THROUGH THE MAGIC DOOR

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 1, 22 July 1927, Page 13

THROUGH THE MAGIC DOOR

-EE CHILDREN IN RADIOLAND BEDTIME STORIES When we see the children absorbed in the bedtime stories of Uncle Jack, we grown-ups repress a sigh. They are in a new world, one that we never knew whem we were young. These young folks are living in Radioland.

Radioland? We never* heard of Radioland in our young days and there was no Uncle Jack to admit us through the magic door to that wonderful place where the only grown-up who ever treads the golden pathways is the radio postman. Children now- -days live in another world, enticed there by that modern Pied Piper, Uncle Jack. Just as the children did in Hamlin, "fall the little boys and girls with rosy cheeks and flaxen curls" respond to Uncle Tack. We grown-ups can never know the pleasure of being a niece or a ne-}| phew of Uncle Jack, of hearing our , names coming out of the air, of listenine to Uncle Tack’s kind words-some-times of advice, sometimes of praise and sometimes of admonition-and to receive presents by the" Radio postman, A letter to Uncle Jack with a request to be allowed to join the radio family is all that is required Without being a member of thé family one can never fully enjov the real glamour of Radioland. But all the same, there is a lot of pleasure in it for us grownup folks. I wonder if we could have a peep into Unelé Jack’s mail bag? What thousands of letters he must receive! And what interesting ones. We are sure his veung correspondents-but thev are not all young, for many parents write too, when they have important things to say to Uncle Jack-will ot mind us seeing their letters.

Here’s one envelope, obviously addressed by a child to whom a pen is a difficult instrument to handle. ‘The address, half printed, half written, covers the whole face of the envelope. But there is no mistaking whom it is for. It contains the usual reqnest: May I join your radio family? _ What an assortment of letters! Some are written on small notepaper in the neatest script and some are on sheets of feolscap, the lettering large enough to fill up the space between the lines. Some are written in ink, some in pencil. Many are the first letters that the writers have ever penned, and very commendable efforts some of them are, too ‘These first letters are an honour to Uncle Jack. Kisses are plentiful, Sometimes half a page will be filled up with crosses.

some of the young listeners are of a precocious nature. as can be seen from the following excerpts :- "T am writing on behalf of my little brother, who will be five on the 15th of tris month, and who is a great wireless enthusiast." . A child of ten writing says:- ° **T have a baby sister named Gwennie, eighteen months old,-who dances when she hears the music over the wireless." Anather girl writes :- "Our baby Susie is four years old and she listens in with great interest to the bedtime stories. ‘To-night she joined in the chorus of ‘Bye, Bye, Blackbird’? with great glee, and she wants to know if you will sing her fav--ourite song ‘Don’t Bring Lulu? next time. In fact, she called ont to-night, ‘Please Sing Lulu’ and couldn’t understand getting no reply." There is a note of disappointment in these letters :- "J wrote to you but ‘I did not hear my name called out.’? ‘YT was not listening in when you answered my letter, but when I got to sthool one of the girls in my class told me all about it. Her name is Mary, too.’ There are frequent references to school, its pleasures, its advantages, and its drawbacks :- "T do wish I did not haye to go back to schoot and learn: new sums, Still, if we dtd not go to school, we conld not write to you, conld we?"

"J think it is time to do my home- } work now. Well, good-night, with love and best wishes," |: "We have a new headmaster, and he does not believe in giving us Lomework, so we think he is just all right." , Could Uncle Jack ignore such an innocent hint as this? But probabls the child’s parents do not approve of her cating chocolate :- "You seem to have lots of chocolate.. 1 would like to write again and get vow to send some by wireless." Two of many fervent appreciations :-- "I think the bedtime story hour is lovely " . "We wish you would have a bed: time story every night.’ The radio postman was glad to have this assurance :- "We have a Fox Terrier dog, but we keep hint on the chain, so that the radio nc *tman will not be afraid to come in." But thig was very disconcerting If there is one dog more than another that the radio postman fears, it is a Japanese Pug:"YT have a little Japanese Pug pet dog, and’ his name is Billie Will you please warn the radio postman to be careful if he comes to 2ur house?" Now we come to letters from parents, whose expressions of gratitude are based on diverse reasons :- | "He loves to hear Uncle Tack telling.

his bedtime stories. In fact, it 1s the only time he. is really good." "Tt is lovely to watch little Jimmy’s face when he is listening in. What great pleasure you do give. It’s worth paying twice the license fee." "Please excuse this rather untidy letter, but my boy. was that anxious to write you. We have only had the wireless on about three weeks, and enjoy the talks to the children as much as they do." ; "As a constant listencr-in of your childien’s stories, I wish to congratulate you on your children’s entertain ments, which are enjoyed by thousands of kiddies, and makes the possession of a receiving set a pleasure "’ , "1 wonder if you know how much: tlic older folk enjoy listening-in to the bedtime stories and hearing of all the ‘Radio’ children who write to you. ~My word, Uncle Jack! What a lot of kisses you get sent. Can you explain how it is???’ "We had great fun last time the Radio postman called. You forgot to say first where the parcel was put, So. they had a great hunt all over the jiouse and were greatly excited when they found it.’’* The bond of personal interest :- "Little -- -~- had the misfortune to break his arm at school last week, and he. thinks Uncle Jack ought to know about it." "Your few words to my son did aa rece OS

more good than a dozen bottles of tonie and I cannot find words to express my > at preciation.’’ ne ‘Advice from Uncle Jack carries much weight :- . "He is a good boy, but he forgets to clean his teeth without being remjnded, so if you would please give a word. of advice-which he enjoys when given ta. others-it may help to make the octa, sion nicer, May I thank you cyer 86 much, and accept from us all our appreciation of ‘all that is done for the chib, dren We enjoy the sessions almost as’ much as ihe children do." — eo These troublesome scooters:-Re-cently Uncle Jack had to send a scoot er up north of Christchurch. Now, scooters are very awkward things to send by wireless, and this one somes how fell off twice on the way. It caue ed Uncle Jack a lot of trouble, but he was persevering and it landed eventt. ally at the foot of-the aerial mast. That incident explains why the little boy mentioned in this letter is anxious ‘about the safe tratisit of the scooter he wants Uncle Jack to send him. "On Saturday is, Jimmy’s birthday. IIe is wanting you to send him a scoote er, and he is awfully worricd that it might get caught coming along because he says Uncle Jack might not give it a big enough push, and it might get caught on the wires by Kaiapoi.™ This scooter got through safely, and no doubt Jimmv’s faith.in the virtnes of carrier waves is firmly established, cnr Crane Weems EERSTE