Evening star., 1946-03-28
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1Dell

"THIRTY-sECOND STREET.
Dear Sir:
Have you any explanation of robins
lnsistent flying against a window pane?
we had three or four weeks of it
last April.
Yesterday he evidently returned to
the same useless performance.
Last spring he flew at three windows,
two on the south, the other on the north,
Thank you very much.
Sincerely, M. N.
"P.S.-How do I know that 1t Is
useless?"
SECOND STREET.
Dear Sir:
Teaching is a way of ife.' I read
these words in an educational movie last
week.
ITO me, teaching is life. It is such
Joy to watch young minds grow and
develop from day to day, to see the light
OF understanding dawn, where once
there was doubt and uncertainty. There
is always present the thrill of learning,
OF growing, of progress.
To-day, a child reads, alone, with
comprehension, for the first time; an
other masters the intricate workings of
long division. A shy little girl shows
growth in self-confidence. She feels
more secure. Another joins in games,
where once she played alone.
"A quiet little fellow with slim, taper
ing fingers, carefully models a lions
head from lump of clay. Could he be
future sculptor? Is there a spark of
Onnt11C fharnO r
Il almost hold my breath as q To-
year-old reads, The Lord is my shep-
herd to an intent group Of listeners, in
morning devotions. Could she, in Is or
20 years, be reading to group of un-
Christian people in foreign land, these
same words? Could it be that this pupil
of mine will touch the lives of many?
The thought is thrilling, yet frightening.
1t Is challenge to give the best that I
have to these children, my pupils.
"At recess. a child brings in a wound
ed bird, and carefully binds up the
broken leg. It is bluebird and as I
hold the splints and watch her steady
= movements, the thought crosses my
mind, Gould she be future Florence
Nightengale? She possesses such ma
tural ability to care for the helpless.
Again, the challenge comes-one of my
pupils!
English class arrives, and compost
tions are read In one, I like to think
I see the budding of future novelist.
That phrase was bit out of the ordi-
nary for 12-year-old. Time will tell.
You cannot force nature. You can en-
courage, direct and guide, but the growth
must come from within.
"The day passes, and as I walk home
in the golden haze Of the spring sun
shine, with fresh signs Of new life all
around me, am happy and content,
tired, too, but always comes the thought,
1T is good to be teacher
'"The reward-ah, me, like virtue,
there's none but that small inner voice
that whispers, We'll done
Sincerely, H. F. b."
AS for the why of robins-and others
fighting their reflection in window
panes, there are as many explanations
as there are such happenings.
It is best broken up by soaping the
window on the outside, or hanging long
strips OF paper against the pane.
We have seen blue jays pecking at
the chromium caps of hubs
Birds being pretty sensible living
things, as shown by their continued ex-
istence, despite their comparative fra
gility, they can and do see themselves
in mirrors, thing which neither dog
nor cat seems to do, except occasionally.
Since spring is the fighting time, these
belligerent birds try to chase away the
apparent rival before them.
No one need fear that window will
be broken. Glass has high tensile
strength, and the drive behind the
bird bill is short. Soon the window
pecking bird will tire, and find he has
other duties more pressing elsewhere.
That viii be happy moment both for
him and the householders concerned.