Evening star., 1949-09-29
This and That
BY Charles E. TraceveH

What wonderful place is our Washing
Ton Aoo!' writes Mrs M. s. s.. and she ought
10 know. because she lives not too far
from 1t on Connecticut avenue
fine thing about the National zooloei-
cal Park dts official name) is that It has
many entrances. far spaced.
Inside, there are many paths and roads
many houses of animals birds. fishes and
what have you or haven't, a great collec-
tlon OF cats and others. And plenty of room.
A wonderful place. indeed. s8 :.
VI course" continues Mrs. g., 1--WE have
known 1t for years, but only recently were
again remained when we had occasion to
seek help at the bird house for a wounded
mourning dove
wed gone out to Arlington the night
OeIore 10 pick up the bird, which had been
rescued by two other members of our bird
loving family on North Eighteenth street. We
tound 1t temporarily housed quite COM
!ortapiy In an orange crate, complete with
1000 and water. which hadn't been touched.
Wnen We carried our injured feathered
TREND to the Zoo the next day we were
escorted into the hospital room by a
courteous and efficient young man. who
examined the wound and injured wing with
skilled and gentle hands.
He then placed the dove in one Of the
square cages. rooiny and clean, and all for
Its very own.
The dove Immediately tried to get
tnrougn the wiring into the next cage.
wnlch housed a bleeding heart pigeon IN
much worse condition, with crippled legs
and battered wings.
Inere were several other patients in the
nospltai IN other cages, including other
ooves with bruised bodies.
oDVlousiy. the new quarters, In the midst
o. lss own Kind, were more desirable and
mere bird could stretch his legs and size
up the situation from safe distance Ths
Iooo was still untouched, but we were in
formed that birds are forcibly fed when
1nes are unable to feed themselves. I
After this, even the necessity for leaving
the pleasant warm sunshine to return to
more uninteresting duties Of the day could
not completely rob us of feeling Of peace
and accomplishment and gratitude at find-
ing courtesy and understanding such as this
where the miSfortunes Of helpless wild crea-
lures are taken seriously, as they should be.
1t was unusually quiet at the Zoo that
day, being weekday with school In session.
and the birds knew they had the place
almost to themselves Even the peacocks
crossed Immediately in our path with slow
deliDeration and dignity. paying hardly
more attention than the disdainful glance
tney gave to the lowly gatecrashers, the
park pigeons.
AS we clumped happily along past the
deer and antelope Enclosures, carrying our
empty orange crate. retrieved for future
ambulance service, the noon day nap Of the
little fellows was interrupted.
Their big bright eyes popped wide open.
as they jumped up In q body and craned
their necks In curiosity. or they scampered
up the hill on unsteady legs, then right
: back down again, as If exclaiming. oh look.
mommy. come seel Don't miss this. momrny.
come see! People! Aren't they fupny?'"
\ sight, s''s
So wrote Alexander Pope many years ago.
and no one has said it better since.
The people, the aggregation OF ali OF us.
with each component an individual, living
This Is the greatest show on earth. behind
1 bars OF their own making, bounded by
letters Of the mind. body and spirit. looking
ever aloft but always dragged down. longing
| Tor the stars but satisfied with the gutter.
aiming at heaven but making an atom
bond
That's the great show Of humanity.
The lowly insects, the far-sWimming
fishes, the wandering birds, the roaring
animals, all are left behind In interest by
the two-legged creature called man, replete
with wheels within wheels, the big wheel
running by faith. the little wheels by the
grace OF God all spinning to an unknown
destination, with the last curtain call Ii
such extreme doubt that even God himself
must wonder what Is coming next