Two stations in Boston refused to play the song because of a flood of calls and letters from listeners who thought it was insensitive. The 5-foot-7 station manager of both stations explained that children might begin to see themselves as "creepy little folks." . . .

Then there are those fans who, understanding their favorite artist's genius, have interpreted the song as being a satire on short-sighted people — spiritual midgets, you might say.

[Harry Boon] says that he can always tell what the weather outlook is going to be by watching the gnats and the birds. When the swallows fly low to catch the gnats, it means a heavy atmosphere and that rain is on the way. When the swallows fly high for the gnats, according to Harry, then the sun will shine all day. . .

Birds, insects, and reptiles provide a host of minor prophets, most of them with a gloomy message to proclaim. The noisy quacking of ducks and geese, the croaking of frogs, the loud singing of the missel-thrush, and the crawling of the toad across the road at dusk are one and all harbingers of rain.

The spider is the most interesting barometer. She prepares for wind by shortening the main filaments of her web. When these are unusually long, fine weather may be expected to last for 10 or 12 days. Very rarely is the web left alone for more than 24 hours. Complete cessation of work is said to be a sign of wet, but if activities are resumed during the rain it is an indication that the shower will not last long and will be followed by a spell of settled weather.

None of the experts who have worked out these remarkable experiments in mental hygiene is particularly interested in the mere appearance of his patients. It is worth no money to the State of Illinois or to the County of Essex to make its insane wards look pretty. Were that the only object the beauty parlors would not be there. That they are there, and that other insane hospitals propose to install equivalents, is proof of the fact that the beauty parlor and what it stands for have definite value in aiding the cure of insanity. . .

Rouge, powder, lipsticks, eyebrow pencils and all the other implements of artificial beauty are provided, so that the women can make up to their heart's content, regardless of the somewhat weird results sometimes obtained... It is a part of the system to let the "customer" direct her own beautification as much as is possible.