THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 475, 3 October 1928, Page 6

THE WIGWAM

Here tee gather, here we meet in pow wow friendly and discreet, To talk of earth, and sea, and sky, and watch the world of men go by. THE HAPPY COUNTRY Tills is the story tlie wind told me this morning as it lifted the flap of the Wigwam with unobtrusive fingers and let the sunshine in: “Once upon a time there -were three travellers, Sorrow, Worry and Despair, who set out to find the 3Zapp> Country. *lt must be somewhere in the world/ they said, because other people have found it.’ “‘Let us ask this river, babbling over the shallows, said Sorrow, hut, though the river sang a clear, sweet song, they could ■not decipher it. “ ‘These roadside stones may be able to tell us, said Worry, but the roadside stones huddled together in the sunshine and tlieir voices were lost on the travellers. “ ‘Let us ask the trees,’ said Despair. “‘Why, yes,’ breathed the trees, ‘we know of the Happy Country, but first you must find the wise man, Content, who lives at the bend of the road.’ “At the bend of the road they found the wise man, Content, alone with his dreams. ~ . “ ‘The Happy Country,’ lie said, ‘has acres so broad that man mav never measure them. Sorrow, Worry and Despair must ever be strangers there. You must change vour names and live as I do before you can cross the threshold of the Happy Country. “So the travellers went home, flung wide their hearts and houses to the sunshine, and looked out on the world. And lo! the Happy Country stretehed to their very doors!” REDFEATHER.

FROM A LETTER It is a glorious day to-day, and I am writing this while sitting on my bed on the verandah. For the last few days I have been able to get dressed and come out on the verandah, as the weather has been perfect, and [ have even had a little stroll round the flower-beds to see if my pansyseeds are up. It is wonderful to feel the green grass, soft and yielding, beneath one’s feet, and to smell the fresh fragrance of the brown earth, after many months. Since reading your last talk to Chiefs and Braves, I have been going over, in my mind, my hoard of precious memories and thoughts. I tind I have such a very big hoard; and, indeed, I think everyone should have, for there are so many things in the world to love and appreciate, and they are much more beautiful and precious than all a miser’s gold. Sweet-smelling clovers, pink and white, bending under the weight of dusty, golden-striped bumble-bees; a blackbird, with the sun striking green tints from his glossy black plumage; those are two of the things I have just seen and added to my hoard. —RiID STAB.

FOR WISE HEADS A word square: 1. —A girdle. 2. —Always. a 3.—A girl’s name. 4.—A snare. * * * , Answer to last week’s puzzle: Arms. Lait. Mile. Slew.

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER Preparations are now in band for the Auckland Guide Rally, which will take place on Saturday, November 24. Dancing Star, of the First Takapuna Company, reports: “Our first meeting of the month was held on September 7, when Joan Forrest, Edna Crossley, Beth Titchener and Margaret Bartrum were made Seconds of the Cornflower, Red ‘Rose, Speedwell and Forget-me-not Patrols respectively. The Forget-me-nots won the cup for the highest patrol marks in August and were also awarded the ribbon for tidiness and smartness. The ribbon for sports was gained by the Speedwell Patrol. “Church parade was held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church on September 23.” Wave Crest, of the North Shore Company, writes: “On September 20 our company had a social or open night. The Guides’ parents were there and we all had a happy time. “Each patrol had some special work to do —the Pansies and Acorns washed and dried the dishes, the Mollies and Pimpernels carried the supper round, and the Poppies cleaned up generally. “The Brownies were there and performed several items very attractively. “Our company won the basketball cup during the recent tournament.’’ Silver Spray, of the First Church Company, Frankton, reports: “On September 1 and 8 our usual meetings were held when the ribbons for the previous month were given out and preparations were made for our birthday party. “On September 15 we all assembled at the Guide Hall, where the committee had the tables beautifuly set out for tea. We invited to the party 30 children who do not have many opportunities of going out. The captains and presidents of the neighbouring companies were also present. “Just before we commenced tea, our commissioner presented Captain Patterson with her captain’s warrant and, during the evening, the visitors were entertained with items and games. A ceremonial brought a very pleasant evening to a close. “We commenced our next meeting at 2 p.m., the afternoon’s programme consisting of games, pow-pow, ambulance work and patrol corners. A court of honour was also held. “Patrol-Leader Mary McCormick took charge of the next meeting, it having been decided that the leaders shall take it in turn to be in charge in case they are ever needed.” Sun-flecked Shadow, of St. John’s Company, Royal Oak, writes: “The Brownies had a birthday party at St. David’s Hall last Saturday, in conjunction with the Brownies of St. David’s Pack. “We have another new* Guide from a ■Wellington company and she will be present at our next meeting. “Our final dress rehearsal for our play will take place on Wednesday afternoon, October 3.”

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS A meeting of the Advisory Board will be held at Scout Headquarters at 7.30 to-night, when several important matters will be discussed. * * * An alteration has been made in the fourth Scout Law, which now reads: “A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter what nation, creed or class he belongs to.” A committee has been formed at Waiuku to revive the Waiuku Scout Troop, which at one time had a vigorous membership of about 40 Scouts. It is proposed to place the troop in charge of Mr. Leonard Doull, who received his training as a Scout in Auckland. At a special meeting of the committee of the Morrinsville Troop, held recently, it was reported that the whole troop was now fitted out with uniforms, and it was decided to organise a concert to remove the remaining liabilities. Thanks were accorded the lady members of the committee for their work, and Mr. R. R. McCall for the presentation of staves. An announcement was made that Mr. C. M. Gummer had presented a troop flag. The Morrinsville Troop has not yet attained its first anniversary. An investiture of Wolf Cubs, of the new Richmond Pack, took place at St. Cuthbert’s Hall on the evening of October 1, the ceremony being carried out by Mi'. A. ,T. Veart, Assistant-Com-missioner for Wolf Cubs. Among those present were: Mr. E. B; B. Boswell (Assistant-Commissioner for Scouts), Mr. J. J. Mead (District Secretary), Mrs. A. E. N. Rough ton and Mr. N. M. Matheson (District Cubmasters), and Miss Nancy Rew, Cubmaster of the Richmond Pack. Little Thunder, of the First Papakura Troop, reports: “The troop is now hard at work on signalling, knotting and other badge instruction. Several new recruits have joined and are now preparing for the tenderfoot test. “On Friday, September 2S, Scout R. Morrow was enrolled and the rest of the evening was spent in games instead of instruction. “A few members of the troop attended the Girl Guides’ concerts at Manurewa on September 8, and at Takanini on September 29. “The officers and patrol leaders attended the Anglican Church on Sunday, September 9, when a. tablet was dedicated in memory of the late Mr. P. W. M. Holt. The troop’s monthly church parade was held at the same church on the following Sunday. Wary Sentry, of the Glen Eden Troop, writes: “Apart from instruction concerning the Scout play, which is to be part of the concert to be held shortly, very little progress has been made this month. “The Tiger Patrol, which has won the inter-patrol competition shield twice in succession, is well on the way to •winning it the third time.”

FROM A NOTIC.F BOARD Banana skins and luncheon scraps, Orange-peel and chocolate wraps. Broken bottles and torn rags, Kodak cases, paper bags. Cigarettes and matches spent, Cardboard plates and papers rent, Tins, and suchlike odds and ends Spoil beauty spots for other friends.

AN OLD STORY An old story Ims just been given a new application to show the difference between a philosopher and a man of science. It is the story of the neighbour who called on Narr-ed-din, a Turkish Hadji, and asked if he might borrow the Hadji’s donkey. . The Hadji did not like lending his ass any more than we like lending our lawn-mower, so he replied, “I am sorry, but the donkey is not here; I have hired him out for the day.” At that moment the donkey brayed in the stable, and the borrower cried: “Aha! the donkey is at home after all!” “Sir,” cried the Hadji, “are you so low-minded as to believe a vulgar donkey rather than a venerable Hadji?” The philosopher is the man who believes the Hadji; the Scientist is the man who believes the donkey.

QUIETNESS There is quietness here among the moonlit roses That raise their heads above my window bars— A dream of beauty that the night encloses, A dream awakened by the silvered stars. So silently the wind drifts through the grasses, Aquiver in the drooping, moondrenched flowers, The forest trees bend gently as he passes . . . So quietness lives her short, but splendid hours. —Harvest Moon (Alma Chamberlain). Pelicans are seriously threatening the fishing industry on the River Murray, South Australia. The body of one bird was recently found to contain three hundred small cod. As there are at present millions of pelicans and other fish-eating birds, steps are being taken to deal with the menace.

THE MYSTERY OF GROWTH Fo.r a long time physiologists have recognised that a little gland in the brain called the pituitary gland secrets a substance which promotes growth, and that in many cases giants have been the result of over-activity of this gland. And now the whaler Lancing, of the Institute of Oceanography in Californit, has been sent to San Clementa Island to kill whales and collect their pituitary glands in the hope that a study of their chemistry will throw some light on the growth of these giants. Whole barrel-loads of these mysterious little organs are being collected, so that there will be plenty of material for investigation and experiment; and it is possible that chemists and physiologists may soon be able to produce giants of all kinds at will, so that trout fifty feet long may become common, and lambs as large as elephants may gambol about the meadows.

A GAME FOR SCOUTS This is an amusing contest —especially for the onlookers. A bucket filled to the brim with water should be lifted on to the head of each competitor; the object of the race being to run 75 yards, spilling as little water as possible. Walking is not allowed. The result of the race should be decided not merely on who first reaches the winning post, but rather on how little water is spilled. This game should be played in camp on a hot day, and —in bathing costumes! A new means of getting over th« frozen rivers of Siberia has been invented by a Russian engineer named Kozinetz. Sledges are loaded with goods to ns great a weight as 125 tons, and drawn over the ice on a light railway which can be quickly laid and taken up again as required. Rivers three miles wide can be crossed in this way when frozen.