THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 599, 27 February 1929, Page 6

THE WIGWAM

Bere we gather, here we meet In pow-wow friendly and discreet. To talk of earth, and tea, and sky, and watch the world of men go by.

THE VALUE OF PUBLICITY

NO more popular move lias been made in the Wigwam page since its inception than the appointment oT Girl Guide and Boy Scout scribes. In these days of hurry and progress every movement, to keep pace with the times, must have the support of the Press, and the columns in this page reserved for Guiding and Scouting news have done much to break down the isolation of far-away or little known companies and troops. By appointing scribes the various bands of Scouts and Guides are linking hands across space, and thereby strengthening the twin movements for which they stand. Warm friendships spring up from this contact and each trooji and company is enabled to follow the progress and activities of the others. Apart from this there is always a charm in competition and the glow of achievement awaiting those who go in and win and bring home the trophies. Substantial prizes will be awarded at the end of the year for the two best scribes. REDFEATHER.

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS

HPHE Scoutmasters in the Auck- *■ land district are advised that the closing date for the appointment of Wigwam Scribes has been extended to March 30. Scribes now appointed should communicate with Redfetother without delay. The Advisory Board met last Thursday, when matters relating to general business were discussed, chief among them being the forthcoming Scout picnic to be held at Point Erin Park next Saturday. The Commissioner for Scouts, Mr. \V. J. Holdsworth, will be unable to attend the Combined Scout picnic at Point Erin Park on Saturday, as he lias been called South to be present at the meeting of the Dominion Executive. In his absence the AssistantCommissioner, Mr. E. B. B. Boswell, will officiate and will carry out an inspection of the troops. A cup will be presented to the best turned-out troop, no colours, or staves to be brought on parade. Troops gaining the highest and second highest number of points at the picnic will receive prizes, these being the gifts of the Commissioner. * * 0 The new North Memorial Baptist Troop seems assured of a bright future. It has as its Scoutmaster Mr. D. H. Stewart, of the Baptist College, Mount Hobson, Remuera, and the As-sistant-Scoutmaster is Mr. E. P. Simpson, of Green Lane. Kenneth and Bryan Bell (Supple Bow and Singing Arrow), two keen St. Barnabas Scouts, and Leader McNichol, a King’s Scout from Mount Albert, are also assisting in building up the troop. 4> « * J Last Monday evening at the Presj byterian Church Hall, Edendale, six now Wolf Cubs were invested in the i Edendale Pack. The ceremony was • performed by Mrs. A. E. M. Rough ton, District Cubmaster.

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER A T the meeting of the Dominion — Girl Guides’ Executive, held last Wednesday, a motion of thanks was passed to Redfeather for the work being carried out in these columns in the interests of Guiding, and the system of appointing company scribes for the Girl Guides’ Corner was heartily approved. • • * THE Wigwam representative in each A company should be chosen as early as possible. Auckland, North Auckland and South Auckland districts will be covered, and circulars will be dispatched as soon as the completed list of captains’ names comes in.

With the increase of Guiding in the Dominion and the fact that new recruits are daily joining the movement, the elder girls should make it their aim to become Guiders so that the younger members, in turn, may reap the full benefits of belonging to the Great Sisterhood.

In every movement there must be leaders and there is plenty of scope for promotion among the Guides at present.

The February issue of “The Dominion Girl Guide” maintains the high standard which is always evident in this monthly magazine. The frontispiece is a delightful fullpage glimpse of the Drop Scene, Wanganui River, and news from all quarters, with a plentiful supply of illustrations, add to the interest of its artistically-produced, pages. In order to have a complete insight into Guiding and to keep in touch with official news, every Guide should become a subscriber to this magazine. The last meeting of the Takapuna Company was devoted to a camp-fire, games and items on the occasion of the change of captaincy. Mrs. Johnston relinquished her post as Captain to Miss E. Arthur, who has been promoted from her position as Brown Owl.

function, which made the Brownies feel very proud. The Guide Patrol Leaders and Seconds were also invited.

“Our Company is continuing with its usual swimming night. Every Wednesday evening is set apart as the Guides' swimming night, and it is immensely enjoyed by all. “At present all the Guides are busy practising for the field-day, which is to be held in Hamilton on March 2. Each. Saturday afternoon is spent practising drill, jumping and first aid. Our Guides are looking forward to meeting their Guide friends again from other Companies on the field-day.”

Sun-flecked Shadow, of St. John’s Company, Royal Oak, writes: “We held our Guide meeting in the church at Royal Oak last Wednesday afternoon. The Guides are holding a rehearsal for the swimming sports on March 6. The sports will take place on March 13. Our birthday party is to be held some time in April.” THE BOWIE KNIFE A bowie knife is a peculiar hunting knife, with a slightly curved edge, a thick back, and a long double-edged point. It has a hilt fitted with a crosspiece, and is kept in a sheath when not in use. It was invented by Colonel James Bowie, an American citizen killed in the Mexican War.

In making a presentation from the committee, the chairman, Mrs. J. W. Williamson, spoke of the appreciation of the Guides and their committee for Captain Johnston’s long and excellent service. The Guides also gave their retiring captain a memento of the days spent with them. Miss B. Wilson succeeds the new Captain as Brown Owl.

The Commissioner for North Shore, Mrs. Percival, attended the function and the committee members present included Mrs. J. W. Williamson, Mrs. D’Esterre, Mrs. J. Wilson, Mrs. Bartrum, Mrs. Gunn and Miss Meg Gamble.

Sun Cloud, of the First Cambridge Company, writes: “On Thursday, February 21, our newly-formed Ranger Company met for the first time, when Mrs. Toombs, our District Commissioner, was present. Mrs. Toombs took charge of the meeting, and spoke to the girls about the general ideals, as well as the social side of Ranger life. At present there are about eighteen girls who intend to become Rangers. Our Ranger Captain is Miss F. Clark, and we are hoping for a lieutenant very shortly.

“Last Wednesday was the occasion of our Brownies’ first birthday, and to celebrate the event they were given a -wonderful birthday party. Mrs. Toombs was also able to attend this

In Italy, owing to the joint efforts of the Government and the Italian S.P.C.A., ill-treatment of animals has been made a crime punishable not only by a fine but by imprisonment. “RAINING CATS AND DOGS" In the Northern Mythology the cat was supposed to have great influence on the weather and the dog was a signal of wind. The cat symbolises the down-pouring rain and the dog the strong gusts of wind. Thus we have the expression. “Raining cats and dogs.”

The back yard camp is a good training camp in which to learn the knack of pitching and striking a tent, building a cooking fire, and cooking food fit to eat, and it is an advantage to the tenderfoot to have home near at hand in case things go wrong. Figure 1 shows the way to organise a back yard camp. Almost any type of tent will do, but the small pup-tent or shelter tent is quite the thing for the yard camp, because it requires little space. It is an inexpensive tent, too, and when you become a Boy Scout you will use it frequently on overnight hikes. The illustration shows a tent made of a tarpaulin, or several widths of eight-ounce cotton duck sewed together, with a triangular piece to inclose the rear, and a similar piece to protect the front. If you will support one end of the ridge-pole upon the fence rail, as shown, only one upright pole will be necessary. Drive stakes at the sides to fasten the tent to. Let the tent be taut in dry weather, but slacken it before a storm to prevent its ripping when rained upon. To prevent surface water from flooding the tent, dig a narrow trench around it. with an outlet at one side for a drain. Spread an old rug. piece of carpet, or burlap upon the ground, and place a raincoat upon it before making your bed. Ask mother to sew up a bed tick of unbleached muslin,

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS | The care of animals in Poland is rapidly improving - ; in Prance a week is now dedicated to this cause, and humanitarian treatment is fostered by several organisations, which report progress. In Holland an important addition to the existing legal protection of dogs drawing carts has lately come into force, and in Belgium the society has 00,000 members and branches in most of the towns. A. law has now been passed making punishable there the unspeakable atrocity of blinding bullfinches and other songbirds. In Germany keen interest is shown, not only in the protection of animals but also of birds. Germany was the first country to enforce humane slaughtering.

three feet wide and five feet long, with one end left open. Straw is the best filling, but dried grass will do. After filling the tick, fasten the open end with safety pins. The back yard camp fire is used only for cooking: therefore it is small, and not dangerous. But scrape away the grass from the spot on which the fire is to be built, or place a piece of sheet iron upon the grass. Gather dry tree branches or shrubbery cuttings for starting your cooking fire, and allow yourself only two matches for lighting, which are twice as many as should be necessary. With your knife make a small pile of whittlings. Then inclose the pile with short pieces of branches placed wigwam fashion, as shown in Fig. 2, and all will be laid for lighting. Light a match, shield it from the wind with one hand, and when the match stick is burning brightly, slip it between the sticks and ignite the small shavings. Shield the windward side of the wood with hand or hat until the fire has a good start, then feed with other pieces of branches and heavier wood. Figure 3 shows how to whittle a “fuzz stick” by raising shavings upon all surfaces of a stick. Such a stick is of great help in starting a fire in windy weather, as it kindles readily.

A second-class Boy Scout is required to know how to cook meat and

A FRIEND IN NEED There is a Welsh horse at Pantyderi in Carmarthenshire which can do everything but speak. Even without speaking it has done a kind act which would be a credit to any Scout. The farmer was at his dinner when the horse dashed into the stableyard and careered about with such wild energy that the farmer came out in alarm. Then the intelligent animal dashed out of the yard again.

Alarmed lest the horse should do some injury the farmer followed in pursuit till he came to a marsh. There he saw another horse which bad foundered and was struggling in terror, unable to get out. Hopes were brought and the sinking horse was dragged to safety. It owed its life to its friend. A NEW INVENTION A new way of boring a hole in the earth has been invented. It can be managed by one man. This borer makes a hole only an inch wide, but to a depth of 30ft, or, in soft clay, even 50ft, though it will not go through rock. Thus a fine lawn may be pierced without being disfigured, and borings brought up showing the composition of the under-soil.

potatoes without cooking utensils. Figure 4 shows the stick method of supporting a “wienie” over the fire. Select a green stick with forked end, and whittle sharp points upon the fork.

Build a fireplace, like that shown in Fig. 1, for the support of cooking utensils. Dig up grass sods to form a fire pit f inches wide at one end and twelve inches wide at the other, and place the sods, inverted, at the sides of the pit. The narrow end of this fireplace will support a frying-pan. Iron bars or lengths of pipe may be placed across the wide end to support pots and kettles, or a crane, like that shown in the illustration, may be used. Make the crane uprights forked, as shown in Fig. 5, and place a broom handle or curtain pole in the forks for the supporting pole. Then bend o-shaped hooks out of heavy wire, and interlock them, as shown in Fig 1, to support the kettle at the desired distance above the fire.

A flashlight is handy in camp, but you must have a lantern for continuous lighting. The candle lantern shown in Fig. 6 is made of a tin can with a hole punched out of the side with a nail and screwdriver (Fig. 7) to admit a candle, and a wire handle attached. The illustration shows how to set up a camp table, cupboard, and box seats. Other ideas will occur to you.

BUCEPHALUS Philip, King of Macedon, was a great lover of horses, and one day a stranger came to the Court at Macedon with horses to sell. He had horses of every sort and description: Chestnuts, Bays, Dapple Grays, Strawberry Roans, Coal-black Horses, and some so white that their coats looked like driven snow in the sunshine. They made a fine show as they trotted past King Philip. There was one horse in p&rticular which at once attracted King Philip's eye. He was a great white charger, with the proudest head and neck ever seen, a long, flowing mane, and a body so strong that he delighted all beholders.

The King told the stranger to lead the horses into the meadow. No sooner did Bucephalus (for that was ( the horse’s name) feel the grass under his feet than lie began to rear and plunge and lash out his heels with such a terrifying display of strength that all the bystanders shrank away from, him in terror. The sight of his own shadow, which lay black on the grass in front of him, seemed to increase the horse’s wildness.

Prince Alexander, King Philip’s son, had been standing in the crowd watching with the rest of the Court. He now came up to where King Philip was standing. “I Will buy this horse,” he said, “and ride him for my own.”

“You may buy him,” replied the King, “but as for riding him. I will wager that is a thing you will never do.” Alexander said, nothing, but he went quietly over to where Bucephalus stood snorting and quivering in the sunlight. He laid his hand gently on the horse’s neck, and spoke soft words to him, and then, taking the bridle, he turned him round so that his shadow lay behind him, and Bucephalus could no longer see it. With one leap he was in the saddle, and, to the astonishment of all present, he began to gallop round the meadow. From that day Bucephalus acknowledged Alexander as his master, and when the latter became Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, Bucephalus carried him through ail his campaigns.

ENGLAND’S CASTLES England’s wonderful old castles always bring dreams of steel-clad knights and waving pennons, of beautiful damsels on palfreys, and of those ancient minstrels who were half poets, half musicians. Soon after the Conquest. William built castles in many towns—some say to overawe the English, but others think his object was just as much to prevent his brother Normans getting out of hand. At any rate, he garrisoned them with his own men-at-arms. But these first castles w’ere simple square towers. Their stone walls were so thick that staircases, and even rooms, were often hollowed out inside them. Later on these “keeps” were surrounded by so many walls and turrets that castles grew' to the size of hamlets. Then came a sad dav for the English, for the castles fell ‘into the hands of Norman lords, who were rob-ber-chiefs in reality, and harried the whole countryside, putting to torture anyone they thought might have money hidden away.

London’s castle, the Tower, when William the Conqueror built it, consisted only of the central keep—the White Tower. But it was added to until the outer walls measured twothirds of a mile round. As palace and fortress, besides a State prison, for so many centuries, it is one of the most historic buildings in the world. The Crown jewels are kept there in safety A thief, named Colonel Blood, once’ made an attempt to steal them, but he did not succeed.