An Open Air Page For Big Girls and Boys

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 267, 1 February 1928, Page 6

An Open Air Page For Big Girls and Boys

TALES, FANTASTIC AND WISE

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER Silver Ripple forwards ttie following report of the combined camp at St. Mary’s and Bt. Mark’s Companies 'which was held at Hunua recently: “On Saturday, January 7, the advance party left Auckland for Hunua ■with Captains Ward and Houghton irt charge. At about lunch time we arrived at Mr. Holt’s property, where we unloaded the lorries and changed into camp uniform, ready for work. When the camping party arrived the following Monday wo had nine tents erected, six washing cubicles, a store hut, and a fireplace built. We were divided into five patrols—the Clovers, Heathers, Manukas, Rohutukawa* and the Robins, with three officers and Mrs. Cox, who acted as camp mother. Altogether there were 36 of us in camp and we were a. very happy party. We were fortunate in having a beatuitful site, surrounded by bush, while nearby was a splendid swimming pool. Our morning programme was much the same. The cooks rose at 6.15 and the rest of the camp at 6.30. We began the day with physical jerks, then those who wished went for a swim. Prayers and inspection took place before breakfast, and at 10.15 we had orderly and tent inspection. After dinner we had rest hour and a camp fire evening sometimes followed tea. Two girls had their birthdays in camp and a party was held in their honour. One day 20 of us went by bus to the landing stage at Papakura, where we boarded a launch which took us to Weymouth. Here we had a delightful picnic and returned to camp at 8.30 p.m. Another day we all hiked to the Cascade Falls in the Gorge and spent a very happy day. On the Thursday before we broke camp 20 of us went to the Hunua Falls. The first Saturday was Visitors' Day, and some of the Manurewa Guides called on us with their captain, Mrs. Johnson, and on the • last Friday in camp we were visited by Guides of the Papakura company. Saturday night was reserved for a fancy dress ball, and many of the girls appeared in very original costumes, the officers representing the story of “Little Red Riding Hood.” On Sunday several of the girls attended church, while others held a service in camp, and that evening we had a camp tire ceremony and sang Guide hymns and songs until bedtime. We were all very sad the next day when the time came to pack up our little white homes among the trees, for we found it hard to leave the camp we had learned to love.” THE FREE CREATURES One of the best things boys or girls • an do is to keep a watchful eye on the doings of free creatures around them, such as birds and animals. It is delightful to get to know them without interfering with them. It is a Training in observation and a quickening of sympathy, the sympathy that makes all the world friendly. Sometimes. with patience, one may win the friendship of the free tilings so that they lose all fear. Providing birds with some nestbuilding material, giving them a regular supply of water for drinking and having a bath, and leaving them a little food at the same time and place daily will bring its reward when they parade their brood, showing them k where they will find friendliness. It ■ is worth trying by those who have a 1 convenient garden.

“ /GREETINGS, Breeze of Morning. And how came you by U such a joyous name!” “ I am early abroad from my tepee, Redfeather, and walk an enchanted world when the first glimmer of dawn flushes the horizon and the hills are washed with rose and silver. It was ever thus. For all time I would be known as 4 Breeze of Morning.’ ”

“And you, O Chief of the stalwart bearing and steady eye?” “ I am one, Sentinel Pine, Redfeather, vigilant, trnstv and true. The ways of the forest are known to me and I would make another unit in the magic circle that surrounds the '[Wigwam.” “ It is well, for here is friendship that springs as sap in the living tree and youth that makes the world a place of promise and intrigue. Each day brings its news discoveries. In the forest we find some new leaf; a strange bird skims across our range of‘vision; undeciphered footprints call for investigation; an unknown star claims our attention ... We are all seekers with the Great Out-Doors our common hunting ground .. . Hist! Here come the Children of Redfeather. Strange things are in their hands for they have been having a forest day and have brought the spoils to the door of their Chief. But harken, faithHil ones, I have another task.for you. We would gather again in the twilight when the moon swings her orange lantern above the birch tree and listen to tales, fantastic and wise. It is time once more to cut your magic quills and dip them in the ink of experience and reflection. The trophy goes to the teller of the best tale 'or storv time is ever a joy and a delight to your Chief.” REDFEATHER,

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS The camp-fire sing-song which was conducted by the Papakura Boy Scouts at the conclusion of their annual camp, was a marked success, and was attended by neighbouring Scouts and Guides. Stories, games, choruses and individual items were given by the different troops and, at the conclusion of the evening a new Papakura Scout, Hex Best, was enrolled . During the camp lan Earl, Konald Francis and Joseph Derbyshire passed the test for the swimmer’s badge, and Ronald Francis and Arnold Lacassie passed the cook’s test. The competition for the allround boys in camp was won by lan Earl and Reginald Martin. Mr. L. Thode, the First Bos’un of the Calliope Sea Scouts, who has been on a visit to Australia, has now returned and will take up control of the Vindictive troop. Apart from the ten days’ cruise at Christmas, the Calliope troop has continued to hold meetings all through the holiday vacation. * * * All Scout meetings will be resumed this week and the boys are looking forward to beginning the year’s work with the keenest zest. WEATHER SIGNS OF GOOD WEATHER— Heavy dew. A clear, rosy sky at sunset. A grey sky in the morning. Dawn first seen on the horizon. Sea birds flying out far to seaward early in the morning. Soft, delicate clouds. Clouds decreasing in size. OF BAD WEATHER—■ Red sky in the morning. Dawn above bank of clouds (wind). Bright yellow sky at sunset (wind). Pale, watery sky at sunset (rain). Watery moon. Light-coloured small clouds driving across dark, heavy masses. Unusual clearness of distant sounds. Sea birds flying far inland. Animals in the fields seeking sheltered places. Pigs carrying straw into their sties. 4 *Rain before seven, fine before eleven’ 'often proves true. WARRIORS On the border of the forest, Underneath the fragrant pine-trees. Sat the old men and the warriors Smoking in the pleasant shadow, In uninterrupted silence; Looked they at the gamesome labour. Of the young braves and the women. Listened to their noisy talking, To their laughter and their singing, Heard them chattering like the magpies, Heard them laughing like the bluejays, Heard them singing like the robins. “Sing to us, O Chibiabos! Songs of love and songs of daring, That the feast may be more joyous. That the time may pass more gaily. And our hearts be more contented?*' —Sent in by Little Grey Dove. What a desolate place would be a world without a flower. It would be a face without a smile, a feast without a welcome. Are not flowers the stars of the earth, and are not our stars the flowers of heaven!

TREE FEELINGS I wonder if they like it —being trees? I suppose they do . . . It must feel good to have the ground so flat And feel yourself stand right straight up like that— So stiff in the middle —and then branch at ease. Big boughs that arch,' small ones that bend and blow, And all those fringy leaves that flutter so. You’d think they’d break off at the lower end When the wind fills them, and their great heads bend. But then you think of all the roots they drop, As much at bottom as there is on top— A double tree, widespread in earth and air Bike a reflection in the water there. I guess they like to stand still in the sun And just breathe out and in, and feel the cool sap run; And like to feel the rain run through their hair And slide down to the roots and settle there. But I think they like wind best. From the light touch That lets the leaves whisper and kiss so much, To the great swinging, tossing, flying wide. And all the time so stiff and strong inside! And the big winds, that pull, and make them feel How long their roots are, and the earth how real! And O the blossoms! And the wild seeds lost! And jewelled martydom of fiery frost! And fruit trees. I’d forgotten. No cold gem, But to be apples—and bow down with them! —CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN. A LEGEND OF A TREE In Central America grows a peculiar tree, whose sap is so red that the natives have for many centuries used it to dye their clothes. The story of how its juices turned this curious colour goes back to long before the Spaniards plundered the country—to the time when the Aztecs were at the height of their wealth and power. One of the princes of that ancient race was, in secret, a chief of robbers. The jewels that shone on his fingers, and even gleamed upon his clothes and shoes, were stolen from rich merchants as they journeyed between one great market and another. Nobody knew where all his hoard of ill-gotten wealth lay hidden—not even the gang of bandits in his employ. But it was noticed that soon after each robbery one of his slaves always mysteriously disappeared. One day, when the prince was setting out on an expedition, a member of his band who had long been discontented with his own share of the booty, disguised himself as the prince’s slave. ■When the treasure had been secured, the prince, dismissing his followers, loaded it upon the slave, and, after leading the way to a lonely spot, commanded him to dig a hole to hide it in. Just as the slave was finishing this task the prince fell upon him "and would have cast his body in with the treasure. But the bandit in disguise was prepared for this attack. After a fierce fight it was the prince himself who was killed and the robber, covering up all traces of the fray, fled with the gold.

The first of the “blood-trees,” as they are called —tropical relatives of the “box”—-appeared on this spot. But, before long, others sprang up in remote places. At their roots was discovered the loot of the robber prince.

HILL FOLK The liill folk who dwell in the Himalayas believe that every tree has its little spirit, and whenever they fell one they place a stone on the lopped trunk to keep the genius within. Their temples of stone and cedar wood, roofed like pagodas with overhanging eaves, stand in groves of deodars, sacred trees which are protected and reach an immemorial age. But long before he reaches the frontier the traveller encounters symbols of the religion of the dwellers on the Roof of the World; here a praying- wheel, and there a pagoda-roofed arch frescoed with Buddhist script. A Tibetan will be driving his flock of goats, laden with skin-bags of rock-salt and borax, while on© hand helps a kid along and the other revolves his praying-wheel. The ways of losing fights are many; And some are well, some badly, done; But this way is the worst of any— To lose before the fight’s begun.

CUPID AND THE ROSES Cupid, with a pot of nectar in his hand, was hurrying one day to a council meeting on high Olympus, when he chanced to stumble. The sacred fluid was flung out far and wide and sprinkled the earth—with roses. Cupid was not only amused aft this piece of mischief, he straightway fell in love with the roses, and, hovering over a delightfully perfumed blossom, printed a kiss on one of its petals. He soon discovered, however, that he had been too rash, for a bee inside, infuriated with the intruder, stung him on the lip. When he told his mother, Venus set out to make slaughter among the bees, and the youthful Cupid slung their bodies along his bow as a revenge and a warning to the remaining honey bees. But his mother planted their sings up the stem of the offending rose, and ever since roses have borne thorns.

ADAPA AND THE SOUTH WIND Thousands of years ago, when men carved histories on stones and worshipped gods with birds* heads, Assyrian children W’ere told this story of Adapa. One day a boy was fishing on a calm sea when the South Wind came swooping along and with a burst of laughter snapped the mast. The sails fell into the water, the boat turned on her side; Adapa had much ado to get ashore. As he stood looking at the wreckage of his vessel the South Wind came whistling and laughing round his ears. “Ah, demon!’* shouted Adapa. “If I could only see you I’d break your wings.” Suddenly the South Wind made herself visible. She was a huge monster, half-woman, half-bird, but Adapa, nothing daunted, leapt, caught her, and broke her wings in his fury. She made herself invisible again but he could hear her wailing and flapping her broken wings as she rolled on the shore.

The days passed. Anu, king of the Assyrian gods, sat in his golden halls with the windows wide open, yet the South Wind had not returned to her master. Ships were becalmed, the crops drooped, but still the South Wind did not blow summer clouds over the parching land. At last Anu sent a messenger after the truant, and he brought her back in sorry plight. Anu’s wrath flamed like a sun Set. “Summon hither that man who so ill-used my servant,” he commanded. Adapa was awakened from sleep by a bright light, and beheld a radiant being who hovered near his couch.

“Anu bids you come to his judgment bar,” said the messenger, “because you have broken the wings of the South Wind.”

The story -does not say what instructions he gave Adapa about finding his way to the Heavenly Halls. Perhaps he was to follow the Moon-track on the sea, or find a chariot waiting for him on the mountain top; I do not know. But as soon as the vision vanished Adapa awakened his father, and said: ‘Alas, Ea, my father, our happiness is over! Never again shall we lower the net, or break bread, or walk in the shade of the trees together! For I have angered the gods and I am summoned to judgment!” Ea mastered his sorrow and replied: “Go into their presence clad in mourning garments and humility. Lay aside your own fiery nature. Seek their forgiveness with earnest words. If you win the gods* pardon return to me quickly. Above all, do not eat or drink the heavenly food lest you forget the Earth.” Adapa set out, and by some strange means found his way to the golden halls that stand on the clouds. Two winged giants kept the gates; he saluted them reverently, and they let him through. The splendour of the palace itself was outshone by the glory of the Immortals who sat there, clothed in starlight. Anu the king, burned brighter than the Sim. Adapa knelt and veiled his eyes. Anu spoke in tremendous tones: “How have you dared to harm my servant?” Adapa replied in a humble but unfaltering voice: “O King! I have come to crave forgiveness. South Wind wrecked my ship, and in my hot anger I laid hands on her, forgetting whose servant she is. Deeply do I repent my wrath.” The assembled gods murmured: “Truly the little mortal is sorry for his fault.”

Anu mused a moment and said: “You are forgiven, but you must not go back to Earth and tell men what you have seen in our presence chamber. You shall dwell with us for ever. Let the young taste the wine of immortality and give him the divine bread.” But as the heavenly cup-bearer stepped forward Adapa threw himself on the ground before Anu crying: “O Great One, be not angry with the least of your creatures! Be patient with your foolish servant, and pardofi me that I do not taste your wine or take your gift.” Anu’s voice rolled round the golden rafters like thunder: “You refuse my wine! Do you think I offer you the poisoned draught of death? Evil minded pygmy, I offer you a seat at the table of the gods!” “As you are the Father of Truth, pardon me!” prayed Adapa. “I understand your bounty, of which I ain not worthy. But I promised my father that if I could win your forgiveness I would return to him quickly.” The anger was gone from Anu’s voice as he replied: “If you return to Earth you return to toil, sickness, age -and death. It is man’s lot. Yet, if you choose, you shall go in peace.” Adapa thanked him and went his way. Thus did a boy reject eternal ease to take up the human joys and manful sorrows that are our common lot on Earth.

SPONGES The common bath sponge is a familiar object, yet very few people- know what a sponge really is, and most people wrongfully imagine that it is a sort of seaweed. Nor is it very strange, perhaps, that people should not know its true nature, for it was formerly one of the puzzles of science, and even yet it is in some ways rather a problem. One old writer imagined that sponges were made out of the foam of the sea; another thought they were worm houses, built by worms much as bees build honeycombs, and wasps nests; and another thought they were half-bird, hairanimal. As a matter of fact, the sponges are really very lowly animals. Animals are divided into two great classes-—those made of single cells and those made of more than one cell: and the sponges are the lowest form of the second class. They consist of many cells, and the dry material we use for the bath is the horny skeleton of the cell which holds them together and gives them shape. The fibrous skeleton is made in such a way, with tiny cells plastered all over its surfaces, that it forms a porous mass with mouths and tiny pores cn the exterior, leading into a network of tubes, large and small. The cells set round the pores and mouths, and lining the passages, have each little finger-like processes which all move together and cause a stream of water to flow in at the pores and out again at the mouths: and in this way food and the gases in the water are made to circulate to all the cells. There are male and female sponges, and the female sponges produce eggs that develop into single cells, which at first go swimming through the water, but afterward toke root and form such elaborate compound structures as are here described. Most of the sponges of commerce which are used for washing and surgical purposes come from Turkey. Greece and Florida: but the bath sponges I are not the only sponges. There are sponges of all shaps, sizes, and colours- some the size of a pin’s head, some as tall as a man; some fan-like, some tree-like, some cup-like, and some basket-like; some built on horny framework, some made of lune, and some with a glassy frame. Some are snow-white, some grass-green, some sky-blue, some red, and some yellow. Often the framework is beautifully constructed. Particularly beautiful is that of the sponge known as Venus-basket, which consists of spicules and threads of silica woven together into the shape of a basket or vase.

Quicksands are composed of very small particles and water, and are usually found near the mouths of rivers and in glacial deposits. In them are numerous particles of mica, which permit the sand grains to slip over one another, and so heavy; objects sink through them, *