Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-03

E1ASAASN AVN, F1.s
Dear Sir:
1T occurs to me that you may be interested
In the lnclosed clipping from the New York
Times. 1t was written by my father shortly
after my mothers death. and the custom is
followed by my family here in Virginia.
Very truly yours, C. F. s. Ill"
The letter referred to- written from Upper
Montclair, N. j., December 81, 1892 says, in
part:
My wife. great lover of birds more than
Is years ago started this practice by our
family and it has been followed ever since:
After Twelfth Night the Christmas tree.
which had made us all happy. is put up.
out of doors on the lawn. carefully braced
by wires fastened to wooden pegs driven into
the ground.
On the tree we tie cranberrles pieces OF
suet and anything else We think the wild
birds will like
To see the pleasure this gives to the blue
JAYS. juncos nuthatches, downy woodpeckers,
creepers. waxwings, rusty grackles-not to for
get the ever present sparrows-amply repays
the very little trouble we have taken: more
over, our tree stays green until early spring
This is a wholesome custom.
What sadder sight, in the everyday. than a
poor Christmas tree left along the street?
1t unfortunately happens a great deal more
than 1t should.
To many people the tree after Christmas,
is just something to let stand around, un-
wanted, to be pushed out onto the porch
finally to be thrown away.
If put to such good use as described above
it brings happiness and Joy to the feathered
folk, and at the same time keeps, bright and
fresh for a long time. Even at its worst. 1t
is no dryer or faded looking than thousands
of the overgrown evergreens people cherish
as foundation planting,
Strings of popcorn may be added to the
menu. and all sorts of seeds and nuts, flx4d
in pieces of Suet.
If it is possible to secure real holly berries,
these are beloved of many species and may
be added to the tree, either as part of small
wreathS, or in Suet or on string.
Such tree as this should be in addition
to regular feeding places, of course.
But there will be many persons who do not
regularly feed the birds and even these will
find it source of pleasure to put out the
old tree, as suggested, and watch the birds
feast.
Perhaps new converts to permanent feeding
operations will be made in this way.
Those who may take up bird feeding for the
first time through Use of the Christmas tree
should learn at once the valuable lesson, that
much JOY goes out of it If one suddenly begins
to grow red in the face because of squirrels
cats, common sparrows and starlings
Surely anger is not part of this recreation
especially at Christmas time.
Remember that nature is very old. and that
birds and all the other creatures have been
getting along together for thousands of years
Do not, therefore, worry too much.
Take the creatures they come. That is
the way the animals and birds handle it.
Now ana then, one may be lost, but this is
precisely what happens with all life, despite
worry care scare campaigns, DOCTORS hospitals
diet hygiene, exercise. planning and taking
thought Life is, as some one has said, bal
anced on razor edges. 1t is never sure thing
So do not worry too much about the crea-
lures in the cold. If food is provided them
about as much as possible is done for them
and mostly they will be able to take care OF
themselves.
The JOY of the Christmas tree. under the
plan suggested, is. carried into the outdoors
Those persons who purchased living Christmas
trees, and are able to carry them over the win
ter, in addition will have another good ever
green specimen in the yard. In this event
care must be taken to select the proper Site
in relation to house and yard This will not
be so necessary. in the case of the ordinary
cut tree. Then the outdoor placement will be
dictated by the place from which it is best
seen from some favorite window.