Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1894. The Winter.

Manawatu Herald, 31 March 1894, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1894. The Winter.

The days are even now drawing rapidly in and before many more weeks have passed the evenings will be long. We are not at present going to discuss how the adults are going to amuse themselves, but what can be done for the children. They must be kept at home and they must be kept moderately quiet. The question is how is this to be pleasantly accomplished. There are many games which could be recommended to them, many sorts of work which their nimble fingers could be put to, but all do not know them. We candidly confess only to a knowledge of a few, and we therefore think that if our readers would consider the matter they might offer very many useful suggestions through our columns, which we would most cheerfully publish, not necessarily under their names ii publicity is at all objectionable to them. The very restlessness of our young folks is extremely satisfactory in one way as it evidences their robust health, and we all know the old saying about idle hands. If we had some patriotic individuals who would provide prizes for different objects, to be the work of the youngsters during the winter evenings, one of the mountains of difficulty would be surmounted. The girls are easier arranged for than the boys, as by inheritance they are able to use their fingers, and their tongues, at one time, and are able thus to contest for success in matters which would reduce the boys to the state of dumb beasts. Still there are some kind of work, such as macrami work, nets, &c, which rightly come within the male dominion. This, however, is what we desire suggestions upon. Ab ' times, when the younger children are put to bed, peace and quietness is most desired, and to effect that a book and a taste for reading soems most needed. We have ben exceedingly astonished to find a school committee actually fear the effect; upon their scholars of reading Shakespeare. We need hardly say that we do not agree with them, still if some people who know their Shakespeare honestly declare they do not think it is a fit book for their children to read, their prejudices have a right to ba respected. We think very few would be of this' opinion, and to induce our young friends to the study of this and other ' standard authors, we would suggest i that once a week a certain portion of a play of Shakespeare, or a portion j of any other work decided upon, the young readers should be invited to | send us under a norn de plum-i a \ selection of so many lines, say half a dozen, of what they consider best in that portion, the whole selections ! to be published weekly and decided by the vote of our readers, the successful competitors of say first, second and third places during the quarter or six months as may be determined, to receive a prize -each. We do not want to run even the appearance of a lottery, even, in so good a cause, and our contribution would be th« free advertising of each week's result. We are willing to do our part in any suggestions we put forward but we are not prepared to do the whole. The success of any such movement lies in the interest created in it, and it might even lead to a similar contest for adults. The inhabitants of this district wisely, and naturally, take much interest in their, children and we do not suppose for one moment that if they approved of our rough suggestions they would not most readily respond in assistance. We shall await with patience the working ot these hints, as we believe that they come nearer towards a solution of the difficulty of managing children of an evening than any that has been previously attempted. We need an early formation of a committee, to provide amusement for the winter and .if a meeting was convened we should expect to see a very good muster, amongst whom would be persons admirably fitted to form a sub-committee for the juveniles. In past days, when times were quite as hard and much more dull than the present, men arose, directed entertainments, which were opened at extremely low prices, | which paid and enabled a balance to be handed over to special objects. The secret being that the shows, concerts, &c, were run simply to enable a wholesome and pleasant evening being passed and all that was desired to obtain was just sufficient to cover expenses. We believe the charges were only a shilling and half-price for children, for which sum good instrumental and vocal music, readings and short farces were given for two hours. Why should the same not bo run

again ? We have all the elements for success and it would be providing a source of pleasure to those who like music are yet unable to obtain it in their own homes. It is always belter to laugh than to cry, so it is better to keep amused than to sulk. "If your business is dull don't kick " says an advertisement, " but sing " say we. Imitate Nero, not certainly a good model, but fiddle if you feel dull and times are hot. Relaxation of this kind is the best tonic anybody worried with business cares can take, and the encouragement of a pleasant social gathering goes a long way to even improve trade. None of us are quite so bad as some people think us, and ifc is well to give all an opportunity to learn our best points. Our eye is upon those who we feel ought to initiate the movement, but when once started we should earnestly . desire that everyone be requested to co-operate.