Evening star., 1947-05-17
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. Tracewell.
TAILS CHURCH, Va.


Dear Sir:
"Tf1e arrival OF the first pair Of catbirds this
morning heralds the real spring, as far as I
am concerned, as this handsome pair swooped
down to the feeding board on which had just
placed handful Of raisins.
Surely the male bird remembers my hospi-
taIity OF previous seasons and perhaps the fine
nesting site have offered his mate for three
or four years in the enormous Van Fleet rose
opposite the kitchenAsun quarters.
"Nor have the other migrating birds let me
down, there being towhees, thrashers, thrushes
and others, to say nothing Of two pairs OF
wrens all Of which are building and furnish
inz me with the most thrilling music this aide
OF heaven In the early mornings and late
afternoons.
I'm fact, didn't realize what was missing
until equipped myself with modern hearing
aid just for this pleasure.
what lovely songs come forth from these
tiny bills and what q difference 1t makes to
begin the day with this chorus ringing in ones
ears
"other birds beside the cardinal will feed
their mates bill to bill, so assume 1t is q
mating instinct but the human thrill is my
return home to find them perched on trees
and in vines awaiting the handfuls of seeds.
raisins and tidbits which have been Offering
them these many years, and Immediately
after enter the house they all swooped down
at once for their supper.
"Ihe thought that comes to my mind Is all
this and heaven, too and any bird-minded
person Will agree with me on this score.
Sincerely yours, O. O."
~
Those who need hearing devices, or eye
glasses, will find their appreciation Of bird life
imneasurably reinforced when they get them
selves properly fitted.
Good hearing and good eyesight are neces-
sary not only to the enjoyment Of life. but
are peculiarly essential in studying the birds
Birds are comparatively small. and are
always on the 80.
They are here for a second, there for another
second with futtering going on all the time.
Some species, such as the kinglet, are 80
fast in their ordinary movements that 1t takes
good eyesight even to see them. much less
appreciate their delicacy and porcelain beauty.
It would be difncult to say who would miss
the most, the deaf man or the hard-of-seeing
person. when 1t comes to bird lite
Certainly to fail to hear the notes OF the
wood thrush the bubbling song Of the wren,
or the CHEEKY cardinal would be to lose great
deal In 4 world where atomic bombs and DEATH
dealing planes at times seem to dominate
But to miss catching the difference between
the cardinal and the scarlet tanager, each In
its way glorious, would be to lose something
from the beauty Of this world.
To have treasure Of song and pictures In
ones very own grounds, and still not be able
to hear and see them
Well, that ought to be enough to send any
person suffering either from defective hearing
or eyesight to the proper experts.
They can help, and with their help viii
come whole new world of nature, especially
in the springtime. when Washington and
enyirons are among the most beautiful places
In all the world.
Proper seeing and proper hearing mean %
much in the enjoyment OF Gods gifts to u.
They, alone, ought to keep us from being too
pessimistic over the prospects for humanity.
As long as there are all these wonderful things
to rec and hear. shah we not gather our forces
together to prevent bold and evil men from
running them9