Week-end Chat

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 71, 10 April 1937, Page 13

Week-end Chat

"LINGUAo"

" APPRECIATIVE. "

"BANDAGES."

"PRACTICAL No. 2."

J- U LLi O Li UIJ j "JAN. "

COUSIN

ROSE.

COUNTRY AND _ TOWN. **

10th APRIL 1937. Dear Everyone, A'n Indian summer makes us plant our late seedlings, keep. on with light clothes, enjoy tennis and swimming in leisure hours. Hawke's Bay is very beautiful in autumn with the leaves turning to browns and golds, and many are appreciating the countryside. Photography is a hobby, or art, which gives insight into these things, and it should be encouraged in schools and not regarded as merely a game, for it is of absorbing interest, and makes a walk over' hill and valley eomethihg to observe closely if boys and. girls are seeking pictures for their camera. It is quite astonishing how great a hold photography has in our district. Thousands of snaps are printed daily in Hawke's Bayl Is not this astonishing? But it is quite true. # « • I have some thoughtful and interesting letters which are printed below, showing that many people read the newspapers and think on current topics. We have a weird sense of values in life. It should be everyone 's duty to keep abrCast of what the world, is thinking and doing. Yet you often hear people make remarks about subjects which have been discussed freely in the papers, and it is obvious those people have not read a word. Their little world is bounded by their own home, their new carpet or stove, their latest recipe, or something equally circumscribed, and Spain can be in ruins without them even knowing. This letter is written by a man reader: — Dear Cousin Rose, — The English language, which taken all in all, may be considered by far the richest, though not the most. beautiful or the most sonorous, of all the languages spoken in our day — ialyet in its vigorous youth, and cannot be excused of exhibiting any symptom of decay. It is doubtful whether it has yet reached the full maturity of its prime, or whether the mighty nation now existent in America, or the as mighty nation which is destined- to arise in , Australia, will not, as new wants are created and new ideas evplved out of the progress of science and civilisation, add many thousands of new words to uor al- ' ready copious vocabulary. For English is like man himself, omnivorous. All nature — all the languages of the earth — administer to its wants. .It borrows, it steals, it assimilates what words it pleases from all the pojnts of the compass. Saxon, Celtic, Greek Latin, French, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, have all helped it;' and the once despised but beautiful dialect of.its Scottish sister has given it many poetical words, which it is not likely to part with. But if English is thus- perpetually growing, it is at the same time perpetually losiug, and glossaries have to be appended to the ancient poems and prose writings, explaining the meanings to the modern English reader. For instance in • Chaucer, there occur upwards oi six thousand words which need explanationl Even Shakespeare is becoming obsolete to his countrymen, and uses upwards of two thousand words which his latest and judicioua editor thinks it necessary to intcrpret. — Your s, etc.,

v w v Another writer sends this appr«ciative note: — Dear Cousin Rose, — 1 was most interested in "Yerba's" list of obsolete words, and I do wish that he, or she, would write again on the same subject. All but two words were unknown to me. — Yours, etc.,

• * # Dear Cousin Rose, — Once again I write to thank all those who have so kindly sent parcels of old sheets for bandages for mission hospitals, and wool and gifts for the lepers, which I have collected from Hall's Book Shop, Hastings. Old sheets, in any quantity, are really a godsend to medical missionaries. Please address all parcels to — Yours, etc.,

* # . . * . In answer to a letter from Havelock North, signed ' ' Anne Irregular ' ' two weeks ago, comes this letter from a southern reader. "Dear Cousin Rose, — I was un- . able to comment on "Anne Irregular 's" letter last week. I - am so sorry that a few plain truths, known to all church workors, should seem to her to betoken a bitter spirit. The caretaker, who receives a small remuneration is not invariable. . A church, in which I am much interested, capable of seating about 400, is thoroughly cleaned, brasses polishod, flowers . grown> grass cut, gravel drive weeded and ralced, and many other thiugs are done for it, but al] for love. Not oue, of these workers receives a penny, and the "smile of welcome" is at tbe door. Perhape if "Anne Irregular" knew iss she would change her name to "Bea Regular. ' ' — Y ours, etc.,

* Thauks go to a Napier reader who sends notes on women 's homeerafts, and an article. These will be printed later.- Cousin Rose greatly appreciates such helpful contributions. A reader with a poetie trend in her thoughtw contributes this poem. Original verse, if brief, and letters from both men and women renders, will bo printed in this weekly discussion column each Saturday. * * * Dear Cousin Rose, — As one of the many "Marthas", who reads and

enjoys your " Week-end Chat," I send you these few original lines: — . I truly am a "Martha," but try to thinkk 'tis right to cook and clean, wash . dishes, frOm early morn . till night. And often there are extras, which I must undertake, without more straw being added, although more bricks to bake. I envy all the "Marys," and wish that I could be just one of them, but somehow, 'twas "Martha" give'n to me. Whilst oft I think if husbands would only sometimes say, "For all you do I'm thanlcful," 'twould cheer a wife's dull day. Not wait until Death enters, and then in woe deelare, "The home is now so different, without DEAR Martha there."

■ * * * There are many who would rather be a "Mary than a "Martha" — as so cleverly expressed by "Jan." Maybe some husbands are among these misplaced ones. Send vour ideas along to —