Evening star., 1949-11-17
This and That
By Charles E. TraceveH

What one sees for ones self Is always
more interesting and even exciting than
what some one else sees.
There was a man over in Arlington the
other day who phoned In that he had just
seen flight of wild ducks over his house.
They were so high. he said. that he
could not tell their coloration, or count them
exactly, but he judged there were from so
to 100 in the flight.
They were honking as they flew toward
the Southwest In v formation. with one
leg much shorter than the other.
He plainly thought this meant something
in the weather line, and maybe it did. but
1t is difficult enough to predict weather
even when you listen to the weatherman-
or look out the window.
Amateur weather predictions are based
on wind directions. temperature and prob
abilities. Most Of us use experience as
our best guide. We look out the window,
and If there is a fog, we do not think 1t
Is going to rain, no matter what the weather
bureau says.
We have become suspicious Of the official
predictions. especially when they change,
let us say. from a prediction of rain to one
of fair before the rain arrives.
, The moment we hear them backtracking.
then we know from experience that it
probably will rain! It is as easy as that.
The best method, from the everyday stand
point, is to use your observations over the
years as q guide for the morning prediction.
Many of US have learned that q certain
look to the sky means rain before nightfall,
and here again no matter what the weather.
man says.
So we take an umbrella, and sometimes
the sun comes out beautifully, since we, too.
are fooled just as much as the weatherman.
There is certain satisfaction in being
right when he is wrong, and nothing but
ones own self criticism when one Is wrong
and he is right.
Carrying an umbrella was often laughed
at, but it is nothing today, with these small
lady umbrellas. There was q time when
umbrellas were rigidly divided into mems
and women'S but now every one carries
what he or she pleases, and no one cares
That is one Of the good things about 4
day and age when there are SO many bad
features, plain to all; the umbrella, as an
instrument of protection and common sense.
is no longer regarded either with favor or
disfavor. No one pays any attention whether
you carry an umbrella or do not carry an
umbrella; no one gives whoop, one way
or another, so it is perfectly possible for a
gentlewoman to carry an old-faSh1oned
mans umbrella, If she pleases, or for man
to tote q small lady's umbrella, without
attracting any particular attention. But as
the men began to take up the smaller uu-
brellas, the ladies stole a march on them
again, as they often do and came out with
folding umbrellas not more than foot
long, with q case for same to At neatly into
q handbag. Probably men will never go
that far, though we know Of several who
have been toying with the idea OF purchas-
ing folding umbrellas just for the novelty
of it. Probably for the average male, the
best plan is to secrete an umbrella at the
office, and have one at home.
+ \
Whether flying geese mean cold weather
or not, weather lore is always interesting.
The flights Of birds have been interpreted
various ways. some believing that early
flights mean cold weather, etc. Such flights
are picturesque It is no wonder that observ-
ers have always been willing to attach
some ultra-meaning to them.
Actually, there are few bird flight forma-
/ tions prettier or more thrilling than those
of the old starlings. These often misjudged
birds are master aviators and In nothing are
better than in mass fights Often several
hundred Of these are seeing flying toward
Rockville over Chevy Chase. They fly in per-
| feet formations, but the wonder comes In their
| Instant and massed response to unspoken
| commands, or at least they seem to be
such: for the birds dip each wing in unison.
without so much as split second between
| them, each wing slanting down just the
same way, and exactly to the same degree,
as II all were on master wire and pulled
| by the same master hand. Perhaps this Is
| an accurate description. No one yet has
! fathomed the master hand. Some say the
| birds act In unison as they do by reason OF
| some sort Of radar Of their own. Others call
| 1t electrical, which means about the same
/ <<lt-- @~YY ~~~&l - =
| let It go at that. Il no geese fly over your
| house, or ny so high you cannot see them.
turn to the humble starlings. as they scout
| in and out Of the city for food. and be
satisfied with some Of the finest plain and
fancy flying in ALI the world.