Evening star., 1948-05-29
This and That
By Charles Z. TrdceDell
'Takoma Park.

Dear Sir:
Recently I have been summing myself, as
the Europeans say, and have been astonished
at the number Of sounds hear, to say nothing
OF the intensity Of the sunburn receive.
This summers sun must have super power.
or something, because find that Is minutes
exposure does as much good as an hour did
last summer.
THE sounds refer TO include not only those
from the birds, but particularly from animals.
especially dogs, and the many SOUNDS made by
humans both old and young
II listened to lawn mowers-but why go
over the list? find I was listening to more
than 90 different sounds. and know did
not think Of every one heard, by any means.
1T was interesting to me, lolling there in the
bright sunshine, with frisky breeze blowing
over me- to md the sounds coming into my
consciousness one by one.
II remember once upon time, when
started to think OF old associates who had
passed on, at first could recall but few, but
as let my mind go back over the old omces.
and thought Of the men ! knew had been at
the desks, the names and faces began to come
back in a steady stream, so that in time re-
membered more than so old friends.
"The sounds in the garden 90 on all the
time, but the mind does not take them in at
first, though the ears register them, OF course.
1.-THE knowing mind is important here, as
elsewhere.
II am sending this jotting along to you. be-
lieving that some Of your readers might like to
try this experiment in acuity. assure them 1t
Is lot Of fun
Sincerely yours, A. de S. L."
=
The cries Of the chickadees blend with the
bright sounds from the flashing cardinal. The
humble wren pours his cascade of music over
the grass blades. and the yellow-backed bee
buzzes into the four-leaf clover. Let us hope
nv,l11 1Al
Bees are fine on clover, not SO good on legs.
The sounds Of humanity are many and varied.
They are not as musical as those Of their two
legged cousins. the BIRDS but they are replete
with interest.
1t is amazing, as our correspondent points
out how sound after sound, first one and then
another comes into the doing consciousness,
after one decides to hear what goes on"
This going on is humanity in action, and
humans are always in action. To rest Is to
rust an old saying has it. That may seem
severe, to the person whose glands OF internal
secretion are faulty. Sajous said that all life
depends upon the proper functioning of the
of them; some Of them, such as the thyroid,
known by name at least, to every one others,
hidden in odd places in the human economy
known only to doctors. thank goodness.
Among the interesting noises of the spring
and summer afternoon will be the cries Of
little children, playing.
At times these take on rhythmical aspects,
reminding the nearer who knows his phono-
graph records, of African savages.
There, in his ears. is proof positive that all
men are brothers.
Insect noises are many and interesting. They
too, at times are cadenced, recalling the per-
lection OF that sort Of thing-was it in 1882
when the cicadas roared to greet the sun, and
people were afraid that the "locusts" would
DESTROY their trees and shrubs Where are their
fears now? How silly they seem. in the light
of l94s! The damage, assessed over the years.
was slight: the Joy of the happy cicadas bound
less, filling the suburban air with sound Let
us hope that the next time the l7-year-locusts
visit us, no bad boys will stomp on them no
irate householders will lament few boughs
and branches, no wanderer but will pause in
wonder, rs he hears the swelling chorus Of
things 80 long hidden in the dark. happy at
last to zee and feel the sun, hymning their
praise to the mighty forces marvellous with
out end, Of which they feel themselves part.