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hana x About 'Sparrows Some people maintain that they ean cdo without sparrows. Take 'em or leave 'em, Preferably the latter. Or, better still, be left by them. Be left quite alone; And quiet, To these people the dawn chorus of the sparrows is strictly for the birds. They don't want to hear it, They don't even want to bear about it. They've had it. One has to admit that the noise that a hedgeful of sparrows makes at break of day is not that of a chorus or choir, in either the Greek or"Welsh senses, but of a ' tootball crowd -- a football equally to sparrows. Rowd composed entirely of small ys. [i And this. is not because - the - sparrow. .cannot . sing. Sparrows, when they want to, can sing very well, I mean not only song spar- xows but chirping sparrows too; hedge sparrows, house sparrows, town sparrows, the lot. Clar- enct Kipps; 'the most uncom- mon London sparrow, who en- tertained in air-raid shelters dur- ing the blitz, could sing splendid- . ly and was fond of piano music as an accompaniment. If the com- mon sparrow does not sing it is because, as a rule, it is, frankly «+o well... common, To be common is not a handi- cap This is the century of the common bird. And personally I find 'sparrows, common or 'not, most sympathetic, Although not 'as 'wise 'as "owls, for 'instance, sparrows are a good deal cleverer. The owl got his reputation for wisdom by continually asking questions, ("Huh?") Anyone or anything, bird included, that does this often, let alone continuously, is likely to tind himself up a tree, sunk in perplexity, 'And you know what owls are like. Spar- xows, on the other hand, don't bother with the questions, They #et along simply by knowing the ANSWers, Every bird at the breakfast 'table tends, for a sparrow, to be a bigger bird, Yet this does not © deter the sparrow. He is right in there, pinching, He will pinch anything from under the nose or beak of anything on two legs. The sparrow knows what the bigger birds don't know. He is aware of Aesop's Law. Which fs that you cannot, if you are a bird, both have your bread and eat it -- when the beak opens the bird-cake will fall out. If does not bother a sparrow "if all the bread and bird-cake has been taken already by bigger and Her birds. All the sparrow oes is to find a bigger bird with MIRRORED DESTRUCTION -- The fiery destruction of a Singa- pore warehouse is reflected in the quiet waters In foreground. The "blaze forced 1,500 resi- dents to flee their homes and destroyed 500 tons of rubber. a sizeable slice in its beak and follow it. For the sparrow, summing the situation up in a wink, realizes that as soon as the bigger bird opens its beak to peck the bread it will inevitably drop it on the ground. In the confusion -- for the bigger bird, when 'it sees the bread on the ground, is confused and does not at first get it -- the sparrow steps - in underneath the open beak and does get it. The odd thing is that although one often. sees sparrows do this one rarely, if ever, sees the big- ger bird follow a sparrow and do the same thing back. ' Yet, obviously, 'Aesop's Law applies Sparrows + have to put bread down before they can peck too. It may be that: the trick only works one way because sparrows are built 80 very close to the ground (when not flying). But it often looks to me as if the bigger bird is too busy bothering about why life is so unfair to get busy and do something about it. A Lambeth sparrow, working in the airy riverside cafeteria, under Waterloo - Bridge, by the 'Festival Hall, came the other day and sat on*my plate and waited for me to unwrap.a sandwich, I knew what it was waiting for. So I held. grimly on to my sandwich even as I unwrapped it, over- coming the temptation to put it down even for a"moment on the plate, Instead I offered the sparrow some crumbs. It looked me straight in the eye (the right eye), raised its beak in the air + 180 degrees and flew off. That sparrow knew I knew. It aimed to get the whole sandwich. A Lambeth sparrow is more sparrowlike than any other kind. Lambeth, of course, where the Walk is, is a famous Cockney borough. And the sparrow is frequently described metaphori- cally as a Cockney, just as the Cockney is often likened to a sparrow. The terms have got pretty well interchangeable. + The Cockney is traditionally small and wiry -- although in fact a short tour of London now will convince you that we are in for some enormous Cockneys in the future -- and he is cheeky, chirpy, and cheerful. Also he will sell you anything that will go on a barrow, including, if you insist, London Bridge. But the most accurate and lasting quali- : ties attributed to. the Cockney 'is love of family and a lively hu- mor. And in these ways the Cockney certainly is sparrow- like, and vice versa. Sparrows fly about in family groups. They chase each other, grumble at each other, complain to each other, peck each other, share each other's food, sing to each' other, protect each other, and together pull all the other birds' legs. I have reported before now the spring's baby sparrows came and copied the sunbathing antics peculiar most of the time to J. B. Blackbird, actually sitting beside him and in front of him in and around his own special sunbathing place and fluffing when he fluffed. Well, the other day I looked - out of .the dining-room window and there was J. B. standing on the very edge of the lawn look- ing up at the window in his cus- tomary manner. Beside him, in a dead straight line, "dressed" like a line of guardsmen on par- ade, were five young sparrows. They were all looking up at the dining-room window too. J. B. bird, all moved. J. B, hopped. The sparrows hopped. They 'must 'have been mimicking him. I don't think he thought. it was funny, but I must confess I did. It is my hope that one day they will mimic the blackbird's song. Then everything in the garden will indeed be lovely.-- By John Allan May in the Christian Science Monitor. moved. The sparrows, as one "CROSSWORD PUZZLE © "ACROSS 60, British poet 1,8peed contest DOWN J A : ad 0h an 1. Rose genus 8. Chills 2. Hebrawy 12. Scent 'month 13. Poem 8, Traversed 14. Dickens 4. Before i Character 5. Fastener 5. Excep y 16. Parcel of 8. Pagan god land 17. Indigo plant 18. Exist « 19. Book of maps 21. Large (ub 22. Tear 24. One-spot 26. Prevents 5 12. Atmospheric disturbances 32. Comprehen- sive 23, Parsonbiid 35, Cease 36. Article $7. Supply provisions 15. An far as r 0, 8tin HES i. Stake follows 51, Cumulative wager S14. Border 85. Self 115 Open wide 3. Bard 52. 8mall round © marky di 30, Speck of dust 31. Blemish Answer elsewhere on this page, ee 7. Gr. letter 34. Amer, Indian 8, Cretan mt 31 Instance . Calif, 9. Transform Tockilsh 10. Silkworm 41. Round hat 11, Condiment 43. Regulation 19. Likely 45. Golf stroke 20. Held a 47. Southern session constellation 23. Anger 48. Juice of plant 26. Lettuca 49. C, Amer. tree 26. Off 50. Guided 27. Climbing 51. Cooking plant vassel 1:28, Bax 62. Monkey 29, Peacelves 63. Desire (slung) 68. Proceed | Sn re +X pl oR 10 'years warm winds after the first have caused the snow to melt _the musky flavor of their flesh, _ from lessons at the Kalamazoo - before. clean the room, Lucy felt choked it in drawing up. On this table what Florinda suggested. These "she put in a tin box and strapped Changing Climate Threatens Musk-ox One of the world's rarest ani- mals, the 4-foot high musk ox, is in danger of extinction before the end of the century, Many of these animals, that have dark brown hairy coats which they shed in spring, have perished of hunger in recent months in the Arctic regions of Greenland, their chief breeding place. The main cause of the animals' plight is believed to be the changing 'climate. 'In recent snows, followed by cald weather, and then be replaced by: ice. As a result, the musk oxen have been unable to:seratch their way down to the vegetation on* which they live. Greénland authorities are also alarmed be- cause no calves under one year old were observed last year in the Danmarkschavn area of north-east Greenland--the: only area left in the world where musk oxen were relatively plentiful. They also survive'in a few places in the Canadian arctic, but there, too, their num- bers have been steadily declin- ing. To try to prevent the animals becoming extinct, the Greenland authorities are placing new re- strictions on hunting them. The animals' name is derived from CAMERA MAGIC -- Mrs, Jack Hess of Hamburg, Germany, demonstrates how to tell a "tall story" as she reaches over to place a bouquet in a modern- istic "flower vase", The "vase" Is actually a 150-foot water tower under construction In the distance. Puritan Living For Lucy, life in the old gray stone house at Weymouth was as great. a change from life at home as studying at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts differed High School... . The Weymouth house had remained unchanged since its establishment fifty years The big drawing room was crowded with heirloom furniture and kept closed behind its two pairs of paneled double doors during the time that-Lucy lived there. Anne Howe observed her widowhood by denying herself all formal entertaining and when the drawing room doors were opened once a month to air and by the musty odor of it. The small sitting room across the hall was warm and full of things, The long mahogany din- ing table, in the room beyond, that, had cushions against its legs lest the family kick and scar Florinda, the family retainer, set a lighted kerosene lamp, its trans- lucent shade fringed with pend- ent crystals, at exactly quarter before seven every winter week- day morning. At this moment Aunt Howe and Cousin Hattie and Lucy could be heard coming downstairs. Simultaneously they sat down to a breakfast of cold muffins and hot tea. In fifteen minutes or thereabout Lucy got to her feet and hurriedly gath- ered the edible remains of break- fast for her school lunch, ad- ding a doughnut or cold pie or pieces of cheese according to it to her schoolbooks while she said her merry or saucy or re- luctant goodbyes, She usually left just as Florinda brought in the dishpan full of hot water, and a rinsing pan, and put them before Aunt Howe, who sat at her place and washed the china and silver after every meal. Each plece was then put back in the cupboards by Cousin Hattie, and the service was still unnicked and beautiful after fifty years of use, --~ From "Eve Among the Diorit are? by Eleanor Ellis Per- ins, MARINES CONQUERED--The Marines have landed--but Mitzi Gaynor has the situation well in hand. The situation is the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, where "South Pacific" is being film- ed with Mitzi as Ensign Nellie Forbush. The Marines are some of 4,000 who hit the Kauai beaches from Navy transports in an invasion maneuver. Sm x fo FARM FRONT Is it possible to produce a 70-bushel or more yield of fall wheat per acre on land which averages only 35 bushels or less -- as it does in Ontario? According to Darrel D, Dolson of the farm advisory service of © C-I-L's_ agricultural chemicals division, this Is not only pos- ~ sible but many Ontarlo farmers are doing it. And here's his for- mula for 70-bushel wheat: EJ LJ LJ Choose suitable soll. Land must be well drained ag stand- ing water in either fall or 5p. destroys plants and lowe. ylelds. Tile drainage of in. ' adequately drained areas is good practice for nearly | crops. For wheat, benefit can be obtained also from plowing open furrows through low areas op mediately after sowing. . * »- EJ Prepare a good seed bed. This should be carried out {n such a way as to conserve moisture, destroy weeds and prepare the soil for planting. A good sced bed for fall wheat is one that is well aerated, has plenty of moisture and is firm below a depth of 13; to 2 inches so that soil will be well packed around the seed. * * * Choose seed wisely. Because of the apperance of dawrf bunt in Ontario, only registered grades should be purchased for seed. If home grown seed {is free of this disease, it-is quite satisfactory. It should be clean- ed and treated with mercurial seed disinfectant for control of common bunt. ' -- * * + Sow enough seed on time. Seeding rate recommended is . seven to eight pecks per acre although this may vary with the district, Date of seeding should be adjusted to avoid the insect injury period but permit de- velopment of a strong root sys. tem and top to withstand winter cold. Too early seeding may lead to winter kill or attack by the Hessian fly; For correct rates and dates of seeding, the farmer should consult his local agricul- tural representative. LJ] * * Fertilize well.- Fertility re- quirements of fall wheat are not complex, The mineral plant foods -- phosphate and potash -- should be applied usually at the time of seeding together with some nitrogen, This stimu- lates moderate top growth and development of a strong and large root system. So that correct amounts and analysis 61 f iz may be used on a particular field, the soil should be testeg! If for any reason it is_impossible to have a soil /test, the following gen- eral fertilization rates will meet i) ements in most cases: : . » » Light soil: 500 pounds of 2-12- 16 per acre seeded down, 400 pounds not seeded. Medium soil: 400 pounds of 3-18-15 per acre seeded down, 350 pounds not seeded. Heavy soil: 500 pound of 3-18-9 per acre seeded dow, 400 ponds not seeded. * * * It the fleld Is manured or it wheat is following a plowed down clover crop, a no-nitrogen analysis such as 0-12-20, 0-20-20 or 0-20-10 may be used, depend- ing on type of soil. Peaceful Valleys These are delightful days in our . valleys, Of new-green meadows where the hay was cut, and the clustered ted of elderberry and fireweed blazing In the clearings, Most any road will do -- up tha Wishkah, the Hoquiam or Johns rivers, the Cloquallum and the long reach of the Hump-tulips, Everywhere canyons crease the hills and folds of alder and sec- ond growth lle to the sun or 'darken in the shadow of cloud. These are rare, homey valleys, of intimate patches of ficlds and houses beside old 'orchards, of cattle by the streams and a gar- - den behind the house. The everlasting flowers are blooming. The goldfinches are at work and the thistledown is flying. There Is a peace in our valleys, a sense of security and 'well-being, and the quiet charm that can come only to seclusion. The valleys are sweet with forest smells, and hay and the wisp of Upsideduwn to Prevent Peeking 1[3[0 n 3[n[83 A 1 d 3[0 | 1 9 d AL RI JV 1 of AV \4 aOR Y(Ol0[0 5] po] | 3 wood smoke, and roses and honeysuckle and all the things dear to home, The streams are enough to stir the soul -- the tidal reaches, and the clear givings of the mount- ains and the hills, rippling, spark- ling, noisy and quiet according to the mood, of riffle and deep eddy. The blue of sky is in the pools, and kingfisher clacking, and the plaintive call of the woodthrush, Shadows reach down from the hillcrests and old maples lean over the fence corners. Bracken runs the roadsides. There is hard- ly any noise in a valley, only sounds. Sometimes the afr is still, and again the wind brushes the trees and rustles the corn and sweeps the meadow grass like a breeze on water, , . , . There are stumps in old pas- tures, and new trees on the hills, The cascara leaves are autumned where kids have peeled the bark, and the vine maples are thinking of turning. The transparent apple trees are laden and there are windfalls on the ground. . , . There is peace in our valleys, and industry and contentment, people with their own patch of land, their own doorsteps and fences, their own way of life, There is snugness and haven, and perhaps a little bit of heaven, too. For beauty is heavenly, -- Aberdeen (Wash.) Daily World, London Buses Slicked Quickly The big double-decker buses of London Transport, Eng., ramb- ling red landmarks so familiar to Canadian visitors, are being treated to regular four - minute beauty treatments. : The push button treatment leaves the vehicles: thoroughly vacuum cleaned, refuelled and lubricated. Each night, while London sleeps, a small army of 10,000 maintenance workers swings into action, examining, washing and repairing the fleet for the following day. One gadget used is an immense frame on which 56 brushes whirl at 500 revolutions a minute. Cold water jets drench the exterior of the bus and the brushes clean- and polish it in less than two minutes. Every nine weeks the coaches are given a "shampoo" when gal- lons of liquid soap are sprayed through the mechanism, "The gobbler," a powerful vacuum cleaner, can clean one deck of a bus in about one minute, Money niay not buy happl- ness, but it's a prety good down payment.--Charles Ruffing. yy SRSTITR. ARS SCHOOL LESSON By Rev.'R. Barclay Warren B.A., B.D. Ezeklel, Pastor of His People Ezeklel 1:1-3; 2:1-5; 34:11-16 Memory Selection: Ye my flo, the flock of my pasture, are and I am your God, saith Lord God. Ezekiel 34:31, A bishop sald, "Of the com- plaints I have heard co. ministers, more of them concern ed the lack of a shepherd heat$ than the lack of preaching ability." ~ Ezekiel developed the sheph heart. It was a difficult task which he was called. He, a cape tive, was to speak to his owas people who were also in tivity. They had rebelled agains} God. They were impudent child- ren and stiff-hearted. Littl wonder that Ezekiel went $9 them in bitterness and in h of spirit. Apparently he scorn the people to whom he was #9 minister. He came to the captives at Telabib by the river Chebar, He entered into the woo 1 of the people. He wrote of later, "I sat where they sat, an remained there astonished op them seven days." No one c really help people in their spirite ual needs until he learns to know not only the faces behind the faces but also what has made the faces what they are. "I sat wh they sat," is a prerequisite f serving others. } Then Ezekiel received a charge which gave him a sense of ree sponsibility, He was to be @ watchman of the hotse of Israel, If he failed to deliver the warne ing from the Lord, the Hout of the wicked would be requir at his hand. If his warning wen$ unheeded he would at least save his own soul. But he must speak reproof only as God directed. Ezekiel was to be a co-work with God in shepherding Isra Though they were in captivity because of their rebellion yet they were not forsaken. Ezeklel brought a message of hope. They would be gathered again to thelg own land. Messiah would come and be a shepherd over them evén as David had been. A railroader friend had part of his leg cut off by the train. When he came to consciousness in the hospital he looked inte PI oF the face of ™'- pastor, The pastog had brought the man's family those 200 miles In a hurry. Th¢ man will never forget that pastog with the Shepherd heart. re v we # x 33 ; 1.4% ep! ! 1g 1 ON THE BARK--They're off in the first poodle race ever held In Berlin, Germany, or probably anywhere, for that matter. The race climaxed a poodle show at the city's fairgrounds. The dogs' owners were posted at the finish line, otherwise the canines' might not have budged an inch. ' itn ee THREE ACRES ON THE MOVE---The lar pictured on Pickwick Lake, about 215 gest tow ever transported on the Tennesses River is miles from its starting point, Paducah, Ky. The tow of © 24 barges loaded with grain, scrap iron and stdel is en route from Paducah to Knoxville, Tenn. The 24 barges, in a formation 100 feet wide, square feet or almost three acres. The tow is cover an area of approximately 126,000 being pushed by a diesel tow boat, the Robin. (In river parlance, a tow is a formation of bar ges pushed, not pulled, by a tow boat) The 3,200 horsepower Robin Is the most powerful boat on the Tennessee River. as this is not unusual for the Mississippi River, but for the A big tow such Tennessee it is an all-time record, = a Er # :