Evening star., 1949-08-26
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweU
"KENSINGTON, Md.

Dear Sir:
1T seems there is tragedy among my
feathered friends each year. and last year
and this in August. it concerned one Of
the most friendly. So - ,o.,s,re
For four years have had the same
thrushes and thrashers here. They have
always nested at the extreme end of the
yard. 200 feet deep.
This year the thrushes, after having
their first nest in the same place. made
their second in volunteer nut tree near
the window in the living room.
"They raised two fine youngsters which.
fortunately. are full grown. could look
into the nest from a nd-story. window.
To-day I was in and out of the rear
entrance, when on my last trip dead thrush
was on the step.
THE body was still warm. saw no sign
of injury at first, but under its head was
damp spot, not blood.
II began to look for the cause, and back
Of an eye was neat round hole.
II could not bear to probe, but suspect
she was shot, though I'm sure by some one
close.
Gould she possibly fly block after hav-
ing been shot?
There was no commotion among the
birds or anything to attract my attention.
Il am really very sad about it and wonder
if you have solution.
Very truly. G. S. c."
famous woman novelist is struck down
in the street, and an unknown thrush in
somebody's garden.
A BIB bullet from an air gun probably
ended the life of the little bird.
These small pellets can carry an amazing
distance, and can puncture birds head
easily
1t might be possible, but scarcely likely
that thrush would fly as much as a block
after being struck in such a vulnerable spot.
OF all birds to be killed in this way, the
thrush seems least to deserve such fate;
1t is so quiet. gentle, peaceful and clean.
One must work up certain philosophical
attitude in dealing with all life.
Those who are interested in living things
must realize that accidents and death are
always possible
Man no longer has the certainty he once
had.
He no longer feels s>that everything is set
tied, that there is path along which all
must tread.
The atom bomb, among other harsh things
jolted some Of the old certitudes.
Scientists do not say much about it, but
one OF their other discoveries Is that, as
Tar as they can see life is not stable, but
balanced rather on razor edges as they
put it.
BY this they mean what the old folks
meant when they said that we are here
today, gone tomorrow; what the Bible meant
IN famous passages comparing mans life
to that OF the grass, which is cut down and
carried away.
Indifference to the claims of life had many
amazing and disturbing facets on a world
scale during the war.
the world. wherever human beings gather,
there is some manifestation of this same
indifference.
we wear our hearts on our sleeve, we
must expect to have them brushed with
sorrow
Each little life about us; in addition to
possibilities Of Joy and happiness, has also
possibilities OF unhappiness, woe and DEATH
II these come, we should be glad that
tney 40 not come, oftener; and in sorrowing
Tor the lost. try hard to see how many are
LETT. and redouble our understanding of the
whole phrase, that "in life we are in the
midst OF death" Life and death 70 hand
IN hand. Where there is one, there will
be the other Many people spend their
whole lives trying to run away from this
TACT, but they will be forced to face it at
last. The little birds of the air, all our
four-legged friends. even the insects in our
pantries. by their little deaths prove to us
that they are all our blood brothers. It is
the lesson we must learn from them. If we
are not to destroy this beautiful world that
holds us al.