Evening star., 1948-08-10
This and That
Bu Charles E. TraceUeU
BETHESDA, Md.

Dear sir:
'I was thinking the other day about going
away for few weeks as most people DO, but
then remembered all the heat and the stlckl-
ness ard the thirst of travel and the soggy
towels and the crowds
so decided to stay home
what interested me, and think 1t will you
and your readers was that found substitute
for taking formal vacation right here at
home.
Il mean down in the Zoo park.
II went down there every morning, renamed
all day and came home in the evening,
L got plenty of fresh air, suntan and exer-
cise and yet was able to sleep in my own nice
clean bed every evening.
"I had two weeks of this, two fine weeks, IN
which I managed to become acquainted with
several hundred beautiful living things, some
in fur, some in feathers, at the same time 1
was able to renew my acquaintance with hu-
manity in the raw.
"I sometimes think we become too used to
each other in an Office. That is one OF the
good reasons for taking vacation, any vaca-
ton At an Office we become habitual groucnes
or something. We forget that there are an
kinds of people, and that those we work with
are pretty good, after ALL
"A vacation in the Zoo, with hustling CROWDS
of strangers, now and then, as one comes up
out of the shady places, will do any one good,
and lust as much good, am sure, as the same
crowds at Atlantic City, let us say.
There are miles of nice walks, the ROCK
Creek to wander by, or even cross on stones
at one place, if you don't mind falling in, as
I did.
"All in all, had nice vacation, and it
didn't cost me hardly anything, and I enjoyed
it, and got just as good a tan as any one else,
and anyway see by the article in the Saturday
Evening Post that suntan is danger after all.
Maybe missed something, by not going
away. but when think of my nice bed, and
good clean food. and my books and friends
when wanted them, am sure that my vaca-
ton down with the animals was as good as
any. Very truly yours S. D. l."
4
There are scores of "at home" vacations one
NAV enjoy in and around Washington
Those with cars can take in any number OF
historical places.
When history is combined with an ice cream
cone, as it were, in this happy manner, some
how 1t brings the past quite up to date.
AS for the benefits or dangers of suntan,
mentioned by our correspondent, this must be
left to the individual. T..
Many determined persons who have tried IT,
and achieved it, still are determined that they
have had enough OF it.
In the city, at least, suntannlng is TOO STICKY.
To perch in the, summer sun with no breeze
blowing takes real fortitude.
And every one past so, shall we say, knows
that smooth, even tan-note IHe dCeelI oAi
events almost an impossibility, no matter
how hard one tries.
The skin of youth is lacking.
Young skins tan smoothly and evenly, but the
older one becomes somewhat blotched. And
each succeeding summer. it becomes Just
little bit more blotched, SO that IN the pltter
end one resembles these hardy old golfers who
20 around with gnarled. blotched hands stretch
ing uncertainty after futurity.
The National Geological Park is very hne
place to spend vacation. BY taking it easy.
and not getting into the sun too much, despite
the vogue one will do as our reader says, have
fun and entertainment, and build up his ac-
ouaintance with many interesting two and four
legged creatures.
As man comes "to the end of his tether," as
H. G. Wells put it in his last days, he does
well to renew his friendship with the birds and
the beasts, who somehow have managed to keep
themselves free, even when imprisoned, OF the
ruling sin of envy which besets mankind.
The old wart hog would kill you. II he could;
he knows no better, but he is not jealous OF you
because you happen to earn S. more day than
he does or manage to get OF few minutes
earlier than he.