Under the “Totem-Pole"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1067, 3 September 1930, Page 14

Under the “Totem-Pole"

Letters to Redfeath are answered as follow:—• Gold-tipped Feather: Your story has arrived, Gold-tipped Feather, and 1 am delighted to see by your letter that* you are to have a holiday in the Waitakeres. I, too, enjoy that subtle earthy smell and the companionship of trees strung with flowering creepers. My best wishes for a very pleasant time. Winged Arrow: Your Ellerslie notes have joined the great scroll, Winged Arrow. I think your troop of Scouts must be of the “bulldog breed.’’ Lone Drifter: The Spring Lady has been at work In the vicinity of the Wigwam, too, Lone Drifter, and the Lake of Many Waters laps a flower-bestarred shore. I can hear her voice in the birch tree, too, and I should not be surprised if she festoons the Totem Pole with her garlands. 1 hope I shall soon hear from you again. Red Star: More success for Red Star. The Wigwam people are very proud of a certain gifted young writer, and I am sure all the readers of this page will be inspired by that “Prayer for Peace.’’ You will be able to buy still more gramophone records now, Red Star. Sun-flecked Shadow: Thank you for introducing your two friends to the Wigwam, Sun-flecked Shadow. What an interesting time you and Beaded Warrior had at the fancy-dress dance. You must have felt as if you had stumbled unawares into a different world. Great Lone Eagle: It was in the mail as I surmised, Great Lone Eagle. How your troop is growing. I hope the boys will enjoy their camping expedition on Rangitoto. Shouting Wind: Now, there is a fine name for you! Your story has arrived, and I shall look forward to hearing all about you. A good wish for this new King Country Chief. Dawn Cloud: That was an Interesting debating evening, Dawn Cloud. In my opinion Guides should go up to Rangers. What do you think about it? Best wishes for a pleasant week-end at “Otimai.” River Maiden: Greetings, River Maiden. I have forwarded your seal and shall look forward to many arrows from our new member. Bronze Wing: That canoe, carrying its precious freight, has reached its destination, Bronze Wing. What a clever scribe you are. 1 feel sure that you have the Artist’s badge. Dancing Star: A holiday in Te Aroha? That is good news Dancing Star. I, too, have tasted mineral water, but what a novel idea making it into lemonade. I did not find your writing at all hard to read. How did you hurt your elbow? Bird Lover: Yes, the stories by Red Star and Harvest Moon were delightful. Bird Lover. What do you think of their poems today? Your little Post Guide will miss Dream Weaver now that she has moved to Mt. Eden. I wonder if they will write to each other. Your poem has placed you in the Highly Commended list. Dream Cloud: Your decorations are very good, Dream Cloud. I think the Arohanui badges must be very brightly burnished, for once again your trefoil sends forth its gleaming rays. Thank you also for your competition entry. Northern Star: Thank you for your Kaitaia news, Northern Star. I am glad that some more badges have been won by the Guides of your company. Harvest Moon: Yes, I can see that you have the “spring feeling,” Harvest Moon, and there is another pleasant surprise for you in today’s page. How is Silver Wing? Please will you give her my greetings. Forest Shade: Another new member in the Wigwam circle. Are you a Guide in your friend’s company? I hope you will soon speed an arrow to the Wigwam. THE BRITISH EMPIRE Its area is 13,999,782 square miles. Its population is 450,094,000. of which more than 60,000,000 are white people. It covers about a-quarter of the land area of the earth, and holds more than a-quarter of the world’s total population. In the Empire there are 210 million Hindus, 100 million Mohammedans and 80 million Christians. There are also people of many other religions, including Buddhists. Animists, Sikhs, Parsees, Jews and idol worshippers. BRIDGE-BUILDING Bridging the Golden Gate, the famous strait through which San Francisco has access to the sea. is one of the latest tasks to be undertaken by the engineers. Eight years of study were needed before such a scheme could be made practicable, but once work has begun, this 8,500-foot suspension bridge may be actually finished by 1936. Six million pounds will probably be its cost. The highest point will be 760 feet above the water, and in midchannel it will have a clearance of 225 feet. The two towers will rest on bedrock foundations 140 feet deep. IN POMPEII In Pompeii is a house which is known now as the House of the Golden Cupids, because of the gilded figures there. But the Romans may have known is as the House of the Well. An artesian well 100 feet deep has just been found there, an<| good springwater rises 27 feet from the bottom. When the Roman nobility and gentry went to the seaside resort of Pompeii they expected to carry their luxuries with them, and in Rome waterruns everywhere. Consequently the Pompeiians led waterpipes from the well to public fountains and to the public baths. Recent excavations at Pompeii have revealed also that there were steps by which workmen could descend to clean the well, and it seems likely that, it supplied a great part of the town. EXPLAINED A long-distance train in America was behind its time-table, and so a traveller asked a negro conductor the 'cause. “Well, sah,” said the negro, who was very proud of Ills railway, “at night it am so cold dat dey can’t keep up steam in de locomotive, and during de day de sun am so hot dat de rails expand and push de towns farther apart.” A LONG ABSENCE The history master noticed that young Smith was back in class after a long absence through illness. “I’m glad to see you here again,” he said. “You’ll have a lot to make up. How long have you been away?” “Since William the Ctnqueror landed, sir,” replied Smith. REINDEER Between 1891 and 1902 about 1,300 reindeer were imported into Alaska. Today there are more than a million, though 300,000 have been used for food and clothing. They probably represent more actual and potential wealth than all the Alaskan goldfields. CAUSE FOR TEARS The kindly old gentleman stopped and asked a child why he was crying. “My brother has a holiday and I haven’t,” was the tearful reply. “But why haven’t you a holiday?” the old gentleman asked. “Because I haven’t started school yet.”