THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 646, 24 April 1929, Page 14

THE WIGWAM

’ | Bere tee gather, here ice meet in pow-ivoio friendly and discreet. To talk of earth, and sea, arid sky, and watch the world of men go 6y. THE THIN FAR ECHO HOW many oi* you remember the early stages of the war that are now a thin, far echo in the hearts of men? Perhaps a portrait of some smiling soldier is your only link with those days that must soon pass into history. . . . “That’s Jack, my brother. I ean only just remember him.” In fifteen years a new generation has grown up about us. But to-morrow, when his day returns, Jack will be something more than a memory. Twice a year he comes back into his own—in November when our thoughts go out to him across the silence, and in April when we weave our garlands to crown his bravery anew. Poppy Day has come and gone (was there ever a more widely-worn buttonhole?). To-morrow is the day for rosemary, when the thin, far echo will swell to a hymn of praise and the portrait of that smiling soldier will have a nearer, more familiar air. " fhat s Jack, my brother.” To-morrow a nation will remember him. REDFEATHER.

LONGING I have seen sunlight filtering through dim trees. Jailing upon pine-needles richly brown. And tall, thin shadows where the wood-things hide. And glints of gold as leaves go scattering down. I have seen amber sails on restless seas And great gulls wheeling where the winds go by. Gaunt rocks—all grey and angry . . . I have seen Five straight tall trees against a sullen sky. I have seen stars drowned in a silver pool. A Chinese lanteun in a moonstone sky. A million gleaming wings on strange pale leaves. And whispering gum-trees, splendid, plumed and high. But not for me this beauty, not for The glory of these things that puss me by. \ or all the while my heart is longing for Those tall straight trees against a sullen skv. Harvest Moon (Alma Chamberlain).

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS The Commissioner, Air. W. J. \ Iloldsworth. is calling a Scouters’ j meeting at Headquarters on Thursday. April 23, at 7.30 p.m. All Scouters and < ’ubbers are requested to attend as the business is of the utmost importance. The Scouts of the Auckland district have been invited to attend the memorial service in the Town Hall on Anzac Day. and will parade at Princes Street, outside Albert Park, at 2 p.m. Judging by the numbers of names forwarded to Headquarters there will be a large and representative muster. Preparations are now in hand for a concert to be held by the Gordon Troop on the night of April 29. and a bright evening’s entertainment has been arranged. On Alay 4 'a Scouters’ pound night will be held in the Leys Institute Hall. This will be attended by members of tho Headquarters staff and the late secretary for the Boy Scouts’ Association. Air. J. J. Alead. Tn spite of the wet weather last ! Sunday 65 Scouts and ten officers at- ! tended the combined church parade of Number 3 District at the Gordon Road j Methodist Church, when an interesting ; service was conducted by the Rev. j Olds. The renewal of the Scout ProImise Was taken by District Scoutmaster Keith Dyer, who is in charge of this district.

GIRL GUIDES' CORNER Lancing Star, of the Takapuna Company, forwards tho following: report: •‘On March D the test for the swimmer s badge was held and a number of girls passed the examination. “Unfortunately, Lieutenant Cambridge, because she lives too far away, has had to leave us and join another company. As she was one of the first Guides to belong to our company we are very sorry to lose her. SecondLieutenant Kertoul is taking iter place, while Patrol-Second Joan Forrest is to become second-lieutenant. “On April 12 the cup for patrol marks was awarded to the Forget-me-not Patrol. The Cornflowers won the ribbon for attendance, and the Forget-me-nots the ribbon for games. On the same night, captain, who had spent the previous week-end at Otimai, told us a.ll about it and showed us some photographs. “Church parade was held at the Anglican Church on April 14.” Shadow Dancer, of St. John’s Company, Papatoetoe, writes: “This month has been a fairly full one as far as extra meetings and outings are concerned. “On April (i, Captain Barton, who is shortly leaving our company, on account of her wedding, held" a tennis tournament at her home at Flat Bush Road, Papatoetoe. A very enjoyable afternoon was spent. “Saturday, April 13, was to have been sports day for the Manukau District but. as the weather was unfavourable, w© met at the Otahuhu Presbyterian riali, y here we passed some happy hours playing games with the Brownies dancing and taking part in an impromptu concert. “On Sunday the monthly church parade was held at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Papatoetoe, and on Anzac Day the. Guides and Brownies will parade at the Anzac service to be held in the Papatoetoe Town Hall at 2 p.m.” Little Star, scribe for St. Thomas’s Company, writes: "On Wednesday. April 3, the Honesty and Holy Patrols acted the eighth Guide Law, which is “Cheerfulness.” Last Wednesday we had signalling games while captain took two new recruits for knots. “Mrs. Seagar is coming to see us and we also hope to have a church parade for our new vicar’s induction. “Miss Niel enrolled the new Brownies last Wednesday afternoon and brought with her a new Brownie doll lor the Pack. Our Tawny Owl, who is leaving us at the end of the month, received on behalf of the Brownies and the committee a beautiful crystal vase similar to that given to captain last year.” Green Leaf, of the Second Whangarei Company, reports: “The first meeting in April was spent

in preparations for enrolment day. There were badges to be passed and new Guides to be put through the Tenderfoot test. “At the second meeting the district commissioner first enrolled three new members of the committee, then the Robin Patrol brought up a new recruit. The Kingfisher Patrol had three new recruits, a second and two Second-class badges being presented. The swimming badges were also presented, and the rest of the afternoon was occupied with physical drill and marching. “We were also told that Airs. AlcNair, the Girl Guide badge examiner, is passing through the North and we are preparing for her arrival. “On Anzac Day a parade will be held.” Silver Foam, of the Morrinsville Company, writes: “Recently we changed our meetings from Saturday afternoons to Friday evenings and, although the change is welcomed by those of us who live in town, it is regarded in another light by some of the country members. “Our company is beginning to feel quite old and experienced now, and the fact that we will celebrate our fourth birthday in June is making us feel more so. The patrols have already begun to practice for the various competitions always held at our birthday party, but. as June 3 7 will soon be here. I am sure they have started none too early. “The first of a series of lectures for the Sick Nurse badge' began last week, and those of the Guides who wish to obtain the badge eagerly attended. Recently four Guides passed the test for the Athlete’s badge.”

A COIN TRICK This simple but entertaining little trick can be done after dinner with three coins and a glass. First of all place two pennies on the table and between them a sixpence. Now turn the glass upside down and place it on the pennies, so that the rim does not touch the table. The sixpence is now, of course, covered by the glass, and we ask people to suggest some way of getting the sixpence out without touching the glass or the coins. This can be done by gently scratching- th© tablecloth with the finger-nail close to the glass. The movement of the cloth will jerk the sixpence along. FOR WISE HEADS Word square: 1— A winged insect. 2 A wind instrument. 3 A tax on travellers. 4 Aid. Answer to last week’s word square: Solid. Obese, Least. Issue, Deter. AN INFERIOR BRAND The tobacconist was trying hard to sell some cigars. “They are made from the very choicest leaf, sir,” he said. “Rhubarb or cabbage?” queried the. customer, mildly.

AN ANNIVERSARY To-day, Great Chief, is an anniversary and a very important one. About this day two years ago I was taking my place in the charmed circle of the Wigwam for the first time. Since then I have kept every page—an unbroken chain of days spent with the Chiefs and Braves of Redfeather. I remember very well how I chose my name. Buffalo and I had written out a long list of names which we put in a hat and shuffled round. I then drew one. It was “Red Star.” I drew another, and it read “Golden Dawn.” The names were again shuffled and I drew a third time. Again “Red Star” came out. It was decided, and as Red Star I took my place in the Wigwam. —Red Star (Jean Mc.lndoe, Hamilton), April 22. SHIPS OF THE DESERT An Arab Pasha has said that the palm and the camel are the father and mother of the Arab, and he would like to cut down all the palms and kill all the camels in order to make his people work. They might irrigate waste lands and grow splendid crops, but they are too lazy to plough and plant while the.palm will give them dates and the camel will give them milk. A wonderful sight is the great camel market at Buraidah, packed with dealers from all ts of Syria, Arabia and even Egypt. At this market those who seek a mount will pay 30 or 40 gold pounds sterling for a thoroughbred. The creatures can be very beautiful with their graceful necks, gazelle-like eyes, and coloured trappings. A foi'eigner can soon see the difference between camel a*<d camel, but it takes an Arab to know the difference between their hoof prints. A story is told of a shepherd who lost a sheep from the flock and saw in the distance a man on a camel hastening away with something like a sheep for baggage. The shepherd followed its tracks to a village and laid his complaint before the sheik. “Bring forth all the camels,” said the sheik, and the shepherd examined the footprints till he came on those resembling those he had tracked. “The man who rode this camel stole my sheep,” he declared and the guilty one confessed. He was ordered to give the shepherd a sheep and a camel to atone for his crime; if he had come before a sterner sheik he w'ould have lost his right hand also. Arab justice is a stern thing, but it is the same for the sultan’s son as the beggar, and it iadudes the camel. THE OPTIMIST Floods had been very bad in the district, and a newspaper man hired a boat and rowed out to a farm to interview the farmer. The farmer was found sitting on the roof of an outhouse. “I suppose all your stock was washed away?” began the reporter. “Yes,” replied the farmer, ‘ but the chicks can swim.” “Cornfields ruined?” pursued the pressman. “Yes, but the crops were not worth much,” said the farmer. “As 1 came by your house 1 noticed that the water was up to jour windows,” the reporter volunteered. “No matter,” replied the optimist; “they wanted washing.”

BLUE PETER When Peter was two months old fcs was a delightful ball of smoV«-blu® fluff, with eyes as softlj' azure as the petals of Love-in-the-Mist. He was fit to be the darling of a fairy princess; instead of which a commander in the Navy came along, bought the Persian kitten for two pounds ten shillings, and took him away to be the mascot of a cruiser and the pet of all her crew. Peter liked his home on the rolling waves. He throve in it, and, though keeping mostly to the quarterdeck and his master’s company, he was wise enough to pay dignified attentions to the cook. The innocent blue eyes of his kittenhood changed to the golden orange orbs of the cat. Peter grew till he looked like a small blue lion, weighing eighteen pounds. He used to go ashore sometimes on leave with his master, and when he jumped from the table the floor shook beneath him. All the four years of war Peter shared the fortunes of his human friends, roaming the North Sea, being hidden under hatches when the gun« spoke and the battles began. But it was in the days of peace that his great adventure happened. It was a grey, squally day out at sea. The cruiser was returning from the Orkney Isles, having gone there for sand to be scoured with after coaling. Though a gale was blowing, pleasant smells of cooking food came from below. Peter, regardless of the dirty weather and quite confident in his sealegs, was trotting nimbly along the quarterdeck, all anxiety to make one of the party at the captain’s dinnertable, when a great wave mounted the side and swept overboard, carrying on its crest the kicking, clawing form of the ship’s darling down into the depths below. There was a cry of dismav, and before anyone could stop him a bluejacket had dived from the ship’s side into the welter of water to try to save the cat. The cruiser wallowed in the trough of the wave. All that the other men could do for the daring swimmer was to fling a rope down to him. Suddenly a great laugh arose, and the men called out: “Make haste. Tom, or the cat will be aboard before you. Hi! here he rises!” When Peter received his terrific sousing stout-heartedly he refused to sink. For dear life he paddled, and the water bore up his chin. He saw a second rope hanging over the ship’s side, and fixed his claws in It. Xo able-bodied mariner, no longtailed monkey even, could have mad® way up that rope more quickly than Peter did, paw over paw in the approved fashion, till he reached th® deck, two minutes be'fore his would-be rescuer was pulled up to safety! TUNNELLING GIBRALTAR The engineers are once more busv examining ways and means of build»ns a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar. is much deeper than the m’S hann , el - a , nd whilc the Chantbi ne £? onl y bo 250 feet below the =ea, the Strait tunnel would have ° V 2° ft d u Vn ' Uis Propped rSc^nfatTS'e wm'be a icis,OOo!oO(h ™ d