THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 53, 25 May 1927, Page 14

THE WIGWAM

An Open Air Page

For Big Girls and Boys COMPETITION DAY TPHE Wigwam page holds much of interest this week and I can picture my young followers running their fingers down the Competition Results. Anything in the shape of a contest is always exciting, both to the competitors and the judge and I am glad that there was so much splendid material to choose The prize for the essay goes to Flying Cloud, a talented Brave whose name is fast becoming familiar to readers of the Wigwam page. She has given us a splendid essay on Alodern Rngiisii Poetry,” deftly handled and in places full of power. Flying Cloud' should go far with her versatile pen. Next in the list come three excellent essays closely contesting for second place, “Hobbies” by Beaver Hunter—a well modelled piece of work by one of our valued Scout Chiefs, “Bird Life in New Zealand,” a charming study of the feathered folk hv a very loyal Brave, Blue Moon and yet another aspect of “Hobbies” by a'Guide-Brave, Little Feather, whose fine letters frequently appear in the Girl Guides Corner. The Pen-name Competition was exceedingly popular and there were scores of entries. Silver Wing, of Christchurch, and Silent Warrior, of Auckland, have tied for first place, their lists being the most suitable. This section was very difficult to iud"e as many of the lists were most original. These lam setting aside to allot to the new Chiefs and Braves who are daily tapping at the door of the Wigwam. To the prize-winners my congratulations and to you ail my thanks and best wishes. Your Fraternal, REDFEATHER.

* OF INTEREST TO SCOUTS

I have before me as I write a picture of the fine old Chief Scout, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday while visiting South Africa. He is shown beaming with good nature and completely at the mercy of a laughing crowd of his young adherents, who are carrying him shoulder-high. The Chief Scout has solved the secret of perpetual youth and is still il boy among boys. In one of his recent “yarns” he gives a stirring account of the resourcefulness shown by an English patrol who kept their heads in a case of great emergency and were the means of saving several lives. He writes: “One of the patrols in the recent Kent Marathon, namely, that of the sth Medway Rovers, had an opportunity, of showing how far they carried out the Scout Motto of “Be Prepared.’ While they were examining a sign-post at the corner of the road they heard a sudden crash, accompanied by cries and groans in the next lane. They found that a motor-lorry had crashed into a wall and was wrecked, with a number of men thrown under it and badly injured. •The Rovers kept their heads and quickly and coolly proceeded to do the right thing. They had all been trained in first aid and had their equipment with them, and promptly set to work to bind up the wounded. Where they had not sufficient instruments such as splints and tourniquets, they made them out of whatever they could find at hand. For instance, one of the injured men had his arm cut open down to the bone and an artery was gushing blood when the Rover tied his neckerchief above the wound, and, twisting it tightly round his Scout knife, managed to stop the flow of blood and so save the man’s life. “From a neighbouring inn the Scouts telephoned for an ambulance and doctors. who arrived on the scene some 15 or 20 minutes later. The head of the St. John Ambulance has written a letter giving the highest praise to the resourcefulness and efficiency of the Rovers in dealing with the injured men.

The whole affair reflects the greatest credit on the Rovers and on the Scouter who taught them their work. They have upheld the good name of the Scout movement and have acted up to their motto, ‘Be Prepared.’ ”

At the Church Hall, Clayburn Road, on Sunday morning, the Glen Eden troop of Auckland Scouts held their monthly Church Parade. The vicar, Mr. H. R. Jecks, congratulated the boys on the good attendance and the Rev. F. Long, a missionary from India, gave a very interesting and instructive address. After the service an investiture was held, Scoutmaster Turner officiating.

A new Chief, Great Pearl Feather, of the All Saints’ Scout Troop, has written me a most interesting letter. He belongs to a very progressive troop and has himself been instrumental in bringing several recruits to the khakiclad brotherhood. —Redfeather.

THE SPINNER

The Moon spins white, white tunes; It weaves its songs to the night: A Minstrel caught the silvered notes And through Iter melodeon set them afloat Qn tile dreamy sea of the world.

PEN-NAMES

FIRST EQUAL Braves: —Listening Bird, Lone Star, Eagle Plume, Sighing Wind, Shining Moon, Red Dawn, Paddle Carver, Swift Warning, Whispering Tree, Crooning Waters. , „ Chiefs: —Kfed Arrow, WJplf Ear, Leaping Waters, Eagle Eye, Fleetwing. Silept Warrior, Moosefoot, Coyote Call, Standing Rock, Supple Bow, —Silent Warrior (John Shannon).

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER

I nave just been reading an interesting account of a very courageous deed that cannot fail to interest my GuideBraves. It is the story of Miss Dudley, leader of the Blue Wren patrol of Tallangatta, Victoria, and she has won the little silver cross which is the Girl Guide reward for valor. Two small children were playing in the street, immediately in the path of a pair of bolting horses, and at great risk she dashed into the road and rescued them just in time to save them from being trampled to death. Guiding teaches a true unselfishness and many a brave deed has been performed by its followers, but this girl is among the honoured ones, for only once before has the little cross been awarded in Victoria.

A wise man once said that “courage is generosity of the highest order, for the brave are prodigal of the most precious things.” I wonder how many of you know John Drinkwater’s beautiful poem, “A Prayer”? The last verse contains a message for all the world: “Knowledge we ask not —knowledge Thou has lent, But, Lord, the will —there lies our bitter need; Give us to build above the deep intent, The deed, the deed.”

It is so easy to plan what we will do under given circumstances, but true courage—the courage of deeds is spontaneous, the impulse that springs like a flower from the seed of unquestioning belief. “Glistening Water” writes: “I belong to the Wren Patrol, Arahi Company, First Herne Bay, and we have an exceedingly nice captain. I have been a Guide for nearly two years now and another patrol and ours are the two eldest in the company.

“I was ever so pleased with my penname, ‘Glistening Water,’ as it is English for Waitemata, our own harbour.” Included in our new members this week is Star Dust, a company leader. Silver Ripple and Smoke Plume, First and Second Patrol Leaders, belong to the same group. —Redfeather.

WHITE SWANS

The quiet pool, sleeping amid dappled lawns and wooded groves, is their kingdom. Beauty is the cargo they ship across their fairy ocean. Like imperious, regal barges they sweep the waters of their kingdom of tiny, black hulks and other inferior craft.

Who shall stay the passage of the beautiful white swans? They are Royal birds, to whom all other waterfowl must make obeisance. Watch them cleave the waters of their kingdom with scarcely a move of stately head as they slip across the polished pool to Priscilla. Hers is the only command to which they will bow, for in her slim, white hand there are morsels no reedy pool ever disgorged. Even in England to-day the white swan is a Royal bird, and every year those on the River Thames are rounded up and marked with the Royal insignia. Poets and painters, throughout the ages, have extolled the grace and beauty of the white swan —loveliest of all water birds. Here in New Zealand their virginal plumage and stately mein make glorious pictures on many a sequestered waterway. Heart.

FROM A COUNTRY BRAVE

The following glowing epistle comes from a loyal little Brave at Papatoetoe. Thank you very much for the beautiful seal you sent me. Mother declares it is the prettiest one she lias ever seen (and so do I). I think it must be the little red-feather that makes it so real and beautiful, don’t you?

Now I must tell you what I do with THE SUN. As soon as Father, Mother and, of course, sister Singing Leaf have finished reading it, I claim it as my very own. I first cut out the Wigwam page (as that is special) and pin it with my little collection of other Wigwams, then out comes Fads and Frills for Mother, for as you know, most mothers love to save things, just as we young Chiefs and Braves do (anyway mine does). And, of course, Father must have his little bit, so I cut out “the Home Beautiful,” “Gardening” and “The Farm” pages for him. What is felt, we save for stuffing wet boots and shoes, as paper dries them quicker and they do not go out of shape. So you see, Redfeather, there is not much SUN left after we are finished with it, is there? Every Wednesday night I have a lovely time going over my “Wigwams” and I love to see how big our club is growing.—Morning Star.

PEN-NAMES

FIRST EQUAL Chiefs: —Young Otter, Thundercloud, Rising Sun, White Tomahawk, Fleetfoot, Flying Chief, Strong Heart, Arrowswift, Grey Wolf, Shining Feather. Braves: —Silver Mist, Star of Evening, Dawn Winds, Maid of the Dusk, Whispering Leaves, Mountain Star, Spirit in the Trees, Bending Willow, Flower of the Forest, Rippling Waters, Silver Wing. —Doreen Shaw, Christchurch.

HOBBIES

Hobbies play an important part in the life of man. Wearied, perhaps, from business or financial troubles, he is able to put dull care aside, and, for a few brief hours, journey happily through the golden realms of his favourite. pursuit. The tired mind seeks restful harmony in toil that is not toil, work that is not drudgery, but a pleasure, and it Is largely to hobbies that business men owe their brief enjoyment in life.

A man without a hobby is like a ship without a rudder —listlessly he will drift on the tide of life, pursuing a career without enjoyment, a definite goal unset. To make one’s daily work a hobby is to some the joy of life, and though to these, worldly* success invariably comes, they soon discover that a diverting yet amusing hobby is essential for the vigour of the mind. But a hobby carried to extremes is harmful to one’s occupation, and doubtless we are all acquainted with one or two almost fanatical enthusiasts of radio, fishing or golf. Hobbies may be divided into two types to suit either the outdoor or indoor man. Open air hobbies include sports, fishing, gardening and naturestudy, while radio, stamp-collecting, bridge, and, among the juveniles, cigarette-card collecting, are all embraced under indoor . amusements.

Every boy has some hobby, and these follow closely on the lines of the adults’ pursuits. Much useful knowledge may be amassed from the lad’s interest in meccano, stamps, coins and even the humble cigarette-card, while the open air calls all healthy boys to sports, nature-study or simple pioneering. This love of outdoor hobbies, together with youth’s desire to penetrate all the beauties and mysteries of bountiful Nature, has formed the heart and soul Of Scouting. In the virgin bush they learn of hitherto unknown joys and delights hiding in myriads under the leafy canopy of our forest giants, and the adaptable mind of youth early learns to respect and reverence the natural wonders of its native country. Hence outdoor hobbies encourage the manliness of the free, while through the fresh and airy pursuits come improved moral and physical conditions. Then, to a, Scouting provides more hobbies in the long winter months. Every one of 63 proficiency badges is a hobby in itself, and though badgeshave been much condemned, they answer the recruit’s first query—“W hat. can I do?” Indeed the whole game of Scouting is but one vast, interesting hobby teaching all that is pure and beautiful that the youth of the nation may arise a better race. —Beaver Hunter (Denis Glower.)

MODERN POETRY

Let us recall those early days when the famous old poets earned their living by writing verse. To-day, their poems are world famous, and from each, we can extract some lesson, either in connection with

“the works of Nature,” or descriptions from the times, of old English kings, and so on, right down the pathway of years.

Although they lived for only a few years, their works did not die with them, but have been handed down from generation to generation. Let us take for example the works of Shakespeare. During the actual times these poems were composed, it was hard to find purchasers, and when sold they brought in very little income.

In the poems of yesterday wo are guided back, through unfamiliar centuries, to the little old world of long ago. But, as the years slip by, man’s knowledge is extended, and gradual signs of improvement are shown, until to-day the works of poets and authors are published throughout the world.

How could one resist drinking in the song of the birds, or neglect to notice the beauty of the fields, with their golden sheaves of corn, which bend slightly as the breeze passes by? How* could one fail to notice the thousand’ dew-laden petals of the fragrant flowers that glisten as the morning sun shines down upon them?

Such outstanding beauty fills the heart of the poet with a glowing flame for the love of Nature. Others prefer to express their love for their country —for the simple, peaceful life found there or the wonders of its scenery.

In this way we see how poets obtain the necessary foundation for writing and how they unselfishly express their thoughts and ideals that others may find the sunny N side of life.

—Star on the River (Hinemoa Hed lund).

If cities were built by the sound cf music, then some edifices would appear to be constructed by grave, solemn tones —others to have danced forth to light fantastic airs. —Haw thorne.