Evening star., 1947-10-11
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1UeH


Walnut husks on the porch roof
That might be the subject of still life
painting in the primitive manner, or perhaps
something for the broom to sweep away
This morning it was the latter.
An impudent squirrel had been observed
seated on the corner of the porch roof.
What caused the hurry and excitement was
realized that walnut stains would be no addt-
ton to it.
Pulpy matter from the outer walnut shell
is fine for certain coloring jobs, but may not
be wanted for new roof that is quite salts
factory without it.
1t was Eliza's husband George wasn't It,
who used walnut stain to make himself into
a presentable Spanish gentleman, in Uncle
Toms Cabin?
stepladder and a long handled brush
were used to get the walnut husks and pieces
of shell of the roof, without leaving any
stain at all.
This was satisfying to all concerned with
the exception of the squirrel, who sat huddled
up in nearby tree watching the proceedings
The fact that he could get on the roof at all
spoke eloquently of shrubs and evergreens too
near the sun porch.
modern proverb might be made as follows:
He who does not want squirrels on his roof
should take care not to have trees and shrubs
too close to his house"
AL this is just another brief for not keeping
too many trees and too much overgrown
shrubbery too near the modern dwelling
Not only will trees blow down and cause
damage, but they will in time overshadow the
house and cause dampness to it and depres-
sion to the owners.
This semisadness, caused by too much tree
and shrubbery growth too close to a house,
Is difficult thing to describe
Yet it is easily felt, and perhaps most people
who have lived in the same place for as
much as 20 years know something about it.
Much, Of course depends upon the exact
temperament of the dwellers Some may not
recognize the blues that come from this
cause
But all persons realize how much lighter,
brighter and "airyer" home looks and feels
when old straggly shrubbery is removed from
in front of windows.
They may not as easily recognize the lifting
Of the spirits that comes from the removal Of
great old trees too close to dwelling.
Evergreens in time, if they have found the
situation to their liking, will overgrow
windows, but since their growth has been
gradual, some dwellers may not understand
just how they darken the soul as well as the
windows.
Light is the essence Of the modern homes
and anything that cuts it of should be done
away with
Walnut shells on the porch roof are small
factors indeed, compared with the blight of
the human soul.
Can it be that modern life is too overgrown
in too many ways? Might something of this
sort be partly responsible for the blight of the
human spirit which seems to have spread
around the whole world? Can there be some
thing in the idea that radio waves have some-
thing to do with it?
Whatever it is, something sad seems to have
happened to all OF us. Americans, Hindus,
Russians, residents of far-dung Pacific isles,
people the whole world around.
Before the stain sinks too far into the soul
Of humanity, let us start thinking about the
problem, just as the householder did about the
walnut husks on his nice new root
The worlds troubles cannot be brushed away
with a broom by any one standing on STEP
ladder, but perhaps If we have thought our
way into our troubles we may find a way of
thinking ourselves out.
We thought ourselves into the atomic age.
If as much sheer determination, vigor and
money were put into thinking ourselves out Of
our present dilemma, there is little question
that something could be achieved.
But where is the man to start it?