Evening star., 1949-01-10
This and That
By Charles E. TracepeH

Squirrels here and there
From Washington to South Bend and back,
people are interested in these aboreal rodents
Miss H. E. of 18th street writes:
The enclosed letter was written by friend
In Indiana. After reading it, thought about
your interesting article in The Star each day.
l do not believe that my squirrels in McPher-
son park are tight rope walkers
Your articles have made many persons
more tolerant of our wild friends
ABOUT two months ago pigeon appeared
with badly mangled foot threw him a
lew peanuts but he got few since the others
crowded him.
He is still alive and one toe remains on
the foot so he has some balance. 1 carry
him tid-bits each day, which he will now take
from the cup OF my hand and find that a
number OF other persons carry him food, since
noticing how incapacitated he is.
L also have following of starlings who
eau al each back window on the fire escape
BEFORE l raise the shades, I am positive I
near the notes OF sweet canary they beg
SC beautifully and gently
When 1t was SO cold, begged a piece of
suet and tied it where they could easily reach
It, There are no intermissions-some bird
starling) is there from early morning until
dark"
Hoosier philosopher writes:
saw something that interested and
amused me yesterday squirrel went scam
perlng up big tree. Up and up-I began to
wonder what he was going to do, and soon
found out
When he came to where telegraph pole
encountered the tree he started out on the
top wire balancing himself as he went along
! watched him, fascinated. fearing he would
fall to the ground. When he reached the
next pole he stopped only to get his breath
suppose, and then started off towards
another post Having made that safely, he
stopped only long enough to reconnoiter bit
to a house
I was eaten with curiosity, but unfortu-
nately another house obstructed my view and
coulo only guess as to what had become
OF MN. Smart guy! He knew dogs and cats
wouldn't molest him way up there.
WY prother wrote about a squirrel he saw
cnmo1ng to the top of his garage and then
disappearing. Shortly afterward the squirrel
reappeared with walnut In his mouth.
MY brother had bushel of black walnuts
spread on the attic floor beside an open window
which was screened. He went up to investigate.
Gosh, II that squirrel hadn't smelled out those
WalnutS and managed to bite hole in the
screen! My brother shut the window and
watched the squirrel. Pretty soon he came
back and evidently was confused to find the
window closed. He managed to scramble
around and try the other windows He couldn't
figure 1t out
Il thought when I watched my squirrel that
surely, II even such tiny creature had so much
intelligence, surely human beings wouldn't 20
out like lights when their time on earth was
over 1t would be such waste And that
intelligence in the lowly squirrel wouldn't be
destroyed and lost when its body became life
less
1T makes you wonder just what is back of
this elaborate pattern. What does it lead to?
What is the next phase? Maybe if we knew
the solution to the riddle we wouldn't be so
tull OF fear, so frightened of the future
Squirrels on 18th street like to walk wires as
we'll as the squirrels of Chevy Chase. Arling-
ton-or South. Bend.
1t is a universal habit, but it always amazes
the human watcher when he sees it for the
"ery first time.
On an average of once a week. some one
walks up and exclaims, Say! saw something
today-a squirrel walking a telephone wire!'
They always think they have seen something
unique in nature-and so they have indeed
This is one of the real marvels of life, thi
ight-rope walking of our everyday squirrels
Starlings can make sounds as sweet as an,
canary Their whistles In springtine often foo
even ardent bird watchers into thinking then
smaller and more beautiful BIRDS at least from
the sounds they make
window screen is no puzzle to a squirrel
That is easy. Even wooden garage door some
times is chewed through by those needle teeth,
If seeds and grain are kept inside
Squirrels have sharp teeth, capable paws, and
good minds. These qualities, combined with
their roguish look and fine fur, make them
favorites of most people. When we note their
real sense of humor and their amazing aero
batic ability, we realize that squirrels are spe-
cial animals, prize rodents In any bodys yard.