UNFINISHED SYMPHONY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 3 December 1927, Page 15

UNFINISHED SYMPHONY

CAN IT BE COMPLETED?

I’BIZE FOR SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT.

Ten thousand dollars have been offered as u prize to any composer who’ can acceptably complete tlie “Unlimshed eymphouy-' of bchubert, which means that the successful contestant will in all likelihood receive for the last movement to that work, more money than poor Schubert got tor all his compositions put together. The great meluuist often scribbled Ins immeortal songs on any scrap of pap er at baud auu sold them literally ioi a few cents.

The task of writing even a passable ending of the ‘‘ L nlinished Symphony" is colossal, and it goes without saying that the majority of composers who enter the lists will appieciate the porportions of the job before them, for that particular com position is one of the prime favourites in the music loving world, and even those untutored in the art have fallen under its melodious spell. Most music lovers uro likely to feel that no living composer can touch the hem of Sehuoert's symphonic garment. Seldom indeed is ony muster work satisfactorily finished by another if the original genius leaves it undone. “Turaiidot.” the posthumous opera of Puccini, is an exception to tins generalisation. But in the instance of ■ - 1 ■ randot. ’ ’ the hand that completed the work was that of a friend ami co-worker familiar with the intent and stylo of the composer.

Literature has its coses of authors dying before a work was completed and of other writers endeavouring to finish the task. Of such is Dicken s ‘‘Mystery of Edwin Druod.” a mystery never solved for the world by its fabricator. ft was running serially and about half completed when its author was stricken. Since that time several writers have tried their S( kill at finishing the story. There are at least three quite different endings by three different individuals.

GARDEN OF EDEN. ABOUT THAT APPLE! Washington. Oct. 22. Science has struck at the Garden of hdou apple theory. It has knocked the apple right off the ‘‘tree of knowledge of good and evil.” auu tentatively substituted an orange—or a banana—as the fruit that caused the downfall of Adam and Eve. Science in this case is exemplified by agricultural department horticul cural experts, who say Eden was so hot, an apple could not have grown within 100 U miles of it. A bulletin issued by the depart meat's Hawaii station advances the banana version, ft says this fruit is one of the oldest known and quotes a legeud that the serpent hid In a bunch of banauas.and tempted Eve. But the experts are not exactly sure what the snake told Eve to eat. Dr. H. T. Gould, assistant hoYticultuer chief, has an idea an orange was the “forbidden fruit,’’ the eating ol which according to the Book of Genesis, banished Adam and Eve from the Garden and caused everybody since to toil and perspire. Genesis does not specify the nature of the fruit. Dr. Gould asserts oranges were plentiful in the region of the Three Rivers, Mesopotamia, where Edeo supposedly was and that the Biblical first man and woman probably never saw an apple. The dispute has aspects fully as deep as the question, “Is there a Santa Claus” William Atherton Depuy, writer of children’s school books, says ho thinks it is wrong to “mislead” yonng minds with the apple story and the banana or orange was more correct. He is going to change the storv in the next series of books he writes. (Note —The weakness in all this scientific argument is that there is no mention whatever of an apple in the Genesis story. Whoever started the apple story, it was not Genesis.) PA KI PAKI TROOP. The weekly meeting was held on Friday evening, when Scoutmaster Dawson had a very good attendance of boys. After scouting work and games, Mr Dawson gave avinteresting ta Ik to the iteop. Several visitors and committeemen looked in during the evening. HAVELOCK NORTH TROOP. This troop now meets on Thursday night at 7.30 p.m. Last Thursday Ass. S.M. Ashcroft led an observation patrol a few miles along the road, and on their return the four patrols wrote down what they had observed by the way. Some really good papers were handed in, showing that, these Scouts have learned to be observant. The meeting concluded with patrol work and practice of the Dorn inion haka. HASTINGS NO. 1 Y.M.C.A. TROOP. Scoutmaster Wheatley with Asst. S.M. Duff, had an attendance of thirty Scouts on Friday night at the weekly meeting. After Mr Wheatley gpve a little talk, the tents were taken out to the green, and some practice in tent-pitching was gone through. Scouting games, lighting fires and cooking completed a good night’s work. This troop has room for a few new members, and would like to see those who have dropped out recently join up again. HASTINGS Y.M.C.A. CUB PACK. Saturday, November 2lith, was a great day for the Cubs; this was “parents’ day,” and we were delighted to sco so ninny present. It was certainly encouraging to their instructor Charlie Elphick and bis

band of helpers, and the Cubs put their best into each item. A line programme of Cub work was gone through in good style. Mr Ralph Paynter, chairman of committee, addressed those present, and while thanking so many for responding to the invitation, read the Cublaw and explained the object of the movement. Some badges gained during the last few months were to have been presented, but had not arrived from headquarters. Colin Turner, Russell Johnson, Dick Brodie and Rex MacLennan were the lucky ones to receive a ’.opy of ‘ ‘ The Scout. ’ ’

DODGING THE PIRATE.

A GAME FOH OUT-OF-DOORS FOR THE CUBS.

One Cub, who is a pirate, is blind folded ana, sticking a knife or some otner object in tne ground in front of him, he squats uown. The KniXe is a valuable treasure over which the pirate is keeping guard when he falls asleep. Tao Cub must creep uj) to the 'sleeping pirate” and endeavour to get the knife out of the circle, The pirate should be seated in a circle about six yards in diameter. The other players should be lurk ing at least twelve yards away from the treasure ready io creep up and make away with it. This they must try to do, creeping up very softly and trying to get the knife out of the circle without being discovered. Whenever the pirate hears a movement ho points to the spot from which he thinks the sound has come. If ho points al a Cub he has to return to his starting -point and try again.

Saturday, December 10th, is the day set apart for a big effort to raise funds for the Hastings troops. 1 ft has been decided to institute a copper trail, and sale of badges, and each troop as well as the Cub Pack will work different blocks in town. Apart from an odd concert and little stunts in the Y.M.C.A., this is the first direct appeal to the public from the Scout body,and this is now impcra tivo to help to provide for the annual camp.

THE FIRST AID BOX. Scouts and Rovers usually carry about with them first aid cases, in which are litttle bandages, iodine, rolls of tape, qcpdlcs, iodine, a tiny pair of scissors, oils, ointment, and so on. That’s an excellent idea, but what about carrying it into your homel Why not . make a first-aid case for your mother? You never know when she might cut herself with a knife, and then a piece of haudage would prevent her getting dirt into the wound. Or she might burn herself and need some oil. Go to your cubmaster and tell him about the scheme and he will at once, get you a list of things necessary for the case. Next, you've got to find a box. On the box stick a slip of paper, on which are the words. “First Aid Case.”

Then get together the necessary articles. Your dad will help you here, and the chemist will find you small packets and bandages, so that the coppers will go a long' way. Then give the box, complete, to your mother, and she will place it in a handy position. It may perhaps, be placed in the bathroom.

There is another idea. Look up the first aider badge in your Wolf Cubs’ Handbook, and find out what the oils and ointments are used for. With those you can’t find your cubmaster will put you rigTTt. Then get a little pocketbook and make notes in it—boracic for so and so, for example. Not only .will you be doing another good turn, but you will be learning first aid as well.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH TROOP,

November "th was. a red-leter day for the troop, it being the occasion of the investiture of the whole of the troop of 18 Scouts with the Tenderfoot Badge. The ceremony was performed bv the District Commissioner, the Rev. H. B. Hughes, who gave the troop a splendid talk appropriate to the occasion. The troop was only started in September, so it says much for the keenness of the Scouts that they should all have their Tenderfoot in so short a space of time.

Sunday. 13th November, was another day to be remembered, it being the first church parade of the troop, augmented by Scouts from the Port Presbyterian Troop and. Y.M.C.A The Minister, the Rev. F. de Lisle, Scoutmaster of the troop, devoted his sermon entirely to the Scouts, giving them a fine address on the Scout Laws.