Evening star., 1948-05-13
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceUeH

am q park WaHQeTeT.
II am not young any more, so spend .
great deal OF my time walking through the
parks.
Not all people realize what a fine park
system we have, how we'll the parks are kept,
what interesting animals and birds-and
people-the wanderer sees.
Il have a plan for spending the day or part
OF the day in different park each day.
I'm this way have managed to get around,
despite my age and game leg, and have had
many small adventures, some Of them worth
remembering.
II have seen squirrels do heroic things, and
common sparrows rescue baby birds OF sort
I did not know
II sometimes remain seated In the rain,
with my umbrella over me, watching the small
things of the earth and air go about their
normal business.
Perhaps the only drawback in our smaller
parks are the large numbers of loafers who
insist on sprawling on the ground.
These I do not wish to watch. but must
all too frequently. Still, I do not know what
can be done about them.
Il prefer starlings. any day.
THE course of nature in our parks is the
same as elsewhere, but much easier for me
and many others to understand.
Il think there is some gain in the small
place, inclosed, not too diffuse fenced in.
Sincerely, A. B."
This correspondent seems to want certain
dignity in park loafing, and no doubt many
persons will agree with her.
It Is not every one, however, who has the
ability to loaf with aplomb.
Some must throw themselves on the ground.
Sprawl is a good word for it.
Every one who comes to park brings him.
self with him! He cannot get away from him.
self, nor be any better there than he has
been elsewhere.
That is why park is such revealing place.
and why the study of mankind can be carried
on there as well as elsewhere, or even bit
better.
Each of us lives in his own world.
One of the troubles of modern life seems to
be that each departmentalized soul resents too
much the way other departmentalized souls
look. talk and act.
This inner resentment lack of sympathy, in
tolerance call it what you will, is something
particularly vicious now. since each person
today has so many ways of being obnoxious to
others.
1t calls for real understanding. and 1t may
be that city park is just as good place to
understand as any.
Yonder pumpkin sprawed on the grass
He is no picture, certainly, with his coat on
and his shirt all rumpled.
Perhaps if the seated one were closer he
would smell his breath, which Is not exactly
nice" in any use of language.
But he is very much part of the body
polite. and any movement must be looked at
partly through his eyes. He Is there, very
large and real Only by understanding him,
and why he sprawls rather than takes place
on . bench can any progress be made to the
sane world in which all are well dressed, clean,
nice in the best sense, and able to take part,
themselves, IN the great general society of the
whole.
This is the problem.
Somebody must face 1t. Social workers
judge. policemen and many others do SO
daily.
Sympathy is the keynote.
In time, the sprawled one must be guided
to his feet, and made to stand upon them
properly.
In the meantime, the park wanderer will
devote his time to the good squirrels end the
birds and the little crawling things = the
tree trunks, the shrews and the occasional rab-
bit, all OF which refuse to sprawl because they
are too much alive.