot in 4
grove, two trees about 20 to Is feet apart.
Stretch wire or heavy cord between
the trees about 10 feet UP, then suspend
lighter cords hanging about feet apart.
Loop q peanut down the lower end,
8 or feet up. Retire for little dis
tance, sit down and wait.
Soon several will begin to plan how
to get the nut. They will try leapine
up. Finding that useless, they will
climb one Of the trees, walk head down
along the top line, and when they reach
the first string they hang down by the
hind claws, pull up the string, open the
loop and scamper back with the nut.
With all good wishes,
Yours sincerely, e. l.. w."
-
These observations, from a 77-year-
old reader with the heart Of q boy, show
how easily any one with the right mind
and heart may enjoy himself, even in
world ut war, thanks to the brave men
who are keeping the enemy from our
shores.
Let us not forget our brave men, what
they have done and are doing for each
one OF us individually. At times 1t Is
difhcult not to think Of the whole thing
as sort Of show, something happening
IN far-oh places It is happening In far
on places, all right. and It Is happening
for us.
An exception to the rule Of our corrk-
spondent Is when two older persons 81
like mind 50 together to watch the
birds. Larger numbers may take part.
i al engaged keep still and let the
flyers come.
Squirrels offer inexhaustible a,mnse-
aent to those who like them. It & tao
nad Tor them u some instances that
their TASTE for food leads them to bird
feeding stations. Not Ill persons accept
them 20 philosophically a. our corre-s
spondent. Perhaps Ia time The squirrcls
viii learn. Is man hirnself must, to dif-
ferentiate between those who accent
them and those who do not. This u i
lesson every human being must learn,
and maybe the smaller creatures 81 wood
and deld IA TINA WIN eulne around TO it.