Week-end Chat

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 78, 24 December 1937, Page 11

Week-end Chat

I COUNTRY AND; TOWN.

December 24, 1937. Dear Everyone, — A happy Christmas to all readers and many tin.nks to the correspondents who have helped to make this column mteresting to all by sending letters and articles. With the thought of the Guiding Star of Bethlehem in the minds of many of us at this g^eat festival in memory of the birth of Christ Jesus, and the story before us of how the angels appeared before His birth, saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace, goodwiil to men," we must not let the vision grow dim oi' why we keep Christmas. It is of skies and gardeh beauty that our rqaders write this week. Before you read their letters I will quote tbe delightful words of Ruskin about ''The Sky," written in his book, "Frondes Agrcstes." This is a book that nature and art lovers would appreciate for a Christmas gift. Ruskin says: "It is strange how little in ^.neral people know about the sky. It is the part of creation in which .i ature' has done more for the sake of pleasing man— more for the sole and evident purpose of talking to him, and teaching' him— than in any. other of her vvorks; ard it is just the part in which we least attend to her.- There are' not many of her other works inVhich some more materiai or essential puji-pose than the mere pleasing of man is not answered by every part of their organisation; but every essential purpose 'of the sky might, so far as we know, be answercd if once.in three' days, or thereabouts, a great, ugly, black rain-cloud were brought up over the blue, ahd everything well watered, and so all left blue again till next time, .with perhaps a film of morning and evening mist for dew; and instead of this, there is not a moinent of any day of our lives, when Nature is not produeing scene after scene, picture after picture, glory after glory, and working still upon such exquisite and constant principles of the most perfect beauty, that it is quite sertain it is all done for us, aiid intended for our perpetual pleasure. (At least I thought so when I was fbur and twenty, says Ruskin. At five and fifty, I fancy it is just possible there may be other ereatures in the universe to be pleased, or, it may be, displeased by ihe weather.) The noblest scenes of the earth can be seen and known but by few; it is not intended that man should live always in the midst of them; he injures them by his presence, he ceases to feel them if he is always with them; but the sky is for all, bright as it is, it is not "too bright or good For human nature's daily food;" it is fitted in all its functions for the perpetual comfort and exalting of the heart, for soothing it, and purifying it from its dross and dust. Sometimes gentle, sometimes capricious, sometimes awful — f.ever the same for two moments together. " * • • • This letter is written ln answer to one sent by "Spindrift" last week: — Dear Cousin Rose. — Spindrift's last letter appeals to me far more than the first oue, which, to tell the truth, rather "put my back up." And, wherever we are, we have .the everchanging glories of the sky, the cloud formations, the str s and the moon. Have you ever noticed that when the sky ieems particularly full of stars it is not a sign. of fine weather? We talk of nature, and point out an "insignificant" little flower. We look more closely — and it is perfection. But many of us will walk on the stage to the words of a sonnet of Frenck's : — "To leave so many lands unvisited To leave so many books unread. . " Let us have a little more from Spindrift." Yo.urs etc., "ANGLO-NEW ZEALANDER." • • •

Thanks to " Spindrift" for the f ollow* ing letter. It is a very interesting and veisatile in its topies as well as being suited to this Christmas seaspn. _ Dear Cousin Rose. — My remarks concerning the Old Country seem to have been misconstrued by AngloNew Zealander. The point I wished to emphasise was the surprise that visitors expressed on their return to this country. J can quote from several i personal interviews, in which people stated they had no idea that England was such a lovely place. But that is not what I wanted to write about this week. I was reading an interesting article in Friday evening 's Herald-Tribune, concerning mistletoe, and I felt the urge to add a few words to it, especially at this season. I, believe its appearance on different trees is attributable to birds who seem to be very partial to the berries — or the seeds, I am not sure which. In any case, the high glutenous consistency of the berry causes the bird considerable trouble by sticking to it§ beak. In cleaning its beak, it transfers the berry -to the limb of the tree on which it has alighted and in a short while the much-sought-after mistletoe appears. In most countries, tbe mistletoe is assoeiated with joy, happiness and some hilarity, although a well-known song, viz. "The Mistletoe Bough" records a very pathetie incidcnt that actually occurred. In Australia, the appearance of mistletoe on a stately eucalyptus is anythmg but eause for enjoyment, to lovers of trees. It usually heralds the death of the tree, and is regarded as a parasite of the worst order. I fancy the correspondent is not quite conversant with his facts regarding mistletoe on oaks. I can remember seeing it growing on oak trees in the historic village of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, and also occasionally in Middlesex, within only a few miles of London. I am not certain, but I have a feeling that I have seen it growing on an oa : in Kew Gardens, in what is known as the "Wild Rart." If I may be allowed to refer onee more to my last week's letter, I would like to mention that there is a place where any eulogy on scenery eould not be considered exaggerated. But I don't want your readers to juinp to the conclusion that I am biassed. This country has its beauty spots equal to any; what country

hasn't? Hawke's Bay's orchards, in blossom or in full bearing, its fields of dairy cattle, and lovely liomes are too well known to need any mention by me. Mere beauty of scenery is not always necessary D make a place remembered. There are many homely scenes that remain in our fiiemories and stir our hearts far more than the majestic grandeur of mountain ranges. What couid appeal to one more than the glimpse of a fireside, with *a happy family around it, or a park full of youngsters enjoying themselves to the top of their hearts? Last, but not least, is one I hope all my readers will see aiid enjoy; viz.: the light in the ehildren's eyes when they open to view the result of Santa Gnus' visit. Wishing you and your readers the compliments of the season. — YoUrs "SPINDRIFT." • • • I am sure all who are interested in gardens will be pleased to read what this Havelock North writer says in answer to the query about what a sandgarden is. JAPANESE SAND SHADOWG ARDEN Dear lousin Rose, — I am sorry to have been so long in answering "Appreciatives" query about the above. Imagine a small oblong lawn with, sand instead of grass and speeimen trees planted on three sides of it so that shadows play all day long across its sandy surface. The lighter the sand the better the shadow. of i ourse. The Japanese must mix sometnin0 with the sand to keep'it from blowing about. The new type' of architecture being designed to-day lends itself to shadow effects on its walls. Fascinating results can be achieved' in Hawke's Bay's clear atmosphere given a modern home with its simple lines and a tree or two planted for future shadow effect. — Yours etc., "AOTEAROA." # * • This. is a pleasing little verse which has in it the theme of Christmas homecomings and re-unions. *At EVENINot All that bright morning has scattered Evening shall bring: The bird flying home from high heaven ' On home-weary wing; The child that has strayed in the sunlight With small eager feet, Turns northwards in the evening, Finding home sweet. • • • To all who read, my friends and writers, pJease accept the best of wishes.