Evening star., 1948-11-05
This and That
By chdrles%E. Trdce,pell
> ARLINGTON, Va

Dear Sir: r% ss5Fet
"As we gaze out of the window in the bright
sunlight. we see the woods all afire with every
color Of the rainbow. Asters, zinnias, petunias.
nasturtiums and others still in death struggle
with Jack Frost. The vegetable garden still
gives up certain foods that add zest to the
meal. but everything Is now in the sere and
yellow
1T all takes one back to many years ago when
corn husking was popular throughout the
Middle and Eastern States. Poet John g. Whit
tier gives us a wonderful illustration in his
poem. The Huskers' 1t tells how those folks
>of the long ago used to assemble at Simmons
or Jones farm on a certain night to husk the
corn that had been standing in shocks for
weeks, and showed the yellow ears
Here In Arlington, many birds still remain
Tor there Is much food that they relish from
the standing stalks Shrubs, grasses and weeds
help them.
ITO me. this Is a beautiful season. Fall
the fulnllment of spring and summer. And
from all over this great country we read of
bountiful crops, which should again tide us
over long winter and much to be thankful for
Sincerely. e. L. w."
Fall is the favorite season of so many
Washingtonians.
Out in the nearby Maryland and Virginia
suburbs, where there were never so many
squirrels as this year, the gardens present much
No one should be too eager to clean up
the yard.
That will kill many insect enemies of man,
1t Is true-but 1t also will deprive our bird
friends OF much good food.
You can quote some very good experts, of
course, either way.
One scientist says every one should rake,
rid of the insects.
The next authority, quite as good. says this
Is all wrong, because the birds will suffer.
Take your choice, but common sense suggests
that the latter view is nearer right.
Sweeping up leaves is a good thing, but nature
has her own winds. and they will sweep the
streets, the sidewalks and the lawns quite as
efficiently, in time.
1t may take a little longer.
Pads Of leaves will be left along fences and
In corners, and in these some stray insects may
live over the winter. But the birds will get
them early In the spring as their first taste of
live food.
What American heart is there that fails
to glow at the mere mention of it!
A sacred word, indeed, for those who admire
the American Indian, and feel in the bottom
Of their hearts, that he has had a dirty deal,
perhaps One can't be sure. The processes of
history are irrevocable. What has been done,
has been done.
Corn bread, corn cakes mush- ...
These and many other forms of corn appeal
to the thinking person as much as to the eating
person. There is very pleasing relation
between the two.
And he who likes to read and eat at the
same time-and his name is legion, despite
the pleas of the doctors-has a field day with
corn products.
nice bowl Of corn flakes, for instance, and
glass Of cold milk-there is another dish for
the gods, and what gods they would have been,
If they had eaten such fare, instead Of ambrosia!
cold fall day, and plenty of hot corn bread,
cold butter-not too cold-and glass or two
Of ice-cold milk
There is something really American in such
eating. Add slice of pumpkin pie, and per-
haps another glass Of milk Think happy
thoughts. and say happy things, at least in
your own mind.
The heart of America is in the silent places,
not in the roaring cities. The real America
is in the West where man is silent because
there is no one else to talk to, maybe. Go
West, young man." is still good advice.