Matilda 1933 vol 09 no 10 apr 1st by Girl Guides Victoria

VOL. 9, No. ] ,).

APRIL 1, 1933.

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MATILDA

APRIL 1, 1933 .

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EVANS

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-g SPECIAL CONCESSIONS OFF LIST PRICES -q=it ---ii- Write for Particulars to Your Headquarters, or Direct ~ -Us. ::-..-g TENTS & FLYS FLAGS WATERPROOFS -::- GROUNDSHEETS TRA = VEL. RUGS SLEEPING BAGS -if-- CAMPING GOODS CAMP BEDS MATTRESSES ---if --:i= = ii SPORTING GOODS. -H= -if=H --::-------:: --li= -= -----= -=-1:-it SUPPORT THE FIRM WHO SUPPORT YOU --fi -= fin

TO ALL GIRL GUIDE ORGANISATIONS.

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APRIL 1, 1933.

MATILDA

Letter from Lady Stradbroke. Dear Matilda, Although I have never written to you before, I read you every month. I was so interested in the Stradbroke Competition, and do congratulate you most hea'ttily on all the wonderful success that you made of it. And I am ill) very pleased to think that I am sometimes remembered by you, or at any rate by some of the older ones. I expect I should find a great many change.;; ii I came out to Melbourne now. We often talk of coming out, but it is not easy to leave one's home for so long, as it would not be worth while just coming out for a few days and back again, and even that would take three month~.. We are off this week for six weeks to the Argentine. First of all we go to Lisbon an::! then to Madeira. There is some lovely swimming at Madeira, no surf bathing at all, but one goes straight off the rocks into very deep water. From there we go to Teneriffe amI from there to Rio de Janeiro in Bl'azil, and thep to Buenos Aires in the Argentine. We have not been to either of these last two place;:; before. We have had a very mild winter up till ten days ago, when we suddenly had very hal'd frosts and lovely sunshine-sunshine rather like Australian sunshine, so bright, and everybody was very busy starting skating. We hati great games of hockey on the ice here. My husband and boys are very busy wild duck shooting on the marshes. We are quite close to the sea here, and it is rather like Holland, with marshes and big ditches, and in bad weather all sorts of water fowl and wild birds come in. We have had a good many wild duck, teal, woodcock and snipe. I have a lot of blue budgerigars and one or two white ones. They live out of doors all the winter in a big aviary in the garden, !IO glass to protect them from the cold, and th ey don't seem to mind it a bit. . We have been riding a lot until the fro~ t ca,me, as my husband ha:> a pack of harrhrs which he hunts himself, 'and I have a very nke chestnut pony called Cinderella. She really was my son's polo pony, but I always r ide her out hunting, and she is a very good jumper. But I do not jump any more now, as I have got very old and stiff since I left Melbourne. But it is great fun riding, and one can get along almost as fast by going through gate~ as by jumping. I ~ish you all, Guides and Brownies, every happmess, and feel very proud to think that I was connected with your wonderful Guide Movement in Victoria. Yours Sincerely. . HELENA STRADBROKE.

Guiders' Conference. I.,ast year the Conference was held in Show Week il1stead of July, as was formerly the custom. The Guiders' Committee would be glad to hear from Guiders if they feel that

last year's date was more convenient, or if there are any serious objections to holding the Conference in September. Any suggestionf' for the Conference should be sent to the State SecretalÂˇY.

The Guiders' Club. Progress is being made with the formation of the Guiders' Club mentioned in the January issue of " Matilda." For the present arrangements are in the hands of the Guiders' Committee, who have undertaken the management of the Club until a Club Committee can he appointed at the next Conference, and a subcommittee is working out a furnishing scheme. We have a large airy room with a pleasan~ outlook to be used as a sitting room, with a small dressing cubicle and kitchenette, with electric kettles and a small urn. It is proposed to have tea, milk and sugar available, so that Guiders may bring thei l' own food and make tea for themselves. The rooms will be open from 10 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. daily, and till 6 p.m. on Saturday. Guider::! may use the rooms to meet their friends, hold meetings, change their clothes, and there is 8 limited space where suitcases may be left. The annual subscription is to be only 5 / - for Town members and 3 / 6 for Country Guideril. It is hoped to open the Club during April.

More About Camping. In spite of all the things I have said already, I don't beileve I mentioned the delicious meals served by a Ranger Q.M. at a small Ranger Camp. . In the usual journalistic parlance:"The Camp Adviser was cordially welcomed, and after the usual formalities, was invited to partake of a delicious meal served by the Camp Orderlies. The festive board was spread under a shady tree, and the green grass grew all round." And what do you think the first course was? A lovely brown stew that had been cooked in a real haybox! I cannot understand why more camps don't use a haybox, or more homes, for that matter- probably it is that few people have ever seen one working. This one was simply a hole in the ground . lined at the bottom and sides with mu ~ h dead grass that remained on the site after the gardener had mowed the high growth; into the middle of this nest went the dixie, after being br ought to the boil on the fire-then on top a sack filled with more dry grass- and behold! some hours later there emerges the most .appe.tising comestible, a s I can testify. As If thIS were not enough surprise for one day, the next course was apple PIE! Yes, pie crust! Someone had discovered and brought along one of the old camp ovens-a kind of iron cauldron with a concave lid, which is covered with glowing coals; the oven is set to stand on more glowing coals, and the two plates of crust inside cooked to a turn. The apple part was, of course, stewed separately. And there was cream . . . . "Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before a-C.A.1" F.V.B.

MATILDA

Programmes. There are two statements concerning programmes that apparently disagree-and ye'.; do not. Firstly, there is no SPECIMEN programme; secondly, there are certain definite lines to follow in building a programme. There is no specimen programme because Guiding is such an elastic affair. Companies and Guiders are so individual, Personality !las such an influence on fne whole atmosphere of a Company meeting, that you might attend twenty, and not find one t he same--all striving after .the same ideal by, shall we say, windinglanes, not straight roads. On the other hand, there are certain guiding signs to help us on our way. The Chief Scout gave us the foundation for our plan in the headings, Character and Intelligence, Health, Handicrafts, and Service. It should be our aim to include these in each programme. This may not always be possible; therefore, to ~ive proper balance to our work, programmes must be planned ahead-a scheme of work laid down for three months in Court of Honour. In a new Company, Captain and Lieutenant may do this, but bring the P.L.'s in as soon as possible. This prevents programmes from being individual and, what is more important, ensures the proper functioning of the Patrol System and Court of Honour-not to mention simplifying the actual composition of the detailed programme. For the actual programme, thought and good preparation are necessary. KNOW your sequence of activities, so that things may g;) with a swing-and do not crowd too much into your time. Constantly leaving out a game, etc., is a bad thing, and should be corrected by having less in the programme. Variety in presentation keeps the Guides wondering what will happen next week, and is an added inducement to punctuality, which is helped by a definite and punctual beginning anu ending. These should be, as a rule, of a ceremonial character-maybe important ceremonial involving Horseshoe, with or without Colours, or it may be quite simple, such as a prayer, recitation of the Laws, Taps, a verse or quotation, applicable verse or song composed by the Company-anything that the Guidei' may deem suitable, remembering to have something quiet before the very end, partly to send the Guides home in an orderly frame of mind, partly that the reminder of the deeper aims of Guiding may fall on suitable ground. Two things that .should always be included in a programme are Patrol Time and Patrob in Council-otherwise your Company is not being run on the Patrol System, and is therefore not a Guide Company. During Patrol Time, the Patrol Leader, with the help of her Second, actually teaches her Patrol--she knows what to expect from her three-monthly programme-without the help of Guiders, except by request. With a new Company, or inexperienced P.L.'s, the use of Patrol Time may be directed by placing a test game after it, so that they definitely prepare for what is coming. p()~ ibly ten minute&may be long enough, bl.lt

APRIL 1, 193:'S .

experienced P.L.'s will a sk for twenty minutes or more. Patrols in Council may be either before or during the Company meeting-possibly during the week, but be sure it is held--. It is the time when Patrols tell their P.L.'s what they wish about work, games, hikes, etc., and when notices are given from the Court of Honour. It is from Patrols in Council that the ideas and wishes of the shyer, newer Guides will come, through Court of Honour, to Captain, of whom these Guides may still stand a little in awe! Group Time may also be included, though not nearly as important as Patrol Time, and possibly a little difficult to organise if you have Âˇnot a Lieutenant. During Group Time the Company is divided into groups, irrespective of patrols, according to the work they are doin~ -Tenderfoot, 2nd class, 1st class or badge work-the instruction being given by Captah and Lieutenants, badge instructor, or possibly a good P.L. Remember to use your Lieutenant-they are there to help, and also remember that you are possibly training future Captains, not to mention the fun of which you are depriving them by doing all the work yourself. If you are short of help, one group may play a teat game of some kind, while Captain takes the other group. When actually putting your programme on paper, arrange carefully the balance of activity and quietness necessary to prevent physical exhaustion and to preserve interest. Unless something very thrilling were under way, I can imagine no Guide sitting still for longer than ten minutes! Last, but not by any means least, gamestest games, silly games, quiet games, active games, stalking in the moonlight, romantic games of captured princesses in towersthrough all our carefully balanced and organised programmes, let us remember that Gu;ding is a game, with a definite aim-and let that spirit pervade our Company meetings. -M.H.

Minutes of Meeting of the Executive Council. Minutes of a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Girl Guides Association, Victoria, held on the 16th March, 1933. Present: Miss E. H. Purnell, in the chair, Mrs. Edmondson, Mrs. Faulkner Mrs. Fink Misses Bush, Hamilton, Swinbu~ne and th~ Secretary. Miss Purnell, on behalf of the Committee welcomed Miss Swinburne on her return from England. Guiders' Club. It was reported that the Guiders' Committee elected at the ConfelÂˇence in 1932 had undertaken the responsibility and work of starting the Guiders' Clubroom. "Matilda."-It was agreed that the question of change of name and cover for "Matilda" bp left for discussion at the Guiders' Conference to be held later in the year. All Australia Camp.- It was reported that 230 Commissioners and Guiders had attended

APRIL 1, 193a.

MA T I L D A

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the All Australia Camp held at Jamberoo from the 13th to 23rd January, 1933. Of this number 35 were Victorians. Thanks Badge.-The giving of a Thanks Badge to Mrs. Vassall Cox was approved. Routine and financial business was discussed. The date of the next meeting was fixed for the 12th April. S. H. IRVING.

A Day

In Camp.

You awake to find it is grey daylight, there is a faint pink glow over the trees. A long whistle call rouses you to spring up and wake the others in your tent; you fish about in yOUl case for washbag and towel, don a coat OVE'r your pyjamas, and sprint down to the wash tents (cunning contrivances of poles and hessian). After washing each Guide drags her bedding out in the sunshine to air. A warning whistle blows. You make sure you are tidy (take off your apron if you are a cook) and "Fall In," to march into Horseshoe formation near the flagpole. The Colour Party "Fall Out," smartly march to the pole and hoist the Union Jack, while everyone (except Lieut., who keeps one eye on the coffee and the other on the scrambled eggs, lest they burn), stand at the Salute and sing "God Save Our King." We are dismissed-Mess Patrol to beg, borrow or steai the nicest ground sheets to spread in a shady place for a table. Cooks dash about, very busy, then Miss Q-Emma, the Quarter Master, says "Are you ready, girls?" We blow our whistles LOUDLY-Come to the Cookhouse door, Guides, Come to the Cookhouse door-." Everyone stands round the "table" in their places and sings the Guide Grace. Then sit down to enjoy a breakfast of weeties and scrambled eggs and enormous quantities of bread and jam. When finished we sing the second part of the grace. Each Patrol gathers its dishes and washe;; up. Now Free time. Everyone can roam about, tidy their tents, or make "gadgets"-useful creations made irom bits of string, odd lengths of wood, and brainwaves. Washstands, shoeracks, etc! Suddenly a long whistle call, and someone sings out WATER PARADE! We form a long chain from the tanks to the wash tents, every available bucket and tin is filled, passed down and up again, till the tubs are full; a few groan, but most of us roll up our sleeves and make jokes about it, and pass I'emarks like"Who's drinking it." or "We must be going to wash the 'Blacks' Station' this morning"? Now Canteen- each Guide may spend 3d. a day if she likes snowballs, or ~d. sticks go the furthest. DON'T drop papers about. 11.30-just time for a swim before dinner. Those who want to go meet at the stile with the Lifesaver, and race down the hill to the water. It's great fun playing with the big ball and teaching learners to "dog-paddle." Then we have dinner-baked mutton, mashed potatoes, green peas, and plums and custard. When the dishes are washed and all the Patrols have finished their work, Canteen opens again. REST Hour. You may I'ead or .write letters home if you wish, but you Must Keep Quiet-in case others want to sleep.

Afterwards we might go to the NinetyMile Beach to hunt for shells or paddle or build castles in the sand-a bar of chocolate for the best one. Perhaps we wtll stay in Camp and play Basketball, or go swimming again, and someone might tell us a Guide or Nature Story while we rest. While we spruce up for tea and make our beds Ii whistle blows for us to stand at Atten'tion while the Colours are lowered. "Cookhouse" blows again, and we all have Tmi.. One evening an enterprising Guide made a huge "Scone" (?) in a frying pan-it was good-oh! When everything is cleared away we an sit in a circle for Campfire-each Company teaches the others their own songs, everyone joins in singing "Rounds" and songs we all know. Afterwards we stand, and Commandant says a Camp Prayer, and leads us, saying Our L01'd's Prayer together. There is hot tea and biscuits at the Cookhouse for those who feel "peckish." Each tent has a hurricane lantern outside; it is Captain'~ busy time now, she goes round the tents dabbing soothing "Calsomine" Lotion on sunburns. "Who tied knots in my pyjamas 1" "Where's my pillow?" "Has anybody seen my toothbrush 1" "Hush!" We are all still and sing "Taps." "Day is done ... God is nigh~" Lanterns go out, a few whispers, and stifled giggles. Night closes in with the silvery moon shining on the calm waters of the lake-black swans call eerily as they fly over the dark trees, then all is silent, save the dull roar and moan of the distant sea. "SEAGULL."

Correspondence. HELP REQUIRED. 186 Drummond St., Carlton, 10 / 3 / 33. Dear Matilda, I feel sure you will help me to solve my problem, and this through the medium of the Ranger column of your treasure-house. As G.S.M. of 10th Prahran (R.V.LB.) Group B.S.A., I am in immediate need of additional help for the Cub branch of this Group, which was recently formed at Blind Institute! The children, owing to their disability, require in a C.M. something more than the ordinary qualifications inasmuch as sympathy and understanding are paramount in dealing with them. One of our Ranger COJr.llanies, I feel SUI'e, has just the help to offer that would make all the difference to the little blind ones of thl) Pack! And really, Matilda, . the work is most interesting, and will appeal to the' Ranger anxious to carry her promise out into a wider world! Would you then, Matilda. ask the Guider who has the right Ranger help available to get in touch with me 1 Oh! And I nearly forgot to let you know that OUI' Wolf Family enter the Jungle for their wonderful game of Cubbing at 3.30 p.m. every Thursday. Thanking you, A. CURRAN, Cpt. 1st Moreland Rangers.

MATILDA

APRIL 1, 193i:J.

"The ollgme of all musicke is the verie pleasant sounds which the trees of the forest do make when they grow."-Chaucer.

A Brownie Birthday Cake. Divide any good cake mixture into three. Flavour one with lemon, one with cocoa, and the third with vanilla-colour this part pink. Pour all three into a round tin and bake. Icing. Make a deep brown icing with icing sugar, butter, cocoa and boiling water, and ice the top and side. Beat a little white of egg very stiff and add icing sugar until a thick fondant is made. Leave it for an hour to harden, and then mould it into the shape of a toadstool. Colour a little of the fondant brown and mould it into the shape of aI small owl to sit on the toadstool, and place this decoration on the centre of the cake. Make as many little figures as there are Brownies in the Pack of twigs, with berries for heads. Tie a little crinkled brown crepe paper round them for dresses, and put them around the cake in the form of a Brownie dancing ring. -M.H.J.

Wiseacre Gnome. Question: Can you advise me where to get suitable Brownie Prayers? New Brown Owl. Answer-Prayers suitable for Brownies are those of the simplest kinds. Ones made up by Brown Owl herself, wherein the B's thank God and pray for little things intimate with the individual Pack are best. Here are three which have been found useful. Yours smilingly, WISEACRE GNOME.

Help us to be cheerful, and make those around us happy, and give us very willing hands and feet to help other people every day. -Amell.

Our Fathel' in Heaven! Thank You for the sunshine, For the flowers and birds. Help us to see the beautiful things In all the world around us. And may we be happy, and keep sunshine all the day. Amen.

ENROLMENT CEREMONY. Brownies and B.O. sitting in tight circle on floor around Totem. Recruit walks round the outside. B.O.-"WhQ's going round my house today?" Recruit--"Only a Tweenie small." B.O.-uWhat do you want with us to-day?" Recruit--uTo be one of you, that's all!'' Brownies jump up and spread out into Fairy Ring, and Recruit is let in through an arch. -V.H.

LOST-THREE BROWNIES! The Brown Owl of 1st Rosebud Pack has lost trace of Dorothy, Elsie and Kathleen Newman. She thinks they have come to town, and would be glad if any Guider who has heard of them would communicate with Miss Campbell Walker, "The Thicket," Rosebud.

Mother's Umbrella.

Our Father in Heaven! Thank You for keeping us safe All through the week; For being near us in dark nights And in happy days. Help us .to be little friends to all the world, Especially to those Who may feel lonely. -Amen.

SINGING GAME. (To tune of "Here we go round the mulberry bush.") When Mother wants to go to town She dresses in her Sunday gown, And if the rain comes pouring down, She takes her big umbrella.

Our Father in Heaven, thank You for all thE: good things we have-for sunshine and flowerf', for spaces to play in, for our homes, and for those who care for us.

Oh, who will come to town with me, To town with me, to town with me? If you will come to town with me, Come under my umbrella.

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MATILDA

APRIL 1, 19i13. Oh! this is how we go to town, All dressed up in our dresses brown, And if the rain comes pouring down We'll put up our umbrella.

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Brownies walk round in circle, clasping hands, with one Brownie as "Mother with her umbrella" in the centre. At commencement of second verse, Brownies stand still, and "Mother," singing her song, stands in front of a partner. At third verse Brownies _move round in circle again, with the two Brownies in inner circle walking opposite way. This song is sung over till all the Brownies are following "Mother." -D.C.

The Caterpillar Child. (From "The Guide.") Once upon a time there was a caterpillar child who was very long in the body, and equally short in the leg, as all well-bred caterpillar children should be. This infant prodigy attended a boarding school with other little creepy-crawly insects, where he found it harder to use his little brain box than his very long body, wnich grew faster in proportion, as he was very athletic and extremely fond of walking. The name of the school was called Grasshopper Hall. It was run by the Dame who gave it its name. On the last morning of term she organised a race in which all her pupils took part. This race' was the time-honored custom at Grasshopper Hall. Dame Grasshopper was a little fussy that morning. It took fully five minutes arranging the little insects in a straight line. They were all so anxious to start, and they all had so many more legs to manip:uiate than little human boys and girls. Finally, they were ready for the contes ~, and off they started at the word of com manu, peremptorily given on a blade of grass. There was a ladybird, an engaging little creature with a red back and black spots on it. who was known for her elegant manners; and the worm who was last at everything-poar dear-from sums to skipping-no one took anv notice of him. There was quite an array of boys from the spider family and one with especially masterful legs. The ants were so small they always went in a class by themselves. Of course, Dame Grasshopper's nephew was there. Such a bright boy at sport was 1ittl ~ Jack Cricket, he became broken-hearted when he sprained three of his ankles before he had gone five yards. The poor little ladybird was disqualified early, and retired from the field weeping into a lace handkerchief. She would race in boots, so, of course, they were far too tight, and in her discomfort, she said, she started to fly! Have you ever seen a caterpillar loop the loop? Because this was just what this caterpillar child did. It was with wiggly woggly

s peed that he succeeded in passing three spiders, two daddy-long-legs, and four earwigs. Hi s legs and great strength were of enormows assistance, and he swayed with pride on reaching the winning post-and he felt still more elated when Dame Grasshopper presented him with a little ebony hair brush to comb his long back. The caterpillar child said goodbye to his creepy-crawly friends with most kind regards. As the day was still early he decided to go the longest way round, by the cabbage patch which was out of bounds for Grasshopper Hall. What a feast he made! Never did cabbage leaves taste better to a hungry insect. "This beats racing," thought the caterpillar child, "but I am glad I learnt to loop the loop. Here is the heart of the largest cabbage in the patch!" See him eating! He has forgotten school and his friends there, and worst of all, he has forgotten his yellow brothers and sisters, so engrossed is he in eating. He became fatter, and then more and more drowsy, and the fairy who attended to caterpillar children bent over him and said: "Draggles, even though you have learned to loop the loop, you have forgotten how to get home, and now you've grown so fat and bulgy that you couldn't get home if you tried, so you must spin a fat little home round yourself called a cocoon, and I will help you!" So Draggles spun, and he wove himself a snug little home, and he fell asleep in it. There he dreamt of his school and the trouble he got into in his early days for tearing holes in the sheets with his spiky tail. (You know, all well-bred caterpillars have tails, as this one had!) Next, he dreamt he had turned into a worm, and someone put a dunce's cap on his head because he didn't know that twice one made two. Last of all Dame Grasshopper beat him with a cane smartly on the head before all those spidery friends and acquaintances. Crack! Crack! What had happened? Something much the same happened to him that happens to human beings when they emerge from the schoolroom to the joys of the bright world without. He came out! Just as he dreamt he was being swished by Dame Grasshopper-out of his shell-a beautiful many-coloured moth, with silvery wings, that bore him away, ever so far, in the summer sunshine.

Matilda's N arne. Following on the controvers}' which raged last year on the above subject, It has been felt that the opinions expressed were not sufficiently unanimous to warrant so momentous a change without the approval of a representative body of Guiders. At the next Guiders' Conference arguments for and against the change will be put before the gathering, after which it is hoped to gain a consensus of opinion on which to act. Until then "Matilda" will be"Matilda."

MATILDA

Tree Nomenclature and Tradition. Some of us know the oak, elm, poplar, birch, plane, ash, beech and hornbeam-we have observed the time they come into leaf, their flowering period, and ,perhaps, all there is to observe in the appearance of the tree. You may not be familiar with these trees at all, but when you know they may be observed in the Botanical Gardens and other public gardens in Victoria, then perhaps you may chance to meet them some day, and may remember some of the information given here. I want to tell you now the history of them-how they got their names, and how in some ways they are responsible for the history of people, and the origin of words. Fit'stly let us take the oak tree. An oak tree growing under good conditions will live from nine hundred to fifteen hundred years. According to the Greeks it was the first tree that ever existed, and in their pagan days, the tree was venerated, and they believed that it was through its goodwill that all their blessings came. The Greeks' name for the oak was drys, and it gave its name to the maidens who came to dance in its shade-the dryads or nymphs. . Then we pass to England, where the tree is also a native, and it grew in great numbers, making large forests. In the days before the coming of the Romans and Christianity, Britain was governed by pagans of Celtic origin, who, like the Greeks, worshipped the oak-the Celtic name for it being derw. These oaK forests were the sacred groves of these people, under their shade they performed all their cruel sacrifices, and it was the place for religious ceremonies; also it was there that. they administered justice. The tree-Derw-gave the name to the priests who performed these ceremonies, and they came to be known !is Druids. The Celts gave place to the Anglo-Saxons and then the tree was called ac, which now gives its name to the fruit of the tree ac-corn or the corn of the ac. If you cared to look up names of towns in England, you would find that many of them have been influenced by the number of oaks growing there in olden times-such as Ac-ton-meaning Oaktown. Gradually through the centuries the word ac has changed to oak as it is known to-day. It has been said that for the first three hundred years the oak is growing, the next three hundred years it is in its 'prime, and from then on it is existing-so it takes three hundred veal'S for it to mature, a slow process; but in that time it is developing the qualities that have made it so exalted among othm' trees. The timber of other tree!! may be harder or tougher,

APRIL 1, 1933.

but there are none which combine so much the qualities of hardness, toughness, strength and durability. The botanical name for Oak is Quercus, which is derived from two Celtic words, meaning "a fine tree." We, who live in the cities, rarely see the elms at their best; in the streets they are lopp~d bac~ each winter, and are very poor specimens mdeed. But an elm, when it has grown for a centuTY and a half, is at its per~ection, and when grown without lopping it IS second only to the oak in its appearance. The botanical name for Elm is Ulmus, and both these words are derived from the Saxon word, elm or ulm. Like the oak it has given its name to a number of towns in England and on the Continent. The German town of Dim derived its nam~ from the number of elms growing there, and in England it is recorded' in the Doomsday Book "that there were no less than forty places that derived their name from the Elm." I think we all know one sort of poplar at least. The botanical name for poplar is PopuÂˇ Ius. Have you ever sat under a poplar tree when there is only a suggestion of a breeze blowing-not enough to disturb the leaves of most of the trees-and noticed that the poplar leaves keep a consta!]J; movement, and th~ sound is as the murmur of hundreds of voices? Examine the leaves and you will find that they have very long leaf-stems which vibrate wit!! the slightest breeze. From this the tree got its name. Populus is taken from palto or paipallo, which means to vibrate or to shake. Also, it was a very "popular" tree with the Romans and Greeks, and with it they lined their streets; then it was called arbor populi, or the Tree of the People. An old writer has said "It was called after 'the people,' not because it was planted in public thoroughfares, but on account of its leaves being easily agitated like the people." Surely a very scathing remark! I cannot tell you what the word "beech" for the Beech tree means, but this is an interesting point. If you are familiar with the Beech you will know how beautifully smooth is its bark. In the olden days it was the delight of people to carve their names in its smooth bark, and then to watch the size of the letter:s increase with the growth of the tree. Maybe it was on a beech-tree that Rosalind carved her initials! Later, "the wood of the beech was made to serve for the covers of books and even for use for writing words upon-so that th2 word Beech from the Saxon 'bere,' the Swedish 'bak', and the German 'Buche', came to be corrupted into 'book' in all probability." The botanical name for Beech is Fagus, which comes from phago--to eat, referring to its edible seeds. As fuel, beech wood burns very readily, and throws out a great deal of heat, so that it has been suggested that th~ word "faggots" has been derived from this tree. The Birch, botanically called Betula. has been called by Coleridge "The Lady of the Woods," and you who are familial' with it, knowing its graceful form, its lovely white trunk, its small and shining leaves, which like

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the poplar, seem in constant motion, will agree thiH IS a very suitable name. Because of these qualities it derives its name from the AngloSaxon word "beorht," which means "bright and shining." The Birch Tree has made its mark on history; we cannot read any of the old school stories, such as "Tom Brown's Schooldays" without seeing some mention of the birch-rod. If you examine the twigs of this tree, and see how extremely wiry and flexible they are, and so hard to break, you will understand why they were used for that purpose. Again, we read of the Red Indians sailing in their birch bark canoes. You will find on examination how very hard is the bark of the birch-the most durable part of the tree. The Indians would choose a fair-sized tree with good sound bark, split it down, and stitch the parts together with the fibl'ous roots of the White Spruce, and would then coat the seams with the resin from the Balm of Gilead Fir. The Plane Tree - Platanus - derives its name from the large expanse of its leaf. It was a great favourite with the Romans and Greeks, and Mr. Evelyn, of Diaty fame, has said: "These Trees the Romans first brought out of the Levant and cultivated with so much industry and cost for their stately and proud heads only, that the great orators and statesmen, Cicero and Hortensius, would exchange now and then a turn at the bar, that they migh~ have the pleasure to step to their villas and refresh their piatans, which they would often irrigate with wine instead of water." You, who know the Plane, will have noticed that it discards its bark in large patches, and as a tree breathes through the trunk as well as its leaves and stems, this is thought to be the reason why a Plane Tree will grow so much better than other trees in our cities. being able to throw off its smoke-impregnated bark and start all over again. Not many of you will ·know the Hornbeam, but it has only to be seen to be appreciatedespecially in the Autumn. One tree I am thinking of is on the Oak Lawn in the Melbourno.-! Botanical Gardens, and has glorious Autumn foliage. Epping Forest in England consists mostly of Hornbeams. . Hornbeam means Horny-Textured wood, it IS extremely hard, so that in Latin it is called "Carpinus," which comes from Carp,entumchariot. Because of the hardness of its wood, the Romans used it to make their chariots. Probably that is why the makers of the Cal'pentum were called "Carpenters." My last tree now is the Ash, or Fraxinus. J haven't been able to find .out how these namel! were deri ved, but the tree lias some interestinO' history. Through the ages the Ash has bee~ thought to have wonderful healing powers. This belief has been handed down from the Saxons. "Ash trees when young and flexible, were spvered and held open by wedges while ilis")as PrI children, stripped naked, were push ~d throug-h the apel·tures. under a persuasion that by such a process the pOOl' babes would be c~lred of their infirmity. As soon as the operatIOn was over, the tree in the suffering part ",as pla~tered with loam and carefully swathed up." If the tree healed, then the operation on

the child was thought to be scccessful, but if not, then the poor child still suffered. My auth .. ority goes on to say that when some old ash trees had recently been cut down, there were distinct traces where these apertures had been made. Knowing the history of these trees, we can look at them with a new interest, through the vision of their intimate association with the lives of our forefathers. -C.B.

ENTRY FROM A NATURE DIARY. In the current number of "The Emu" is a paragraph concerning birds' sense of pleasure, demonstrated in the Bower-birds' playgrounds, aerial acrobatics of many birds, and so on. I ~hink I have e'xperienced this in another way. When standing at my window, a few days ago, a far-away song caught my ear, tiny, clear, the ghost of a song of the blackbird, which I have not heard at all for a few weeks now. I had to strain my ears to heal' it, but it was all there, the joyous warble with all its variety of note. Beneath my window is a tangle of rose and bougainvillea in which is a blackbird's nest built last season, but deserted when we di::;~ covered it. Recently I have noticed the birds playing about it and sitting in it, and as I watched, listening to the fairy song, a male blackbird flew out. I cannot help feeling that he was enjoying the ghostly remnants of his glorious voice before it left him for the winter.

THE FIRST GAMP FIRE AT OUR CHALET. Extracts from "Council Fire." (October, 1933.) (Madame Fraulein Ida de Herrenschwand).

"W~lcome to this Chalet, you who come fro~ .far ~nd neal' ... but why are we here? . , . GUldmg IS not only ~ game . . . it is not only a rest-:-a kind of holiday ... not only the lov!' and enJoyment of nature ... What IS Guiding? For you-I do not know. For me: it is a challenge." We are here to remind each other of the essence of Guiding: the Law and the Promise' t? remembe~ its ol'igin, its beginnings; to con~ Sider w~at .It has become, and what we havt' don~ ;Vlth I~ thr~lUgh. the years. Let us not spOil It, belittle It, With artificial divisionsthere are so many bhings whi~ separate people. . J\cross the barriers of nationality race, l'el!glOn, s~cial rank, work and wealth: let l!s give a fnend!y handclasp, and not be afraid to look deep mto each other's eyes. Also, let ~s be modest, humble in the face of ~vel'-EliuSlve perfection. We are not extraordmary, and never will be; but let us at- Ieas~ be good.. brave and kind women. And IS ~ot the essence of it all, when we ha.ve promIsed to serve God, to work silently WIth our souls and our minds, to try to

1-:.:0:....-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _....;M:::.::A:..::T I L D A do more and better. ?-every day a little better and every day a little more? Why should we judge, criticise and condemn what others do? Who has appointed us our neighbour's judge? Let us put out own house in order and make our own garden blossom. That is the important thing, for we ARE responsible for our own house and our own garden. Remember the old proverb; People in glass houses should not throw stones. For if everyone tried to become better, the world itself would be better, and happiness greater, and is not that what we are aiming at-a better and happier world? "Oh, God of mankind, unknown to many, Give us the strength to live well; May we be strict with ourselves, tolerant with others; Faithful to the law we have appointed for ourselves, And faithful to the promise we have made to serve Thee."

EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF OTHER COUNTRIES. FRANCE. "At the Training College for Factory Superintendents, we were asked by the management to give a weekly lecture on Guiding, as they considered that a knowledge of our methods was a necessary complement to the training of the students." HUNGARY. "The social work of the Guides includes a workshop for unemployed Guides, where they make Guide uniforms; there is also a lending library, and an orchestra and a choir develops the musical knowledge of the guides. Every year at Christmas hampers are distributed among poor mothers, and each Group supports one poor family for the whole year. The University students look after women and girls who are tired of life, and have so far rescued 35 who attempted suicide. Two Guides have been granted awards for saving life-one rescued a child of eight from the Danube. and the other saved a woman who had hanged herself. NETHERLANDS. Service stars-To avoid any military impression we have changed our one-year star to the ivy-leaf, which we had already in our emblem. It was the Polish oak-leaf which inspired us to this change.

APRIL I, 1933.

Thinking Day. The following Companies, etc., sent subscriptions to the Thinking Day Fund ;-S.R.S. Akuna. Bendigo Packs and Companies. 1st Berwick. 1st Bruthen. 2nd Canterbury. 5th Caulfield. 2nd Elsternwick. 2nd East Malvern. 3rd East Malvern. 1st Hawthorn. 2nd Hawthorn Rangers. 3rd Hawthorn. 1st Heidelberg. Heidelberg District Rangers. 2nd Kew. 3rd Kew. 1st Melbourne. 1st Melbourne Rangers. 1st Moe. 1 st Molesworth. North Melbourne District Rangers. 1st N orthcote. 1st Noorat. 1st Pakenham. 2nd Prahran. 2nd Richmond. St. Kilda District Rangers. 1st St. Kilda. 2nd St. Kilda. 1st South Yarra. 2nd South Melbourne. 1st Stawell. 1st Tatul'a. Terang District. 1st Terang. The amount subscribed was ÂŁ6 / 16 / 8. This amount. less exchange, is being sent to England this week.

PRACTICAL WORK FOR COMMISSIONERS. CHANGE OF DATE. Miss Bush will be at the Guide Office from 10.30 till 12.30 on the third THURSDAY in each month, instead of the third WEDNESDAY, as previously arranged. M. E. BUSH, Commissioner for Training.

"THE JAMBEROOSTER." This very well produced and original record of the All Australia Camp is now on sale at the Guide Shop. It will be of interest and amusement to campers and others, and is well worth the moderate cost, 1/3, and 1/Âˇt post free.

REGISTRATIONS AND WARRANTS. Registration. Ranger Company-3rd Richmond. Warrant. Brown Owl-1st Hastings-Miss E. Fricke.

APRIL 1, 1933.

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TRAINING CLASSES. The Second Course of Brownie Training will begin on THURSDAY, 27th April, 1933, at the Guide Office at 7.45 p.m. The Third course of Brownie Training will begin on THURSDAY, 28th June, 1933. The Second Course of Guide Training began on Thursday, 30th March, in charge of Miss H. M. Dunn. The Third Course will begin on FRIDAY, 9tb June, in charge of Miss G. H. Swinburne. The next Course of Ranger Training will be held in June or July. FIRST-CLASS BADGE WORK. The second class of the Course of practical work for First Class Test will be held on SATURDAY, 22nd April, 1933, in the University Grounds, through the courtesy of the Registrar. The sections for practice will be>: Judging heights and distances, out-of-doors, and compass directions. The third class of the series will be held on THURSDA Y, 22nd June, at the Guide Office, at 8 p.m., the programme comprising Ceremonial and Drill. The fourth class will be held on THURSDAY, 20th July, in the form of Group Discussions, chiefly on Company Management.

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TRAINING WEEKS. A Training Week for Guiders and prospective Guiders (over 18 years of age) will be held at Tulse Hill, Coleraine, by the courtesy of Mrs. Arthur Corney, from Monday, 22nd May, to Monday, 29th May, 1933, inclusive. This Week is primarily for Guiders of the surrounding districts. Guidel'-in-charge: Miss M. Hoff· meyer. Fee: 30 / -. Applications, accompanied by a deposit of 5/- (envelope endorsed "Training Week"), should be sent in writing to the Secretary, Training Department, at the Guide Office, not later than 22nd April. The 28th Victorian Training Week (for Guiders and prospective Guiders over 18 yeal'S of age) will be held from Tuesday, 16th May, to Wednesday, 24th May, inclusive. Guider-inCharge: Miss G. H. Swinburne. Fee 30 / -. The place will be announced later. Applications, accompanied by a deposit of 5/- and envelope endorsed "Training Week," should be sent in writing to the Secretary, Training Department. at the Guide Office, to reach her not latel' than 22nd April. When applying for either Week, will Guiders please state whether they have attended a Training Week previously. Deposits will not be refunded unless withdrawal of application is made a fortnight before the beginning of either Week.

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APRIL 1, 1933.

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