TO THE GUILD OF UNKNOWN FRIENDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 72

TO THE GUILD OF UNKNOWN FRIENDS.

A PEEP INTO EMMELINE'S POST-BAG. I shall divide the extracts from my letters to-day, dear Unknown Friends, under two headings — your own and the Cosy Corner Club, — for though practically all the club members belong to the wider guild, many guild members do not belong to the club. The two associations, however, a.re very closely linked, and no one knows better than Emmeline that there is a wider circle still, deeply interested in both club and guild, I and! this circle is composed of the silent sympiathisers. To them both guild and club news is interesting. » * s * RANGIORA, beloved alike of club and guild, writes thus in a recent letter: "It is late to tell you of Zee's visit to me last April. She was looking well, but nafurally I three years of life in that climate and surroundings had left their mark. She was going back to her people bravely and happily. Nothing of the martyr spirit about her, truly she is a noble woman, and the example of her daily life mu6t have its effect on the people she has chosen for her own, whereas they might remain for ever unimpressed by the story of the Gospel. Quite simply and naturally she told us of th« life at Ragu — the deadly monotony and lack of news from the outer world, the* uncleanly habits of the natives and all the horrors attendant thereon, and' last, but by no means least, the frequent attacks of f«ver and consequent swallowing of much quinine, which has the effect of causing temporary deafness and making the poor patient feel unspeakably wretched for the time being — an attractive picture, of a truth ! Whait a change to tho life Ted and Gnib are leading! It will be a great delight for them both, this extended tour, and I hope they will share Mtns of their experiences with their comrades of the club through the kindness of Emmeline and the Witness editor. Did you see the dear Grandmother? — or is it an inflexible rule which forbids you becoming personally known to any of your Unknown Friends '. And Violet has not written^ to me for so long that I have now no idea, of her address. . During the week I had a letter from Zee, and sh© has been at Norfolk Island since her return to duty, and is not going back to Raga, but ie to be sent to the next new station opened. I don't like the idea of that at all . . . It is many months sines I saw a Witness, but I believe you did not start the club going this seatcn. Was the last 6e»sion too discouraging? I hope you won't lose touob with the Guild of Unknown Friends, even if Cosy Come. haf to be dispensed with. You have been such a promoter of happiness through those chaiW2ls, dear Emmeline. It has been a great thinjr to draw <ogether in the bondls of good fellowship so many kindred spirits, and very truly do we one and all appreciate your work." Those kinder words still, in which Rangiora speaks so generously of my work and i all it means and has meant to com© lonely j folk I prefer to keep for my own cheer, scarcely daring to believe them all true. But here is % message for VIOLET: "Will you pass on to Violet my sympathy in her loss and trouble. She may not remember that my thoughts are still with her "" — a£, I am sure, will be those lof our kindlj guild aad the readers to

whom her gentle, graceful writings have la the past endeared, her.

Most appvo^nately, then, will come some extracts from Violefs own last letter to me giying a very vi\id picture of life and its conditions in that " fai-ther north" district in which her new home is situated: "We were able," she wo-'tes, "to enjoy the trap up from Ngaruawahia to Te Kxjiti by train, and next day the remaining 10 miles in a conveyance. I Lave seen no fairer, no mo-re magnificent view than that which, may be seen by turning when on the first hill on this side oi To Kuiti. It is so vast and varied — JiiJJs and. gullies and flats and rivets intermingling I—faff-reaching;1 — faff -reaching ; a fine counfcrv waiting to be opened up for settlement. Then road, 'up hill and down dale,' truly, with sharp elbows for turnings—constant surprises,— for it is impossible to see far ahead — indeed, there goes a saying that stockmen meeting on the road find their whips interlacing "while they are themselves yet far apart. With the- sharp turns and steep hills it is to be wondered at that aocidents do not more frequently occur." Last year 1 the hopes of the- bacik-blocks settlers were high in expectation of much being done for the roads before wintei-, but so little was really done, so very few mites permanently improved, that the old terrible light still goes' or with bad roads, aad will till December or January of next year even. One not on the spot could hardly believe the amoant of traffic there is on this road, heavy waggon tiraffic, especially during those months in which, all endeavour to get their winter supplies carted before- the roads reach their worst — six, and in some cases nine, horse teams plunging their laborious way through the deep, deep mud, which is here by April or so, two, or even three, teams keeping together co that if one should stick the horses from another may be added to force the waggon on. Naturally, with such obstacles to contend with the cost oi living is high, and innumerable difficulties baset the farmer in those far places who strives to work his farm on approved lines. Yet they struggle bravely on, cheerfully, hop&fully waiting for the fulfilment of promises long delayed in the matter of road® and railways, ' advances to settlers ' (which, however, so often fail to advance), till the hearts of these men in the back-blocks begin to feel to the utmost the hard strain of that ' country life ' in New Zealand which has been described as 'one continual picnic.' In the matter of postal advantages again the ©train is felt. Those pioneers still love to hear from friends in more civilised lifestill watch eagerly — more eagerly than those more fortunately placed can imagine — for magazines and papers telling of all that is happening in the great world, but as they must -not expect the advantages 6o liberally bestowed in the- towns one secures a ' private bag ' by paying £2 pe-r annum. Any other settler wishing the great boon the use of this bag confers may have it by paying in 10s yearly, thus reducing his trip of many miles to two or three when he wants his mail, and for this be" is thankful. When come strong man is stricken wiith sore sickness, or a tender woman is laid on a bed of anguish, or little child suffers accident or illness, I dare hardly speak of th© danger to life, the unhelpable suffering on tho ono hand, the heart-wringing anxiety on the other, the anguish of knowing that medical skill might avail much to lessen danger or relieve pain, and knowing also that it is often impossible to get it; amd yet a great, grand country is beckoning ever to the courageous, the patient, the hope-inspired ones. Surely a day is approaching that shall bring to these hardy and haxd-traed pioneers a rewairl worthy of their present endurance." . It is not altogether a cheerful picture of life in the newly-settled districts, and Violet has had her own sad personal reasons for fathoming the need of roads and telephones in cases of illness. For us, ! neverthek=ss, it is wholesome hearing, this ' simple record of strenuous and courageous ! life, for It brings home to one how spoilt and frivolous are man? of our pet grievances. COSY CORNER CLUB. Every member among us, oid and new, will welcome news from Ted and (xnib. Never were truer or more loyal comrades, and in losing Ted I am sure the whole club recognises that their most brilliant tsar has set, to ri6e with greater brilliance on a wider horizon. Many of our club members must have guessed long ago thafc Ted was no amateur scribbler, and I may even. h«are with, them the confidence she reposed in me before her first book was published, and she only dreamed of the success she has now attained. Our cheery, loyal Ted, Cosy Corner comrade from the very inception of the club, and Emmeline a right-hand in loyal encouragement, is none other than G. B. Lancatser, whose "Sons o' Men," "A Spur to Smite," and "Altar Stairs" I commend to yom reading. Here is her own message to us. " Toronto, Canada, •'July 5, 1909. " Dear Cosy Corner Folk,— l don't fcnow when the session opens', but I must eend you a- line from the oth^ir side of the world to tell you tnat I'm thinking of you all Boy Friend, and Gabrielle, ami Taffy, and Lex, and VaJ— and everybody else. I can't begin to speak of what I've seen It has all been f=o wonderful and* hew. The Rockies did make me think a bit of New Zealand. We were a fortnight coming through, as we stayed at most of the places, and once six trains were stuck up for over two days because the bursting of a beaver dam in the mountains had washed out the line. We had great fun there, visiting the folk on the different trains, many of whom had come over on the Makura with us. I can't say that any of the American or Canadian papers are as good as oure — or half as good. There are only three literary ones at all— but, of course, co many magazines take their place. We find the people just charming They ask one to come and stay straight off, and I hope later on to send some reports of my various travels to our New Zealand papers. I wish I could write a travel paper for the i dear okl club. But I have- so very much | ■vviiting to do that even this scrap ii written: when I should be in bed. A book of Dr Grenfell's lies beside me, with a dedication in his own hand to my cousin, with whom he always sta\e when in Toronto. My cousin has been telling me that the doctor seldom goes to Labrador now. He lectures, and his helpers stay there. Many young men from Citna<lian and American Universities go up in the summer to wort for him in various va-je. It makes it

feel so real to be 6o closely in touch witlj him. " Gocd luck to you all, CO. friends Stick together, and keep the old club" going. I shall see your meetings even if I don't write. And I shall never forget you all. — Your comrade, Ted." The following .sincere appreciation of their work by Native Fern, cannot fail t< interest and gratify wry comrades; and illustrates very forcibly the truth of my remark about that wide circle of silent sympathisers which the oluib has created for. itself. •'Dear Emmeline,— Excuse my impertinence, *ut I cannot ffelp expressing my disappointment at the non-appearance of the C.C. Club meetings. Have they been given up? I hope not; but it has been our privilege so long to have those- clvb 1 papers to help to entertain us during the winteT months that I assure you they have been missed very much by others besides myself. Allow me to tbamk you for your own essays; they axe always enjoyable, th«j last one especially so — On Shadows — you bave put quite a new complexion oo» it from any I have seen before." •• . » The following message i« from Rangiora, whose inquiry about Taffy I fully endorse. Our corresponidence, too, eeems to have shared a like fate! '•What ha shappened to Taffy? Our correspondence came . to a sudden end. I read 1 with interest all the messages, and beg; to say c fervent "Hear, hear!" to "your remarks and Oscar's on the subject of defence. It is a never-ending mystery to> me why our men folk are so apa-Ehetic, and one cannot but feel thai they will pay, dearly some day for their procrastination in a matter of such, vital importance." ' A post-card from dear old Gnib gives a lovely view of Niagara Falls on one side, and on the other reads thus: "I meant to> write to the ;lub this mail, Emmeline, but had not time; so pleaee just give my comraties good greetings from Gnib. Wo have just arrived et Niagara. It is a perfect day, and we ane staying- the night at the Niagara Hotel, within eight both, of these* falls and those on the American side. Love to you and to the club." It is certainly delightful to think of Gnib, with her love of humour, her loyal devotion to Ted, her keen interest in men end things, and her sweet, jolly nature, having such a lovely tour. One thing we may be sure of — they will get every ounce of enjoyment and^of education out of it — and perhaps (at any rate -we shall hope so) share it with us! \ • • ■ * "Nor is Ted tihe only club member „ whose career we shall be able to follow with pridle. Eve, whose writing, tpgefiier with .that of Gaibrielle, has been such a help and co true a literary pleasure in the past chronicles of the club, now contributes constantly to the Australasian press, writingshort stories as well as verse. Eve is still in Melbourne, and GabrieJle gives me cheering news of* her. From Gabrielle I have this little message — little, because 6he has been very busy (and some day^ we may know why): "Remember me, dear P.resident, to all my old friends of the club. Ido not forget any one of them, though I have been so long silent." And now, my post-Dag exhausted, and my space long over-run, I must with, all kind greetings sign myself,— Your attached friend and president, EMMELINE.