Week-end Chat

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 196, 4 September 1937, Page 13

Week-end Chat

"MATEE." #

"ONE OF THEM."

' ' KEEP ON WITH IT."

COUSIN EOSE.

COUNTRY AND; TOWN.

Dear Everyone, — The flrst week of spring bringing line weather, the comfort of satisfactory rains just past, the quick springing into bud of flowers and trees and the lifting of the winter atmospkere, draws us ckeerily out of our homes to discuss events of the day with our friends. Spring is the time for sensible Eesolves, and, as niuch as possible, a breaking away from past shackles, hoth mental and ocular. Surely no-one who passes down Roberts street in Hastings will be sorry to the the scrapping of the high hedge tliat enclosed the lawns and trees of Cornwall Park. Now, all can see the rosy tints of rhododendrons and camellias through the tree trunks and the effect is pleasing to the eye. Spreading forth in more ways than just taking away hedges is a step forward. Windows should be larger, curtains less, blinds not at all, and the sun and air and light shouldr be encouraged in every way. With so niany fadeless furnishing "materials no harm will come to rooms-if the sun is let in, but, on the other hand, inflnite trouble may come from lTving in gloomy houses where the atmosphere is mnsty from artiiiciality. No wonder T.B. is a New Zealand seourge. Our old offices and homes were splendid places to breed germs, and, even now, many people value their sofa cushions and carpets more than their lungs and temper.s. With spring should come a mental stock-taking and new health regime. The young should bo protected from the mistalces of the past. * # « Many thanks to the readers from three different towns who sent in letters this week. For the benefit of new readers Cousin Eose exnlains that let» ters on any subject are welcome for thrs column. If you arc diffident about pennrng your own cxceilent ideas, do not be so, for letters that are not wellexpressed can easily be turned about a little before printing. The main thing is to help other people by letting them read what cxperience has taught you to think and observc. Even young people can be very original. I like tlie story of a Hastings child who was detscribing a clear-eyed girl friend. She said, "Alummy, her eyes are so blue; even the yolks arc bluc!,; Vr

Ncxt week is the scout concert and here is a letter from an enthusiastic hclper who is anxious for people to reaiise the greatness of the Scout movement as a national character-forming organisation : — Dear Cousin Eose^ — Some small boys in green jerseys joyfully undertook to sell some tickets for a coiicert in aid of a hall in which they could play and have as much fun as they liked without disturbing other people. They were so thrilled to be able to help, but they were so soon crestfallen i'or no-one wanted to buy! Now can you "or your readers tell me why it is so much more diflieult to enlist "sympathy for preventive work than for remedial work. You say 1 ' Children 's Homes ' ' to some people and their hand is immediately in their pocket or their pantry feeling for something to give, but ask someone to buy a ticket for the concert for the projiosed Scout hall, by which it is 'hoped to prevent children from going into " homes,' ' and oue is met with a refusal. Small boys aro often looked upon as a nuisance, 1 Jcnow, but I would ask every mother who can possibJy spare a florin or even a "bob" to think 1,-vVice before she rcfiises to buy a ticket for the Scout concert from the boy in the green jerscy or the khaki shirt. Her money will be going iuto a sound investment.

This rathcr amusing letter from Napier answers a letter saying that bachelors did not take great part in civic life and welfare work. What do oilrer Kreaden$ think? ^Letters. fi*om Napier are always welcome, for each town in Hawke's Bay has ideas to give that are mutually interesting. Dear Cousin Eose, — In answer to a letter appearing in your eutertaining columns, eigned Sponged Upon" — by the way a very appropriate nom-de-plume where infant welfare is conecrne-d — may I take up the cudgels on -behalf of the wily bachelors and spinsters who have evaded matrimonial expenses? I could mention several in this town whose names appear on Plunket subscription lists and other charitable institutions, and who also giVe their Vservices willingly on boards and conimittees. "Sponged Uptm" forgets the cinema and dance tickets lavished upon his many daughters by ' their bachelor friends to say no thing of the occasional coek-tails with dinner to follow. And, lastly^ some of the bachelors and spinsters do not suffer gladly their seliioh indej)endence, and might wilnngly exchange to the home comforts and companionship of married pehury, from their luxurious model dat to love in a cottage with babies on the floor and subscription lists ftominc to the door. — Youivs trulv.

Dear Cousin Itose. — Has it evor slruck you that people well on iu vears should have more interests tban the younger oues? The more ma ture mind can, or should, judge hooks, or pictures, or musie, or nafiyrt, and many mors subjects in a

way that the young cannot do. There Is so very much in the world of deepest interest, and the longest life can only hope to absorb a portion of it. Astronomy, for instance — what a field 1 I think wa are gradually droppin'g the idea »that after middle life there is not much for us to do. We ueed not be skittish. A young lamb playing and gambolling ,is a pretty sight. I am afraid the old sheep is ridiculous. An amazing instance of what a man can do when old has just 'come to my notice. Have you heard of the Russell lupins? There is quite an interesting story connected with them. An old man, hale and spare, of 83, has spent about 27 years previous to this age in improvtng the lupin family, till he has obtained the most varied and gorgeous colours imaginable, in different strains of lupins. What a wonderful achievement. And now, after refusing offers of payment for a long time, he is consenting to let the public share in the treasures and the seeds will "be put on the market. This i« not an advertisement, but just a striking instance of what an old man can do. — Yours, etc.,

Do you know (says "John o' London") that when a man raises his hat ' on entering a friend 's house he is imitating the knight of old who, before . stepping into a castle hall, doffed his helmet in proof to his liost that he came in peace, and by thus removlng_ the most vital part of his armour showed hi-s absolute reliance on a friendly reception 1 * # # Hoping for some more ljetters before Thursday of each week, and thanking readers for their many cheery comnaents.