THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 209, 6 September 1940, Page 2

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

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.What ho, what ho, ma hearties. We have been just in time to gollop a cup of tea and sandwiches at a funny little town in Honduras before we settle back in our seats to enjoy the beautiful scenery as we enter the little country with, a long long name. This is Nicaragua! The last town of any size we have seen was Tegucigalpa. Funny, isn't it, and now we catcli a glimpse of the sea again as we speed along the coast. You'll never guess the name of the gulf. Its called the 'Mosquito' Gulf because in the early days most of the low-lying mangrove swamps on the foreshore were the breeding grounds for millions upon millions of these hungry insects. And they were much bigger and much hungrier than the ones we are accustomed to in Whakatane, Well that is a thing of the past. The N'icaraguan Government had reclaimed most of the great marshes and in their place, as you can see now there are green farms and cattle ranches. Now as w r e dash inland you can see what looks like another great sea to the west. It is not, though. Its a deep lake, the largest in Avhat is called the little Americas. It is called Lake Nicaragua, and the town we | are pulling into is Managua. PreLty *ind clean, but aren't the people a j lazy lot? Hundreds of them seem to be dozing in the sun. Grey town will be better and busier. But I want you to save-up your pennies for the lovely capital of Costa Rica, which is the next country we visit. It's name is San Jose, and you will see there one of the nicest, gayest and happiest peoples we have yet seen. Hop aboard the funny little train and now. we're entering Costa Rica. See the wonderful jungle of ferns, vines and flowering trees on the hill sides we pass. There are some of the finest tropical orchids in the world in that forest.

OUR STORY [' 1 T A TALE FROM POLAND You have probably been tolcl be-« fore of the great mound being raised at Cracow in honour of Marshal Pilsudski, and how earth for it has been sent from all parts of the world Instead of ordering a sculpture made by one artist the whole nation is building with its own hands the mound in niemory of Joseph "P'il- . sudski, who died last May. The oldest mounds of this kind., also near Cracow, are to Krakus and Wanda,, the legendary founder of the town and his daughter, who, according to tradition, drowned herself in the Vistula rather than marry a German knight who sought to take the city. The Pilsudski mound' is the other side of the town from these, and here, at dawn, you may see the factory workers, clerks and shopgirls, who have no other time to spare. They push the heavy Avheelbai'rows up the hill to the central point happy to do their share before going on to their ordinal day's work. Later come the peasants,, the welldressed. ladies, and the schoolchildren. Everybody wants to take part in honouring the national hero. Even the babies are not left out. They toddle between the handles, sideling their little strength to that of father or mother, manifestly proud of their real, grown-up work. When father stops to wipe the sweat from his brow baby does the same, as if the movement were part of the performance. But when the wheelbarrow Is empty of soil it comes bump, bump,, down the slope with baby inside enjoying the fun! From Jill parts of the country pil-* grims stream to CracoAV, in summer about tiOOO visiters a day. In comtmon boxes or lovely urns they bring earth from their fields or gardens to add to the gradually rising mound One workman pushed his barrow load 180 miles. Emigrants have sent soil from their adopted countries. An Englishman sent a little parcel of sweet lavender which was thrown on the hill. In a year's time the new lull will rise above Cracow. A garden will be laid out round it, with lawn and flower beds and fountains, and Polish children will play there, pausing now and again to remember with pride the- man who lived for their country's freedom.

1 for the Goodwill Cruise J ' Mtk L W'>"\ s>

A JOURNEY TO THE MOON Experts in .science tell us all sort of queer and surprising things. Bu not for a long time have I heart anything stranger than the word; of a certain learned Frenchman wh< promised that in ten years' tim< journeys to the moon will be pos sible —and almost easy. He has been making careful an< bold tests Avith powerful rockets and believes: that these "projectiles' will be so greatly improved as tc make journeys through space quit< safe. Miracles follow one another sc quickly nowadays that only a ver; daring (and perhaps foolish) mar would venture to say that any new notion is- absurd or wholly impossible. But this prophecy sounds ; little hard to "swallow*," and if i actually comes true T know of ont cautious person who will not hurrj to get into a moon-bound rocket! LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION WHAT WAS HE SAYING? Well lads and lassies, you certainly gave me a problem last week. Seventeen answers and most of them good and original. I had to take two bottles of asperins before I got over my headache picking the winners. I boiled "them down to five and I think I will give them all prizes or otherwise I would have tc go to bed for a whole month. Here they are;— David Sullivan: 'By Gum.' Patricia Sims: 'Look out, you neai ly ran over me. Then I wouldn't get my Friday's BEACON.' David Hamill: 'Whew, nearly got it that time.' Charlie Armer: 'Wish the Ohopt swimming pool was handy—l'd be able to cool off.' Gscily Sullivan: 'Whew, nearly a job for the cemetcry Sexton.' A GARDEN ON WHEELS Our house has no garden; It stands in a row, With stone all about Where nothing can grow; But every spring In a magical way, A garden in bloom Will suddenly stray Into our street, So dull and gray. A garden on wheels All ablaze with bloom; Around the bend, By our house it steals, With Tony driving And chanting a tune— "Flowers, flowers, flowers to-day." Tulips bright and hyacinths. Nod and bow as on they ride, ; And daisies beckon from each side Sweet, Oh sweet, the primrose, smel And sweeter still the lily bell, Its fragrance floating like a tide, I wish that I could go along (I'd asfk no pay) To hold! the reins or chant the song In Tony's way— "Flowers, flowers, flowers to-day." DAILY ANECDOTE THE EARLY BIRD GETS HIS OWJ> BREAKFAST Captain Pease, father of the stag< coach in the United States, purchas ed a pair of horses which lie intended primarily to sell to President Washington, an excellent judgt of horses. He was astounded upon receiving a 5.00 a.m. appointmen to show his wares to the President, Thinking the hour far too earlj for so great a man to be up. and doing, the captain delayed his arrival at the White House stables until 5.15 a.m. A groom politely informed him that the President had been there and' gone to fill other engagements. And Pease was compelled to remain a Avoek in Philadelphia before a sec ond convenient appointment could be arranged, during Avhich time he had plenty of opportunity to practice getting up before breakfast.

THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION Here are a number of bidder names of (lowers. They arc all well known and what you have to do is to write them down correctly ana send them in to me. The first thrt* to have them all or most of them right will receive free picture tickets with my compliments. A — T — RR — TN — M BEG —. — IA M — — IG — L — CA — N 1 lON CLA — KIA D LI A DE — P — INI — M — IN — RIA VI — L — — IN — TA C — RY — ANT — E M M — RI — O — D NEW MEMBER Dear Peter the Whaler, As I am now ten years old I thought I would like to join your League. Hoping you will accept me and wishing jour page all success. Yours sincerely, Bryan Bennett. Welcome aboard lad. You'll have to catch us up in South America, but if you take the next Clipper you ought to do it. P.T.W. JOKE CORNER Customer: I want a bottle of codliver oil. Can I have it fresh? Chemist: Certainly, Madam. We kill our own whales every week. « * * • Teacher: Give me an example of a collective noun. Bright Pupil: Dustman, sir. RIDDLE POT What would, a prince do if he wore his boots out? —Wear them home again. c • * ■ What is the difference betAveen an engine driver and a schoolmaster? —One minds the train and the other trains the mind. What has four legs and only one foot? —A bed. a * • a When is a cricketer a coAvard? — When he hits and then runs. m 9 + m What relation is a doorstep to a doormat? —A step fa(r)ther). m » • ® Why does a cobbler never use the first thing that conies to his hand? —Because he uses his last. • « « *> Why do swans groAV smaller as they groAV older? —Because * they grow down. » * « * When is a. baby.like .a parcel?— When it is wrapped Avell. wo * m What goes tG bed Avilh its shoe? on?—A horse. e 0- m m . What knot is impossible to untie? —A knot in wood. w m 9 What coat has no buttons?—A coat of paint, » m « m What is the best Avay to get fat? —From the butchers. BATS AT LAW The bats of Bulawayo, having apparently heard of the starlings whe attended the installation of London's neAv Lord Mayor, have been appearing during the sittings of the High Court of Southern Rhodesia. While the court is closed between sessions the bats have found the lofty arched roof witJi its network of old timbers a pleasant place fo>. theird. ay-time slumbers. When the usher calls "Silence in court" as the judge enters, the bats add "Hear, hear," in a chorus of chirps anil squeaks. They w i s h to sleep, and desire quiet for this purpose as much as any judge, and as long as the eloquence, of learned counsel disturbed their peace the bats would chattcr their protests. At a recent sitting of the court- a small deputation fl ew confusedly round the chamber, made a forced landing on the floor, and Avere eventually removed by the officials.