THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 681, 5 June 1929, Page 15

THE WIGWAM

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

THE END OF THE RAINBOW ONCE there lived" a rich king who wanted everything he had ever heard of. “I am tired of your twice-told tales,” he said to his jester. “Go forth and bring me back the pot of gold that lies at the end of the rainbow.” So the jester went forth on his fantastic errand, bemoaning his fate and with a new spade over shoulder. But it was not rainbow weather. Wet days there were in plenty, but none with a hint of mist and the sun shining through. Day after day he waited, and then his vigilance was rewarded. Just as the sun was sinking one evening, he saw a wonderful rainbow that ended in a deep valley immediately below him. With his new spade he turned over the ground, but the fabled jrold was nowhere to be seen. So the jester sat down on a rock io think things over, and, suddenly, a bright thought occurred to him. With all haste he returned to the palace. “Oh, sire,” he said to the king, “there is njueh gold at the arid of the rainbow, yet I needs must return empty handed, for fuy long pilgrimage has taught me that all rainbows end in his Majesty's heart.” “Fool.” said the king, and tossed him a gold piece instead of ordering the Chief Executioner. REDFEATHER

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS Mr. W. J. Ho Ids worth. District Commissioner, will leave on June 13 for ' hristchurch in order to attend a special meeting of the Dominion Execu‘Ue called for the purpose of considsuggestions for the best methods " l furthering the Scout movement in Zealand. * * * Earl Jellicoe's Trident for the Sea • tout Company gaining the most marks as the result of the Sea Scout • orr >missioner's annual inspection lias een aw arded this year to the Iron Duke Company at Nelson. The award of the International Code Flags has been made to the etone Company, Wellington. the last meeting of the AdvisBoard, arrangements were made to district trophies competed p ‘ c S ear ly as possible, several of the vatiict Scoutmasters and SeoutmasV* to take one trophy each ln £ th *ir especial care. • * a decided to recommend for 1 Drumm °nd Hall and another lad recognition of an act of bravery out . last January, when r r .. s To their promptness and gallandrr.«.a« boy was rescued from mng. The child had fallen off the criJ« a3 iu Bay Wharf and, hearing his s> * he boys ran to the scene. It .v but they were able to locate WitK llule one by his white hat, and. brw.°k* hesitation, they dived in and w him safely ashore. Several ».appeared on the scene and atnded to the child, finally taking him ° ”*s home. TV* b «° Ut thirty-five Scouts journeyed to cl»* e 4- n s P rin S*> where the First - •yss lest examinations were held last

Saturday. The day was fine and conducive to Scouting, and some good work was accomplished. All King’s Scouts in the district are requested to report at St. James’s Hall on the evening of Thursday, June 6, when the Proficiency Badge Night is to be held. Next Friday will mark the first combined Games, Sing-song and Pound Night of the No. 1 Division. This will be held in the St. James Hall. Wellington Street, commencing at 7 p.m. and an enjoyable evening is anticipated. * « • Straight Feather reports for the Ellerslie Troop: ’ The most important event during the month of May for all Scouts in Auckland was, of course, Scout Day at the Farmers’. Eight members of the Ellerslie Troop were present, and were employed in various ways, both inside and outside the building. Eleventh place out of thirty-four was secured in the day’s sales. Earlier in the month was the swimming carnival at the Tepid Baths. The Ellerslie Scouts were not prominent owing to two absentees from the relay team. “Lately the services of Mr. Darvill, an experienced signaller, has been acquired by the troop, with the result that the standard in that branch of Scout work has been made much higher. “During June the fixtures in which the troop will participate are the Proficiency Badge night on the sixth and a half-day parade for Tenderfeet at St. John’s Lake.” FOR WISE HEADS Word diamond: 1. A consonant. 2. Found at the Poles. 3. Perfume. 4. Termination. 5. A consonant. Answer to lost week’s changed word: Read. road. rood. rook. book.

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER Golden Birch reports for tile Cavell Company:—“On ceremonial night three seconds were invested and one hew recruit was enrolled as a Guide. “On May 4 we went for a hike to Taylor’s Bay, where a number of girls passed the fire-lighting and tracking tests for second class. “Captain went away for the holidays, so lieutenant had an extremely busy time teaching us a new Maori welcome and coaching us in figure marching.

“As our bazaar is drawing near, A\e decided to hold a gift evening, and invite mothers and friends. The entrance fee was a gift for one of the stalls. The evening was a great success, the mothers being entertained by various items given by the patrols and also a sing-song round the camp-fii'e. “We are manufacturing very industrously some rather weird articles for the bazaar which will take place on June 15. “On the King’s Birthday two of our Leaders tried lor the first class badge.” Fluttering Leaf reports for St. John’s Company, Ppnsonby: “We attended the district meeting held by Dr. Buckley Turkington in St. Matthew’s Hall. “On May 7 we held a combined Guido and Ranger enrolment evening to which we invited Miss Burgin. Miss K. Mayson, Miss F. Knight, and Miss .T. Matthews, who is a Brown Owl from Sydney. We also invited Miss R. Robertson, late Captain of St. Matthew’s. Miss Burgin enrolled one Guide and three Rangers and. after supper had been served bA* the leaders, she gave us a helpful little talk as we sat round a camp-fire. “The folloAving Sunday being Mothers’ Day, a church parade was held, during which every Guide wore a AAhite flower. “As the hall was not available on May 21. a hike was held at Birkdale. We left Auckland at 10 o’clock for Birkenhead and from there fol-

lowed to our destination a track laid by two of the Guides. On arriving, the girls lit tires and cooked luncheon, and later in the afternoon we cooked jam twists. Wo arrived in town at six o’clock, tired, but happy. “We attended the church parade in the Town Hall on May 25. “The First and Second Ponsonby Rangers have amalgamated under the name of ‘Ponsonby Rangers,’ and the company will attend the Ranger Conference at Otimai.” * * * Blue Horizon, scribe of the First Russell Company, writes: “Wo have had a very quiet month. Company proceedings were at a standstill as many of the Guides were away holiday-making. It was quite pathetic watching the Skylark Patrol trying to form fours with only two members in attendance. “We gathered on the wharf on May 23 to bid farewell to our good friend. Mrs*. Dod. Firefly (Natalie Handley), leader of the Thrush Patrol, left the same night on her annual holiday and so shared the honours of departure. “Some of us are working for the ■Cook’s badge, others for the Laundress badge and a few for the Dairymaid’s. Now that the company is back to normal we intend to do some hard work, which will do no one any harm.” A GIRL GUIDE STORY “Maud, where are you?” “Here.” was the immediate response. “Please help Adeline with her Second Class work. Win and I have to go to Farmer Ellerson’s for the milk.” The speaker, Greta Wrenliurste, the leader of the Red Rose Patrol, commanded her second, Maud Brown, to obey her quickly. Miss Blakey, the captain of the company. was the dearest person in the world. Everyone in camp obeyed her cheerily. The company, a country one, was spending a fortnight camping out in a barn, but so far they had experienced only a few days of fine weather. Greta and Win King left the camp on their two-mile walk to Farmer Ellerson's. “Do you think we should hurry?” asked Win. surveying the sky. “Yes,” returned Greta, and the two girls started to run It began to rain just as they met the farmer, who was very anxious about his daughter. “She has gone to town.” ho told the girls, “and she hasn’t returned.” The Guides hurried down the drive and. just as they reached the gate, a flash of lightning illuminated the dark heavens. This was followed by a loud peal of thunder and a deluge of rain. On the girls ran, tripping and sliding in the soft, oozy clay. Near the turn-og they stopped. Where was the bridge? And who was that in the distance? It was Mary, the farmer’s daughter, galloping home on her pet pony. Would she see the broken fragments of the bridge? There was a splash, a cry, and Greta flung off her hat and coat and dived into the swirling water. With steady strokes she swam until she reached the r child, who was clinging to her pony. Reaching her from the saddle Greta took her on her back and swam to the shore, the pony following. Win soon returned with some farm assistants. Deader Greta Wrenhurste had just been presented with the life-saving medal. “But why didn’t you tell me what happened?” asked the captain after the meeting. “Atish-oo” sneezed Greta. A Guide smiles under all difficulties, and she must not grumble at hardships. —DARK FLOWER (Zoe Harden, Onerahi Company).

MINUET A sad minuet plucks the notes of a harp, My silent desires rise and sing, keen and sharp, And my tears Fall soft as I hear the low tremulous song, And its sob, and the light tripping steps of the throng, And its tears. Trembling song of the harp as it rises and swells And the swift throng of shrill stately notes, as when bells Die away! Sweet song like a bright souvenir of years past, Whose soul with dim laughter awakes, but at last Dies away! Ah list, bruised heart that the minuet tears With its deep mocking laugh and its light charming" airs, Yet so sad, List to its song as it swells but to languish ere long, Soft weeping and laughter as deep as its song, And as sad. . —Translated from the French by Little Swift Canoe (Fitzie Morris). A MAGIC TREE In the mountainous islands of tlie Philippines, which nestle close to the equator in the China Sea, the great god Naga ruled his people. He was not a handsome god, but as far back as any knew/ the hill folk had worshipped his image, carved wondrously, with several mouths, from the wood of a sacred tree. One day famine fell upon the land, and the people, cursing the god who had willed such evil, poured down into tlm plains, burning as they went his effigies and all the sacred trees. But the dwellers in the plains drove back the marauders, so that they turned again to Naga imploring his aid. How could they appease him, now that there remained no more of the precious wood for his idols? The wise men came together and decided to send forth a rare bird to choose a new tree for Naga. This is how the ylang-ylang became sacred, for the bird rested upon it, and soon after it burst into blossom. Nobody had seen it flower before, and now the perfume was amazing. Naga had indeed chosen, and new idols were prepared. Little did the island folk imagine that ylang-ylang would soon be famous throughout the western world for the sweet scent—macassar oil—distilled from its flowers. And Naga might be angry if he knew that some of our most expensive up-to-date furniture is made from the handsome dark wood with yellowish streaks —macassar ebony. MAN AND THE STARS Most of the wisdom of the ages looks no farther than the life of man, or at most the life of the earth on which he lives. Except to a few dreamers the stars remained in men’s minds for manv centuries as tiny points of light in the skies, too remote to hare any concern with man’s fate. Even when their size and numbers and distances became known their vastness removed them from any share in the life and death, the beginning and end, of earthly things. But like Icarus, who dared to fly toward the Sun, the mind of man now soars to the stars and asks whether they, too, like himself, are mortal. Must they also, these orbs of flaming majesty, sink to deca y and be as a tale that is told? “I have learned.” wrote a great philosopher, “that, however high a man’s head may be above mine, his feet are on the same level.” The stars, with all their power and might, have their foundations set among the atoms of which the Earth and Man are made.

BEHIND THE GRATING There was once a Caliph of an Eastern kingdom who lived in a great fortress. Ilis burnous was snowy white; his rich, flowing gown deep blue; he dyed his raven hair and beard with henna to show that he had been the pilgrimage to Mecca; and ho wore a green turban as a sign that lie was descended from the Prophet. When he rode through the narrow streets of his white-housed, windowless city everyone bowed before him, calling out, “Way for the Caliph, Commander of the Faithful, Protector of the Poor!” Now, as every day the ruler passed thus through the town he noticed a captive peering at him out of the arched cellar-grating of the big underground town dungeon. Though the face of the prisoner was pale it was not unhappy; which was strange, seeing that he had been shut up there since the day of the Caliph's late father. What his crime was the great man could scarcely bring to mind; he rather thought it was that the wretch had not found enough money for the tax gatherers. At last a day came when the Caliph summoned the gaoler of the dungeon to bis presence and said to him; “Daily have I watched the captive Hassan looking out of the prison grating, and the light of contentment on his face surprises me. He must have some pleasant task, some endearing companion, inside his cell. Watch, and let me know.” “To hear is to obey,” said the gaoler A day or two later he came to the Caliph, saying; “Lord, I have discovered how Hassan spends long hours in amusing himself. He taps at a cranny in the wall. Down swings a long spider on its line, to be fed with flies, caressed, and played with by Hassan for hours together. Then, at a signal from the prisoner, whenever anyone approaches, once more the spider ascends its line and hides, to come down again when summoned.” ‘I would fein behold the scene.” said the Caliph. “Take me where I may watch the two together.” “Nay, Lord, that is not replied the gaoler. “Directly I saw the spider was affording real pleasure and relief to. Hassan I killed it.” The Caliph’s ej r es flashed. “Unfeeling wretch!” he exclaimed, when at last speech was possible to him. “How couldst thou bring thyself to destroy the one friend that Allah vouchsafed to him! “Let Hassan be released forthwith, and do thou thyself take his place in the dungeon, till thou hast succeeded in gaining the friendship of such another spider!” AT THE EDGE OF A WHIRLPOOL A Canadian dog has had a very narrow escape from disaster. He went off on a hunting expedition of his own along the banks of Xiagara River, and he did not return for three weeks. At length he was discovered below the bank near the whirlpool at Xiagara Falls. He could not go backward or forward or upward, and death waited for him in the pool. Although it was extremely dangerous two men volunteered to rescue him. They were lowered over the bank safely, but found that their troubles were by no means over, for the dog. which is a very large one and was half-mad with hunger, attacked them savagely. Their hands were bitten and their clothes torn, in this fight on the edge of Niagara's whirlpool, but at length the dog was lassooed and hauled to the top of the bank. Cats and dogs who are rescued from precipices or rivers nearly always do attack their rescuers, out of fright, but It is a kind world, and when an animal Is in trouble the.re is someone to go to The helmet of a Roman legionary of two thousand years ago was found the other day by a peasant of Chamosen, m the Swiss Valais.

LIMERICK COMPETITION The first prize in the last limerick competition has been won by Flying Cloud (Lesley du Faur, "Hawthornden.” Howick), who completed the limerick thus: A little old lady of Leeds. Who teas famed for her generous deeds, Gave a weekly donation Of one red carnation. And fed her pet bird on the seeds. The second prize has been awarded to Lone Singer (Rena Shenkin. 47 Argyle Street, Herne Bay) for the following conclusion; Which proved the salvation Of many a starving waif's needs. Highly .commended: Birch Bud (Isabel Rennie), Laughing Wind (Eileen Luks), Rising Woodsmoke (Sylvia Howlett), Prairie Runner (George Howlett).

A GIPSY AND A BULLDOG A bulldog was killing a little terrier. People stood round looking at the dying dog. A child was crying. “It’s no use,” said a man, “you can’t make a bulldog go when he’s locked bis jaws.” So they did nothing and the bulldog held the little dog by the throat, squeezii*g the E'e out of him. Then a caravan came down the road. A man sitting on the shaft saw what was happening. “Whoa, boy!” he called to his horse, an 1 then he shouted into the van, “Mother I give us the poker.” He slipped the point into one corner of the bulldog’s mouth across its tongue and out at the other side like a bit. and levered the huge jaws apart. Someone grabbed its collar, someone else picked up the terrier and ran The gipsy rode on. May l.e tell his clothes-pegs at a profit and never lose his golden earrings! A THOUGHT Washing dishes is not to be done merely that they may be used again. It is also an act of gratitude for the service they have given. Though he have nothing more to eat, let a man clean his dishes and then starve, for he owes something to the dishes for having been useful to him when ho had a use for them.—Sontoku Ninomiya, peasant writer of Japan. HARES AND HOUNDS Boy Scout: “Have you seen any Scouts about here, please?” Rustic; “Yes, I noticed a couple of them about fifty yards away.” Boj’ Scout: “And when was that?” Rustic: “Three weeks ago last Monday.”