EUROPA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 335, 21 April 1928, Page 27

EUROPA

Europa was the beautiful daughter of a Phoenician king. One lovely day she was out walking -with her companions along the seashore. It was warm, and they liked to feel the cool, fresh spray from the waves as they splashed against the rocks. Jupiter, the Greek god, looked down from his throne on high, and saw these maidens strolling together. And when he saw the beautiful Europa, he thought he had never seen anyone half so lovely. He was so charmed by her grace and beauty that he determined to capture her for A himself. A god can do anything, you know, and so Jupiter changed himself into a white bull. In a twinkling he appeared along the shore near Europa and her friends. When the maidens saw the bull, at first they were very much afraid. But this bull was so gentle, so white, and so lovely that they soon lost all fear of him. Europa said to her companions: “Whoever saw a bull so gentle? See, he follows me wherever I go. He even lets me touch him.” This was just what Jupiter wanted her to do, and so he stood as still as could be, while she caressed him. Then Europa said: “Come, let us pick some flowers and deck this bull.” So they gathered flowers which were growing all round. Some were white, some blue, and some pink, and these they wove into garlands and They put a wreath round his »eck, a garland about his horns, and festoons down his back. How Jupiter looked lovelier than ever, and Europa said: “He looks so lovely, I’d like to mount his back.” .

With this she leaped upon hie back and held on by his horns. This, too. was just what Jupiter wanted her to do. So he stood very, very still. When she was safely on his back he thought to himself: “Here is my■ chance for capture.” Then down into the sea he plunged, with the lovely Europa on his back, still holding his horns. He swam and swam and swam until, he came to the island of Crete. Here he landed with his lovely prize, and here they lived happily ever after, so the story goes. Europa means white, and they -say the whole continent of Europe was named after her. And as the white people still live in Europe, its name is as fitting to-day as it was in the past. THE CLOUD A. little, old man lived up in a cloud. And he was as poor as he was proud. When the sun came out and the day was bright, His dear little house was all shining light. When evening came and he went to bed His dear little house turned a lovely red. When stars came out and twinkled at him. His dear little house was all grey and dim. When the moon came out shining soft and clear, His dear little house looked ever so dear! But the sun was so hot one very fine day, That the cloud and the little man melted away! And where they melted to —no one can say! FIR CONES You perhaps collected some fir cones on your holiday and brought them home with you. I wonder if you know that they make excellent weathe* prophets and will tell you when it is going to rain. Pick your largest and finest cone, twist a piece of thin string around it and hang it up in th© porch. When wet weather is coming the cone will close up tightly, but if fine weather is to be expected, the cone will open and spread.

SEVENS There are plenty or nice fine days in the autumn, so you’ll be glad of a new game to play when you are in the garden or the fields. JlTiis game is called “Sevens,” and any number of players can take part. First of all, one of the players is chosen as “Captain,” and he stands in the centre of the others, who form a circle. The captain must call out a number. Now if it is divisible by seven, then all the players must run to him, but if it isn’t, then they must stand still. This needs a little bit of quick thinking, doesn’t it? And some players are sure to make a dasli without thinking when he says “12,” or some such number. And any player who runs when he should not do so must, stand out of the game. If you are a bad counter you will quickly have to fall out, won’t you? % The game continues until all the players but one are out, and then he, as the winner, takes his turn as captain. A TRICK Put a shilling on the table and tell your friend that you can remove it without touching it and ask him if ho can do the same. When he has tided without success, tilt the table a little and let the shilling slide off! on t.o the floor. It is surprising how few people think of this simple way out cf the difficulty.

PUZZLERS A Word Puzzle I am tli© simple letter H. One da: someone put another letter in fron of me, and then as good- as told mi to b e quiet. Then he added anothe: letter (again in front), and I becam< a tree. Yet another letter was thei placed in front and lo! I broke ou in spots! Finally, a fourth letter wa: added, and I was told I was worth less! Musical Terms What musical terms do the follow ing articles suggest to you? (1) J large key. (2) A book vest. (3) i yard stick. (4) A Boy Scout’s pole (5) Weighing machine. (6) A razoi (7) A short letter. (8) A piece of thi] rope. (9) Tar. (10) A piece of iror (11) Twenty-four sheets of paper. Answers to last week’s puzzlers: Kiddle-me-ree: North Pole. Buried towns: Ayr, Venice, Londoi: Mons, Oslo, Stoke. NO TROUBLE Teacher: “Oh dear, oh dear. Alai How on earth did you manage to up set this bottle of ink?” Alan (with dignity): “Quite easily.