Vol. 9, No.7.
JANUARY 2nd, 1!J33.
AX OFFICIAL
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MA TIL D A
January 2nd.
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MATILDA
January 2nd, 1933.
New Year Message.
Guiders are aSKed to tell their Guides about. t hese t alks, and ask them to write to the Comm ission if they are appreciated.
TO THE GUIDERS OF VICTORIA.
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I want in this letter to send my best wishes for a Happy New Year to you all, and at the same time to thank you for all you have done for the Girl Guides' Association during the past year. Many of you will shortly be going into camp, :lnd I hope that you will enjoy yourselves, and have good weather and good camping. You will be interested to hear that we have a scheme for the New Year of starting a Guiders' Club. For some time we have felt that a Guiders' Club might supply a want, but whenever we considered it, the expense of the rent of a suitable room and other initial expenses confronted us. Now, however, it has been decided to use some of the money made by the Stradbroke Cup Exhibition for this purpose, and we have fortunately been able to secure a suitable room at 60 Market Street on the same floor as Guide Headqua.rters, the rent of which, for the first year, will be paid out ot the Exhibition proceeds. A small membership fee will be charged, and we hope that in future years the Club will become self-supporting. A sub-committee has been appointed, which v, ill consist of Mrs. Faulkner, Mrs. Littlejohr., and two members to be chosen from the Guiders' Committee appointed by the last Guiders' Conference. This sub-committee will meet af- . tel' the holidays to consider details and arrangements in connection with the establishment of the Club, and until then, anything I can tell you must necessarily be vague. Still, I am sure you will be glad to hear about Hie scheme even in its initial stages, and I hope that it will be welcome to you all, and that we will soon have a really flourishing Guider5 . Club. Again, best wishes to you all, . SIBYL CHAUVEL.
Broadcasting. It is announced that a series of Guide Broadcasts have been arranged for the new year. The broadcasts will take place during th~ Children's Hour from 3LO, between 5.45 and 6.15, on alternate Mondays, commencing on Feb. 6th.. The following dates have been l:J.lranged:Feb. 6th-International Guiding. Feb. 20th-Brownies in Other Countries March 6th and 20th. April 3rd and 17th. The talks will deal with Guiding in other countries, and it is hoped that a Camp Fire may be arranged.
An Appreciation. There is no doubt whatever in my mind tha'U the year 1932 has been an auspicious one in the Girl Guide movement of Victoria. First, the Stradbroke Cup competition, echoes of which still continue to sound in one's ears, and now the Celebrity Concert, produced by Miss Barfus, on 26th November. I went to this concert, unsuspecting of the lavish feast the producer had prepared for me. Not for a moment did I expect to see the celebrities in the flesh, but I did. They were really there, with their accomplishments. An assortment of Commissioner!:, odd lots of Captains, Q.M.'s, a couple of Secretaries and an Editor figured on the programme. The first item was a piano duet. You not only heard what they felt about it-you saw it also-they felt a great deal. This is the kind of producing I ad mire . It caters for several senses, if one doesn't function, well, you have the other. The Brown Paper Drill, 3rd iten:, was remarkable for dust. The Drummer could only be seen through a cloud. In Mrs. Bligh. the ghost of some ardent suffragette walked the boards. One felt she belonged to an era when "women were women." It was during a dramatized folk song that a beast with an unusually bony structure walked -or was it stumbled-in. I tried to place this beast in our known category, but it was not until a friend next to me whispered "It's a. nag"! did I reach an understanding. I saw later on the programme that it was Dobbin Grey. A word here of appreciation must be paj¡1 to the bright versatility or adaptability of the producer. Two items later the legs of Dobbin Grey appeared attached to the body of a hound. , With a snap debate on a subject close to the heart of many a Guider: "Should Women Propose in Leap Year," there was little wonder as to t he result. Of course they should! The N . and A. had frequent recourse to a large brandy bottle. They were evidently both in the Affirmative as to the medieaval qualities attached to this tonic. The brandy spoke well. The parting words of the winning side pursue t he scurvy knaves, for they do not realise their duty," brought howls and much fervent clapping from the audience. A Lone Ranger Captain gave an amus-nll, musical interlude. She explained her musical virtues beforehand-that is, before she commenced to interru p-no interlude. The audience took her to heart, and then Mein Gott, but it was fine, two Guiders recited in German. Last of all, the climax of the evening, the French playlet, La belle au bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty). Of all t he seven dissipate:-i looking Fairies-Oh, Ed. not a word more, you say: "Je suis ble fe."
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MATILDA
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January 2nd, 193:>.
AS TIME GOES ON, HOW TO ASSURE THAT GUIDING RUNS ON THE RIGHT LINES. MISS DILLNER (Sweden). (Before reading her papel' Miss Dillner ex¡ plained that tnroughout she is referring tv children of the Guide ages 11-16, because Guic1¡ ing was invented for children of that age, and because Guiding of girls over 16 has already been discussed.) It is an exceedingly difficult and interesting subject which has here been set before us. T.') begm with, it assumes that we, to-day, know which the right lines in Guiding are, if they exist. Can we speak about the lines, as Guiding has spread itself out from the Mother Country over the earth, to people, and to parts of the world with su~h different dispositions and circumstances. Are there lines which are "The Right Lines," the only right lines, and which, therefore, could be applied as the only ones. over the whole earth? The answer to the question seems easily to be found with a bold "No!" for is there more than one thing which is given: the Guide Promise? That which is the corner-stone, tha t which is the kernel and feature of Guiding, that which is A and 0, that which is everything! Guiding is the moulding of the character-Guiding is the Guide Promise-but the way that leads to it, who can guarantee that it is the same to-day as ten years hence? No, it is quite certain there are no lines which ar(; the only right ones, only a corner-stone has been given. And that was, is, and always will be as long as Guiding deserves its name! And still I dare say: yes, there are lines. there are "The Lines," which lead to the goal which I have just mentioned: The Guide Promise. That it was the right note Lord BadenPowell struck fro;n the very beginning, then' is now no one who doubts. It was simply ingenious, which is best proved, surely, by the fact that never ha s a seed spread itself as has the S:::out and Guide seed. Out-oI-door I ife, self activity, flee will with responsibility, suit evidently every boy and giri in the whole world. If one should ever dare to assert that these methods for education have s hown themselves to be the right ones, one should dare to say so here. Let us examine these a little closer! If one studies the descriptions from the 'Ume Scou"!:ing and Guiding- began, when Baden-Powell himself was a boy, and the time which follows, yon cannot fail to be struck by the ingeniou~ simplicity, spontaneity and happiness which charactel'ised them . And one is just a s much stl uck by its immediate influ ence on the child's character. It was a good example of cause and effect. Let us just take one example, which everyone knows.
It was the firs t meal that the founder of our Movement made on board the sailing-boat he and his brothers possessed. Being the youngest, he was put to the coarse work. Making food and washing up. He made the food, over an open fire on the beach, but the food was not good, and he knew that best himself, because he had to eat it all up, alone. Not because he liked it, but because his brothers forced him to do so. They were not going to eat that nasty, smoked stuff, but the cook needed the lesson, to learn that one should not make such food . And what was the consequence? Well, on his retUl n home he wandered to the cook in thC:' kitchen, and the visits there were many and often; he was even so eager that he went to a baker to leal'll to mix the flour for bread. This is such a good story in all its simplicity tha~ we ought to take it as a model. We see here before our eyes how an ignorant boy thirst!:' for knowledge, and that he does not give uP. before he has got it, and thoroughly, too. We see how, being compelled to harvest the fruits of his ignorance himself, hardened his selfcontrol, forced him to endurance. He now knew the truth of the proverb, "As you have made your bed, so must you lie," and still he had the gl eatest fun over it all. It was LOld Baden-Powell's own experiences as a lad which created the Scout Law. It was a fruit of what he had learned during his own Scout life. And I do not know, but can very well imagine, that the framing of the Promisp put the seal on his work, as a result of the whole. That the seed had such a capacity of spreading depended, in the highest degree, on th e line, on the power in the line itself. And if one only follows that line, the practical, s imple, healthy Scout life, the Promise will come itself as a ripe fruit. The Scout and Guide Movement is not a constructed training method, its driving power is the line itself! Pel'haps the Founder from the beginning had not t hought the whole so serious as it has become. If I have understood him right, the Scout Movement was, fl'om the commencement, a means which he himself tried when a boy oI spending free time in a pleasant, healthy and useful manner. But experience showed that if h e began with the free time and waf then Spy, Observer and Scout, this had th2 g reatest influence on his whole life. Should not we who live twenty veal'S anc1 more after the start and who have seen the' development, dare to sav that the right lines do exist? That they begin through The Living Life, and this leads to the realisation of the Promise. If we do the reverse, begin from the Promise, and from this given point search
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January 2nd, 19a;3.
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along lines of different kinds which we think will lead to the practical Scout and Guide life, t he risk of going astray is great. Let us reflect how our Movement would tur.'1 out if one began with the end, began with th:! Promise. The first paragraph in the Promise Tuns: "1 pi omise to the best of my ability to try to do my duty towards God and my country." God--country, what do these mean? To different characters, in different religious COIT)munities, with different creeds, at varyirg phases of development, these mean different things. For one, duty towards God means one thing, for another, something else. Who is right? For the one Guider it may .iust mean nothing, for the other it seems to be an imperative duty that she, toglcther with het Guides, s hould devote herself to the keeping and ·spreading of the right faith . Equally, when the question is of one's native country, the complications will be still worse. It was easier twenty years ago than now when kingdoms fall, when national sentiment if: strong, and when it has awakened in Quite a new manner in great parts of the world. when theories and ways of looking break and burst. Nearly every nation, every social group, wi]! answer t he first paragraph of our Promise in her own way. Who is right? The nhrase God and country, which is intended to be an unyielding anc~ solid point., thus becomes instead quite the reverse; it Complicates Scouting and Guiding in the highest degree. Let us also look at file second paragraph of our Promise-the one about helping one another. We have youth-the whole world see ; that-and everybody wants the help of youtn. In my own country there is much which need;; help. Benevolent societies of a thousand kinds. "Come here, Scouts and Guides, and help," they shout. "You must help us, many hands make light work, here, here, here." And our Movement is in danger of being taken into use as a Movement-our Guides will become "porters." When t he public has understood. and they are very qu ick, that our Movement can be useful in that way, the problem will be, how to defend oneself, fOl· one cannot help all. with the best will in the world. The third paragraph of our Promise l"Ull S: "To obey the Guide Law." If you on ly think t heoretically , you fasten yourself to systemE and forms, and to pedagogic speculations 01' t he advisability of different ways. It becomes sterile. Do you not see how complications literall)' pile up, if one begins from the theoretical sid!'. that is to say, takes the Promise first, and from there tries for the practical life-which one, in many cases through lack of tim e, never . reaches? If one begins with the end instead of follow ing the line marked out by Baden-Powell which is suitable for everybody, just as it is, the consequence will be that the movemeni will have to be altered to suit every nation's disposition, race and creed. Our Movement will then show itself to be quite different in diffcl·-
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ent countries, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts will also become a problem, ancl a tumbling-place, for different ways of looking at things-which thanks 11) the Guide spirit which now exists, works well. But problems there are, and more there will be, and as the years pass, they will still b(' more difficult. An International MovemenT. with a Promise-corner-stone-taken theoretically in this way, simply cannot have any future before it. There are two great dissimilarities, too many frictio n-points, there are too many reasons fOf conflicts and problems, since the MovemenL perhaps appears in one country as a national Movement connected with a certain theory, in another country as a pronounced religious Movement, connected with some other definite theory of life, and so forth. Everything de pending on the manner in which the contenh: of the Promise presents itself to one people or another. Well, it seems to me that we must keep to the ingenious lines laid out from the beginning, to let a healthy, useful and pleasant occupati'JlI during free time be the aim, and the fulfilment of the Promise, the consequence of the practical Scout life. Doing this the problems wi!: be simplified to the highest degree. It is quite clear that many hold out their hand to incorporate themselves with a Movement which ha, youth. It is quite clear that there are people who will make use of our Movement as a st:lPping stone; it is also clear that there are people who will make use of Scouts and Guides to gtt recruiters and members for their own associa· tions, but let us agree that, as a Movement, it cannot, and may not be made use of in thh, way, because it has another task. Its work is to create individuals, neither more nor less. When the full-grown Guide enters the world after having lived her prac· tical Guide life where a healthy, useful and pleasant occupation during her free time has been the object, during her "growing-up" years, then it is time for her to choose her way and to take up a position in reference tv the great questions of our age. As long as she follows Baden-Powell's lines she can be taught to judge for herself. As a Guide, the first paragraph of our Promise means the following: "Through the practical activities of the Guide life, to listen to, and be conscious of the inner voice which tells the difference between right and wrong." What is truth and what is not truth? Be faithful to that voice even, and above all, in trifleswhether it be a question of darning stockings or of daring- to acknowledge a fault. This i:; duty towards God. And duty towards he!' native country will be the same thing-to at.tend to her work at home, and in school. and during her free time as the inner voice bids. Paragraph 2 of our Promise will be charitv, which lies nearest the Guide herself as an incl;· vidual. It may be to stay at home with mother who need s help, instead of going to the company meeting. or to take ~arf> of a frightened animal. And Paragraph 3 of our Promise i3
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MATILDA
the compass which she always bears with her -something definite to follow until the inner voice has had time to advise. All this is a logical result of a natural and healthy life in the woods and fields of fancy's freshness, and of susceptibility to God's free nature. Guides or Scouts who go forth into the world after some years of hardening through healthy life in the woods and fields, with the law as compass, become of some importance to their countries. They have got their equipment, but they have not been forced too soon into the great problems. We wish to see a free, strong man, an individual, as the result of an education after Baden-Powell's ingenious methods. It therefore seems to me to be, perhaps, the principal object of our World Association to keep a keen eye for what Guiding is: to see that it concerns individuals; and then to use ali the influence possible to present the picture in such a way that we do not lose it. It is easie'r done than we now believe. But we need help, for we who are in charge of National Girl Guide Associations know that we are being threatened with adoption by one society 01 another, or are being pulled by the different currents within our countries. If one takes Guiding simply on the origulal lines, it seems to me that its possibilities are infinitely larger than if in worshipful eagerness of patriotism one tries to form the Movement, only after the disposition of one's OWh country. What importance cannot Guiding have in a country where duty towards God is taken earnestly? How can a people who love their country not emphasise that a true patriot is the one who attends to her own little task with unyielding fidelity? Such a person will one day be able to serve her country well. Cannot a nation, which specially emphasises the need for helpfulness, make use of Guide life in woods and fields and give it every pO!;sible opportunity? Scouts and Guides thus trained will be charitable of heart and especially well qualified to serve their country by social work in one way or other. Therefore to my mind the right lines do exist, and they are those which Baden-Powell laid down, namely: through pleasant, healthy and useful occupations during leisure time, to develop capable, upright citizens with a keen eye, respecting and understanding the views of others. When these Guide individuals, as grown-ups, enter the world to grapple with its problems, they are equipped. Then the time has come for them to make up their minds and to take up a position. The question of leadership comes in here, for say what you will, everything depends on our leaders. Let us suppose that we, herp, agree to what I have tried to say, and that we jointly, with will and enthusiasm, agree to this simple manner of looking at our Movement. How are we to impart this to our leaners? Has not the future international trainillg of leaders and Guiders the greatest significance? In Adelboden the Guiders themselves are, according to Baden-Powell's system, to discuss everything with as much imagination, liberty
J anual'Y 2nd, 193;.
and responsibility as possible. Then they are to return to their respective countries having gained something of Nature's freshness and liberty of law. At the same time, they must realise, in speech and in discussion, what Guidirig is, and above all, what it is not. I mean that our international training of Guiders might give us the original Guiding, practical as well as theoretical, and in circumstances where different characters. and disposi.tions have the opportunity of giving their interpretation and of pooling their impressions. And finally: "As time goes on." As time goes on there are opportunities for new ingenious ideas. Times change and we with them. All have well-night taken up BadenPowell's ideas. We are no longer alone with his methods. In our schools in the north the watchword is "self-activity." Almost every family has its eyes open for the fascination of camping. That kind of organisation itself which the Founder invented-the little group. the patrol-can even be found in different forms in many organisations. The world has absorbed the new ideas which Baden-Powell brought to it. The great question now is: "Is our Movement to lead-still to pioneer-although keeping on its original lines ?" Let us have our eyes and ears and all our senses wide awake, so that we can realise, in time, what is happening everywhere. We still have use for genius. Let us look far and WIde and recognise it wherever it exists. In conclusion . we believe, in the highest degree, just in that Scouting and Guiding which the Founder invented-which creates Op<=Tl eyes, open hearts and willing hands-and we believe in The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. which keeps right in the mid .. die of the road, pointed out by Lord BadpnPowell.
Le Chant de Notre Chalet. TUNE: Le Vieux Chalet. 1.
La-haut, sur la montagne II est un grand Chalet Son large toit pench e Arbl'itera notre amitie; Pour tout' les Eclaireuses II sera Ie foyer.
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2.
La-haut, sur la montagne Nous irons au Chalet Chercher la joie du camp Et du travail fait en chantant; La vie simple et sereine Et Ie recueillement.
3.
L:i-haut sur la montagne Dans notre grand Chalet, Autour de I'Mre gris Ou Ie feu clair petille et l'it, N ous nous sentons unies, Et fortes par l'esprit.
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January 2nd, 1933.
MATILDA
7
We do not grow old; we become old by not growing.
Suitable and Appropriate Resolutions FOR ALL BROWNIE GUIDERS, 1933. 1. That I solemnly resolve to read the Brownie
Page more carefully and thoughtfully than in 1932. 2. That I send at least 'me suggestion or idea in with the hope that the Page will eventually become the expression of the best thought possible among Victorian Brownie Guiders. Address of Page Secretary-Margaret Crellin, 123 Kooyong Road, Armadale, S.E.3.
"Flowers in the Wind." [Game to fit in with Nature programme, Dt!cember issue.] The Brownies are divided into two groups. The first group, representing the Wind, stands in a line across one end of the room, whilst
the other group, after choosing the name of a flower, stands toe to toe in front of them. The Wind is told the first letter of the flower's name, and immediately the name is correctly guessed, the flowers scatter to the other end of the room, with the Wind chasing them. The Brownies caught join the opposite side. The next time the groups are reversed-the second group representing the Wind, and the first choosing the name of the flower.-E.T.
An Inspection. One Six may be inspected at a time, 01¡ el~c all together. The hall is magiced into a wood. At the word "Trees," all stand up straight, with hands held out as leaves. (This gives B.a. a chance to see general tidy ness and clean hands). At "Sunshine" all smile and become bright, and at "Rabbits," jump round and squat on floor in rabbit position; which gives good v iew of backs of shoes and heels of socks. At "Thunder," all run away to homes like streaks of lightning.-V.H.
Wiseacre Gnome. "Old age ought not to creep on a hUINln mind. In nature every moment is new; the past is always swallowed and forgotten; the coming only is sacred ..... No truth so sublime but it may be trivial to-morrow in the ligH of new thoughts. People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them."- Emerson. Happy New Year, everyone! A fresh pel) and nib, a new bottle of ink! In fact, everything ready to answer the questions of 1933. Question: Can you tell me if there is a book of music to Brownie Games or, if not, is there any way of getting them? -"Tuneless." Answer: As far as I know, there is no conclusive book of music to Brownie games. (Do you know "100 Singing Games," sold at H.Q. ? ) Ii you would let me know the ones you want and enclose 3d. in stamps for each one, I will supply them. The money thus raised goes towards Brownie Funds. Yours smilingly, WISEACRE GNOME
Things Sometimes Happen Like This. A Brownie came to a Brown Owl's house to de part of her test fpr the Golden Bar. Among' other things, she was to "set a table for two." The Brown Owl, with a view to emphasising the helpfulness part of the test, told the Brownie to imagine she had come to the house of a sick mother, who was expecting her two children home to lunch, and who was not abl", herself to prepare lunch for them. She wa;: too poor to afford a servant or help of any kind. 'l'he Brown Owl then left the Brownie to her own resources. After a reasonable time the B.a. went out to see how the Brownie was faring, and was amazed to see very little on the table in the way of cutlery or food. With 8n enquiry as to whether the Brownie thought all that was necessary was there, the reply 1¡('ceived was: "But you said they were very poor, Brown Ow!!"
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Report of Brownie GetTogether Day. THE OWLS' "GET-TOGETHER" MEETING. A very enjoyable day was spent in the grounds of Mrs. Best's home at Syndal 011 Saturday, December 10th, where the Brownie Guiders held their "Get-together" meeting. Although the day was very hot elsewhere, the Guiders found it very pleasant under the trees by the creek. The afternoon was taken up by a Handcraft competition, nature collection, and treasure hunt. Some of the Guiders demonstrated "A Pack's Outing to the Beach." which was thoroughly enjoyed by the onlookel'5 as well as the performers. In the cool of the evening some of the Guiders took a walk to enjoy the view from the top of the hill. Later on we had demonstrations of the Golden Bar and Hand Tests, followed by a camp fire, which was enjoyed by all. By this time the moon was up. and ready to light us to the station. ThIS brought a most enjoyable day to a clos~, and we were all very grateful to Mrs. Best for her kindness toward us.-N.S.
A Clause in the Golden Hand Test. The value of the clause in the Golden Hand Test "must have taken care of a plant fron seed or bulb," etc., lies in the recognition that Nature is the supreme Artist on earth. Natur~ represents for us all that is good, beautiful and true. As we are all children of Nature, so should we feel a complete sympathy with her. But, unfortunately in many cases we have built up for ourselves a false set of gods-the love of things material, the easy comforts of modern civilisation-both of which threaten to engulf our finer instincts and l'educe us to a state of mere existence. Our sense of value .. very often is based more on the appreciation of t hings made by man rather than of tho s~ made by our Creator, God.-the Spirit of N a· ture. It is to combat the influence of this degenerate thought that those who have the vision Ot "seeing" what is really beautiful a nd tl'U~, should feel it their respons ibility to impan 01' stimulate to greater appreciation those whose feet have only just commenced to walk the pathway of real knowledge. It is the realisation that the triple virtues of goodness, beauty and truth are to be found in t he t hings of nature, that compels us to contemplate thi s high art. If the Brown Owl in charge of a Brownie Pack realises the spiritual significance of the contemplation and appreciation of Nature s beauties, she must surely enfuse intro her Brownies a similar love of Nature. "As one thinks so shall one become." The deeper the
January 2nd, 193i.l .
love of beauty is fostered, the greater will bc the hatred of ugly things, and there will l>e littl e room for the ugly if the mind is hungry for the beautiful. Such a hunger grows, and can never be wholly satisfied. Apart from awakening in the Bl'ownie the growing love of beauty, caring for a plant from its earliest state to its full development. in the lovely flow er, will give her a sense of l'esponsibility to things about her, a feeling of intimacy with Nature, and something definitely constructive by which she may later interest herself in other growing things.-M.C.
The Mystic Pool. ~ake or use ~ shall?w wooden tray, the rim bemg abo.ut an mch hIgh. With piece of glass t(' fit, glue to bottom of tray, which must be previou~ly painted brown or green. With moss and artificial flowers put on edge (from hat or shoulder spray) the effect is quite realistic. The Brownies would love to help make this and what a thrilling moment when, in th~ story of the Brownies, a Brownie could reaIiy see herself in the pool. This delightful id<)'l was sent in by the B.a. of the 3rd GeelonO' Pack. '"
Buttons-AGAIN! . Since writing you Jast I have hea.l'd. that not only has the button potentiul artIstIc beauty, but also much humorous possibility. This idea belongs to a Geelong Brown Owl and I shall quote from her letter. It is an amusing idea. "I drew with crayons a num~er of .faces, fat, thin, laughing, scowling (aces WIth beards (these were in great demand) on calico or any such stuff. In drawing these faces, I omitted the eyes. I gave each Brownie a face and a large and small button . These they sew on as eyes. The effect was 1110 t comical, and created much amusement in the Pack. After the meeting the buttons were taken off and used again later." After reading this extract from the Brown Owl's letter, I fell into contemplation of the Brownies' Smile. Do you really think we have enough real ~m il es in our Pack Meeting? The Browmes seem to play their games so seriously and earnestly. Sometimes I think t hE' light-hearted, careless happiness of children is missing. Do they reflect our own nervous attitudes-the result of war and consequent d.~ pressiofl ? These Brownies gl'owing up now have a topsy-turvy world to face. One that is economi· cally unsound, and a world with a craze fN' speed. Can we not bring the spirit of laughter to our meetings, and the Brownie will learn to face her future difficulties with a laugh in hel heart! What think you, Clothilde? Am glad the Christmas rush is over now. I had some frantic moments deciding who was to be the worthy recipient of a handkerchief with a dog in the cornel', and a banana-shaped pincushion. Yours sincerely, CAROLINE.
MA T I L....::D~A:...-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9
January 2nd, 1933. ( ""
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The Bat. BY BIRD LOVER. On these warm summer evenings as we sit in the open air we seldom fail to see the swift erratic flight of the little hats, sometimes singly or in pairs, but frequently in con siderable numbers, as they dart hither and thither, and occasionally almost brush our he.h" with their wings. What are these little lovers of the twilight, where do they come from, and why are they now so active? Like innumerable other more or less common manifestations of Nature we are apt to take them as a matter of course, and thereby lose the added bit of pleasure in om" life which is gained when we acquire a sympathetic intimacy with the life history of some other fellow creature, no matter how small 01" humble it may be. Suppose we amend this and spend in imagination a little while with one of the smallest and commonest of the many species .of bat, to learn his habits and share his aims and his fears. Let us call him "Chiro," as being part of his real family name of Chiroptera-which is Greek for "hand wings." Chil'O has a mouse-shaped body about tWG inches long, covered with very soft mousecoloured fur, his hind legs small and ill-formed, but his forelegs elongated out of all proportion, and their extremities divided into very long slender fingers which, when spread out, will cover a space of ten or twelve inchec:. Growing from this foreal'm, attached to the fingers. ancl from them to the hind legs and short tail. is a thin, pliable membrane. not unlike soft silk , which will fold and crumple UP when Chil'O is in repose, but which forms his wings when he extends his long arm and fingers. This flying apparatus is, however, bn t a roor affair comnared to the wings of birds, and althoug-h Chiro appears to travel with incredihle swiftness. he cannot really exceed about 25 miles an hour, nor can he keep in motion for more than five to ten minutes withoota~~ . Other physical features of Chil'O arp. hir, numerous small but very sharp tee th. hi~ large pars. and his wonderful faculty for long sleep. During the warm day in early summer, when we are first making Chiro's acquaintance, he has been tucked away in somp. dark crevice in thp cornel' of an old buildine-. his wings folded up and wrapped ovel' his facp.. motionJess and asleep. for the fact is that notwith¡ standing the brightness of his eye::; he cannot ~ee eithel' in the sunlight 01' the dark. and twilight is the only time when vision enables him to h(> really alive anrl active.
About sunset, therefore, Chiro will wake up, give a little squeak or two, stretch his limbs one at a time, and then in a rather ungainly shuffle-for he is a clumsy 'mover on all foun: -he will creep forth and, extending his absurd wings, set sail in search of his daily food. It is at this time in the evening that vast numbers of insects of all sorts take the air, and as the beetles, moths, flying ants, mosquitoes and others hover about, among them rushes Chil'O with open mouth, crushing and swallowing them in his flight, steering and checking hiil course on occasion by an abrupt movement of his tail, and if the prey be too big to summarily dispose of, hovering a moment to tuck it in a pouch-like fold of membrane, to be eaten at leisure later on. This violent exercise lasts for say ten minutes, when, with aching arms, Chirc must needs stop, and clinging to a tree or wall, with panting heart recover his strength. This performance is l'epeated several times during the half hour or so of twilight, for Chil'O must eat as much as ever he can before it is too dark for him to find his way back to his nest. Not only must he have enough food for his needs for the next twenty-four hours, but he must get as fat as possible during the summer months, because he knows by a wonderful Instinct that during the winter he wi!! get nothing, and must live on the fat accumulate::! during the season of plenty. After a few days Chiro, who was thin anI weak at first, becomes plumper and more glossy in appearance, and is not quite so rav~nously hungry of an evening, and he therefore has time to woo and win a little mate from ~mong the dozens of other bats disporting in the ciusk. The small day shelter is enlarged, and there the two make their home for the rest of the summer, and there in course of time one little batling is born, and is tended most devotedly by both parents, the motht'l" keeping it folded with her wings on her breast, and Chil'O bringing vast supplies of insect food every evening until the little one can sally forth on its own ¡ account. It still live,; with them for the l'emainder of the summer, but a time comes. when the cold weather commences, that all three of the family join in an unusual flocking together of all the little batfl in the neighbourhood, wheeling in unison until at some mysterious signal, which we in our ignorance can only guess at, they will follow, in a bodv. one who guides them .to some hollow bou!!,h of an old tree. Entp.ring this thp.y will all, to the number of twenty or thirty, huddle close tog;ether. wings shrouding their heads, and with squeaks and pushings and elbowing for comfortable positiorf, goradually subside and fall into a sound sleep. in which they wi!! l¡emain. cuddled together for mutual warmth, until the winter is ag-ain over. The demand for firewood, the prevalence of cats, and other causes make it difficult fol' these communities to exist near the city, but if one knows where to look for them in the countrv they can frequently be found wrapped in their hibernating trance until the sun will summon them forth again for their brief season of activity. Jf Chil'O has not eaten enough during the
1_0_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _!::M~A~T I L D A January 2nd, 19:;~ . ~~----------~~~~~ summer his fat will not keep him throughout day that has been named "Thinking Day" for the cold weather, and he will die in his winter us Guides and Girl Scouts. quarters, or be too weak to struggle out with It happens to be the birthday of the Chief the others when they again take the wing. And Scout and m);'self, and that day we turn om so that is why all the little bats we see of an thoughts specIally to the Guides of other lands evening are strivin'g to catch all they can and whom we have n~ver seen, but for whom w~ make the utmost of the twilight hour. ' have a real affectlOn as sisters in a great adventure. . D.oes Thinking with us not usually lead to Action, and wouldn't it be nice if this year we could perhaps give some thing-as well as our tho.ugh~s-to ~elp develop the world friendship whIch IS gl'owmg slowly each year and which 1st November, 1932. we h?pe to see growing larger and larger all Dear Guides and Girl Scouts, the bme: Cou!d we not each on Thinking Day . This iJS a !llost exciting letter to write, as it send a tmy gift to our World Captain to hel,) IS the first bme that I have ever written to my her with her work? ' whole family of Guides and Girl Scouts all over :rhere ~l'e a million of us. I am not good at the world, and as I write I am trying to picarithmetIC, and I · will not make any calculature in my mind where this letter will get to tions which may not come true. But a penny, how it will be read-in what language I mea~ or two cents, or four annas,_or enough centimes -by whom, and where! or groschen or Heller or Filler 01· ore to make But wherever it is, I hope that all of you the same value, is not an immense amount who read it will take it as being written to especi.ally when it is perhaps saved or earned each of you personally, as it contains a Htth' and gIven with a willing hand. idea which I want you to think about, if you What a great help we should give to the' will, all to yourself. World's Company.Funds if-:-as I believe may You Guides have heard from your Captain, happen-every GUIde and GIl'1 Scout will want now and again, I expect, something about thh to share in this Thinking Day offering this wonderful sisterhood of ours which was inventyear. Then we should have to call it "Thinking ed by the Chief Scout about 21 years ago, Day" instead. soon after he had started the Scout movement A Guider in Belgium thought of this idea for boys. and .gave it to me to hand on to you. So I a~ The idea of playing the game of Guiding and talkmg to you as a Guide to a Guide or a Girl Girl Scouting has been taken up by a million Scout to a ~irl Scou~, and if you fee'l that you girls in many different parts of the world; and can spare Just a tmy personal offering for now there are girls like you in over 37 counyour sister Guides and Girl Scouts of other tries all doing the same sort of thing, wearing land:;, then gi~e your penny, or your cents or much the same uniform and badges, and living centImes, straIght away to your Captain 01' up to the same Law and Promise that you Leader, and ask her to send it to the World made when you first joined. Captain. It is nice, isn't it, to feel that we are such a The thanks for your gift will not be sent in gigantic family, tied together like a bunch of words at all, but the amounts received will b" strong twigs of the great strong tree; and s~owt;, in the Wo~ld qaptain's quarterly maga: what, do you think, ties us together? zme The CouncIl FIre," and the reward for Interest in each other's doings-yes; lovl.! your generosity will be that, in your heart you for our fellow-players in the great gamewill know that you have done a good turr: aml yes. But there is an actual string that holds celebrated "Thinking Day" in the best Guide us together in the shape of a group of older and Girl Scout way, by helping to give ou'Guiders called the "World Committee," made Game to children who have not yet had th~ up of Guide and Girl Scout Leaders from dif.chance of enjoying it as we have. ferent countries. Yours affectionately, Just as your Captain or Leader helps you (Sgd.) OLAVE BADEN-POWELL, and your Company or Troop to do Guiding or Girl Scouting and to have all the advantages World Chief Guide. and fun of it all, so these nine members of the [Any "Thinking Day" offerings should be World Committee are all helping this vast sent to State Headquarters by the 6th March. company of over a million girls scattered ove·, The money will then be forwarded to the the whole world. World Committee.-S. H. Irving.] Now a cal' does not run without a good supply of petrol, and your Company or Troop does not run without having a little food and drink in the shape of "Company Funds"-.iust as your body requires food and drink to keep it "Oh, be humble, my brother, in your proswell and alive. perity! Be gentle with those who are less lucky W ell, this World Committee-or shall we call if not more deserving. Think, what right hav~ it your "World Captain"-is at this moment you to be scornful, whose virtue is a deficiency feeling rather hungry and thirsty for a little of temptation, whose success may be a chance, support in her work of helping to encourage whose rank may be an ancestor's accident, and du-ecl the growth of her huge company. whose prosperity is very likely a satire." So I have a suggestion to make to you all. (W. M. Thackeray). Quite soon-on February 22nd-we come to a
"Thinking Day."
January 2nd, 1933.
: (!lurrr.apunOrnrl'.
MATILDA
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Matilda's Appearance. To the Editor of "Matilda," Dear Editor,May I add an opinion to those already expressed by others in connection with M;atilda',;; cover and name? It seems that the chief, and I think only reason which has been given against there being any alteration is that we will be losing some of our tradition, but I would like to endors·:! the remarks of "Really Interested" in connection with this. Certainly none of us who had the privilege of being Guides in 1923, when "Matilda" first appeared, would willingly give up any of our memol"ies of those years, but are they being kept alive only by "Matilda's" appearance each month? Surely we can keep our early traditions, even if- our monthly paper does undergo changes. Also, for the comparatively few Guiders to whom the present "black figure means a tre1'I)endous lot", to quote a letter in the December issue, there is an ever increasing number who have no such past interest in her . I am sure that Miss Hogarth, who fir >:l t gave us "Matilda," the inside as well as the cover, remember! would willingly agree to any change if she felt it to be for the good of the papel·. Personally, if the present cover goes, I should like to frame a copy of the little lass and hang her on my wall-but great as is my affection for her, that would not prevent me from desiring to see a new cover in her place. One other point-"The Guider" first appeared in January, 1914, and was called "The Girl Guides' Gazette." On Page 118 of "T}·e Story of the Girl Guides" we read that "The gazette in those days used to come out on a later date in the month." The name was changed to "The Guider'" in January, 1928. I do not know what was the cover of the early issues of the Gazette, but for several years the cover was the same. This cover con · tained a picture by the Chief Scout. Was there any loss of tradition when it was felt wise to change the name, and also the cover, and that. drawn by the Chief Scout, too? I think not Let us then consider very carefully whether we are taking a right view when we hesitate to change for fear of loss, when really we might gain instead. If we want to find out what is the general wish, might we like to ask our Executive if we could vote on the question, as the Guides in N.S.W. did for the choice of a name for their newly-acquired lovely property, Glengarry? Yours, etc., ALSO "EARLY VICTORIA."
11
Training. GUIDERS WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED A TRAINING CLASS AT HEADQUARTERS MUST BRING TO THE FIRST CLASS OF ANY COURSE A NOMI· NATION FORM, SIGNED BY THEIR OWN COMMISSIONER. Brownie Training.-The first course of Brownie Training will begin on Wednesday, 29th February, 1933, at 7.45 p.m., at the Guide Office. Guider in charge: Miss Paling. Guide Training.-The first Course of General Guide Training will begin on Friday, 10th February, 1933, at 8 p.m. at the Guide Officr.. Guider in Charge: Miss D. Hayman. Ranger Training.-The first Course for Ranger Guiders will begin at the end of February, at the Guide office. Guider in charge: Miss C. Broadhurst. In order to arrange the day to suit the majority of Trainees, will all Guiders wishing to attend this Course please let the Training Sec· retary know by the 10th February whether a Wednesday or Friday evening, would suit them better for the class. M. E. BUSH, Commissioner for Training-,
APPOINTMENT. Division Commissioner Camperdown, etc., Mrs. Clive CUlTie, Gala, Lismore.
WARRANTS. Brown Owls: 1st Edithvale-Miss E. M. Cooper. 5th Kew-Miss M. G. Lambert. 1st Korumburra-Miss N. Davis. 1st Seymour-Miss E. W. Head. Captains: 1st Essendon-Miss O. Brown. 2nd Hamilton-Miss K. Colville. 1st Murtoa-Miss J. White. 2nd St. Kilda-Mrs. Potter. Lieutenants: 1st Hastings-Miss M. Perrott. 1st Moe-Miss N. Flewin. 1st St. Arnaud-Miss M. A. Wheeler. 1st W oorinen-Miss A. M. McQueen. Ranger Captains: 2nd East Malvern-Mrs. Hughes. 1st Hamilton-Miss L. Westacott. District Secretary: Dunkeld-Mrs. R. Woodburn. Badge Secretary: Kew-Miss E. S. Parkin.
REGISTRATIONS. Packs: 1st East Melbourne. 1st Lancefield. Companies: 1st Dunkeld. 1st Inverleigh. 10th Victorian Lone. Ranger Company: 1st Dandenong. Local Associations. Dunkeld. Inverleigh.
2nd Wangaratta. 4th Williamstown (St.Anc1rew's) . 1st Pomborneit. 1st Rosebud.
'Trafalgar. Rochester.
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MATILDA
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