Evening star., 1949-05-24
This and That It:
BIZ Charles Z. Tracs,oeH,
"GAITHERsBURG, Md.

Dear Sir:
About six weeks ago rs was putting one
of our cars In the garage shortly before dusk.
wis gNare Of pair Of birds flying excitediy
about. ss4 s%71sas ~. @ota. Rt
believing them to be transients which had
selected this spot for an overnight resting
place, thought nothing more OF 1t. However.
rs days went on 1t was apparent that these
birds-phoebes In actuality-were planning
to stay with us.
But here's the amazing part Of 1t all:
mot only had they selected the garage.
with noisy cars coming In and out, loud
screeching doors, and children round about
outside, to establish themselves, but began
building their nest on top Of the electric
light fixture held In place by metal braces to
the ceiling.
Here, too, was an extra hazard. since I
was using this circuit continuously with an
extension to the garden for an electrically
heated hotbed. which. by the way. has proved
thoroughly successful. devised . strong cord
pull chain from the kitchen porch in order
to get the garage light when we wanted 1t.
"Our bird friends were not perturbed in the
slightest by all this, and have gone ahead
making q nest Of extreme beauty and fine
workmanship (or should it be birdship) using
moss and lichens and fine threads Of grass.
"At the present time the mother bird has
been sitting on her eggs for about two weeks.
I have gotten to speaking to her regularly.
extending assurance Of cooperation. Here
is certainly q good example Of courage, and
determination. and faith in human beings.
Sincerely. 8. p. T."
The greatest animal faith in human beings
we have ever seen is by q cat. not bird.
His name Is Leggy, and he Is three years
old
He has but one idea in the world, that every
human being Is q wonderful person. not to be
feared, but to be admired and loved.
How has mankind lost its own birthright,
when it cannot do the samei
Here the human world is filled with people
all hating other peoples for multitude Of
reasons. some Intellectual some physical.
We have got ourselves all begged down in
ideologies, distinctions, determinations. At
times 1t seems Is II all knowledge and learn
ing do Is to make man more cruel and
unyielding.
Yet here is tomcat, beautiful dark tiger.
with Just q hint Of orange at the nostrils
and along the hind legs. who somehow Is sure
that none Of this rancor exists ut all.
-
To Leggy. every human. young and old.
male and female. is some one to approach
with head held high. and eyes shining.
We are quite sure that II any human ever
kicks this fellow, he win be amazed.
He spends his time looking for new people.
He loves his own. but new ones he also
likes. He goes from garden to garden. looking
especially for toddlers.
The smaller and the toddlier they are the
better he likes them.
He win permit them even TO sit down on
him Is upon cushion.
n toddlers are not to be found, Leggy ap-
proaches grown-ups.
He likes to be picked up and held.
His speciality Is TO have his head patted.
This he likes above everything else. He
holds his head up firmly. not timidly with
reservations Is many cats do
He is mild and gentle. never scratches and
bites. though his demeanor Is fierce and his
muscles strong and taut.
Somehow old Leggy has solved the problem
Of life, II solution means to get along wen
with al living things
What is the matter with US. the human
beings, so-cailed because We are supposed 70
be the humane beings. that We % tncessantly
quarrel. nght. argue. 80 10 war?
Has something happened 70 the human
spirit, or does one have 10 get 70 80 years 70
ind out that m Il not well with humanity.
and never has boenf