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APRIL, 1934.
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April , 1934.
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Volume X.
APRIL, 1934.
Number Ten.
THOUGHTS ON MODERN DRAMA. We look back to Shakespeare and the' spacious days of great Elizabeth as a period of adventure and achievement in which we would love to have shared, but are possibly unawal'e that, according to competent authorities, our own time is even richer in great dramatic work. And we are, whether we realise it or not, being trained to appreciate drama. Some of us act plays and all of us go to see them. Do we know when a play is good, bad or indifferent? Do we know why we should recommend one rather than another? We say "You must go to 'The Calendar.' It's too exciting for words!' Or to "Cavalcade"-"I cried and cried," or to "Rookery Nook"-"You won't be able to stop laughing." Aristotle who lived a very long time ago, said that plays purge us of pity and terror. All the emotion that we have no outlet for at work ;s poured out on the heroes and heroines of the screen, and we go back to ordinary life the next day feeling that we have had the excitement and romance so lacking in our humdrum jobs. The words "Drama" and "Dramatic" are often used in other connections to describe the vivid and arresting, so we may take it that the play which does not carry us out of ourselves is scarcely worthy the name. The extent of its power to ,.carry us away, too, is one way of measuring its greatness. But there are others. The ideas that come to us when we are greatly moved pre the ones that remain with us, and so whether we like it or not tend to shape our lives. Now the drama of to-day is often referred to as the drama of ideas, for althoug-h not all modern plays are notable for thought, the Renaissance in modern drama coincides with the introduction of new topics by the Norwegian dramatist, Henrik Ibsen. For the greater part of the nineteenth century the only idea on the stage had been the eternal triangle, seen through French eyes, but Ibsen seemed to think that such subjects as disease, municipal politics, and women's freedom were all worth writing about, and his disciples in England followed his example. George Bernard Shaw, indeed, who has compared himself to Shakespeare, only writes plays to force people to think. And wt>at problf'ms he puts before them! Women's Rights in "Candida," slums in "Widowers' Houses," tainted money in "Major Barbara." and "Doctor's Dilemma," are but a few of his problem plays.
Major Barbara, an officer in the Salvation Army, is offerea a huge fortune made out of the sale of munitions. Should she take it? The doctor can cure one man only of a particular disease. He has to make his choice between a friend of his boyhood, who is a most unselfish slum doctor, and a worthless though gifted artist, whose beautiful wife pleads for him. Which shall he save ? "Major Barbara" was my own first experience of Shaw, and I shall never forget it. Everything was wrong according to my narrow ideas, and yet I was held' from start to finish. U sing the stage as a rriedium for ideas had not lessened its power. Passion is not confined to love-making, as anyone who saw "St. Joan" two years ago can testify'. Even in cold print the chaplain's remorse after seeing "Joan" burn must touch readers: "I let them do it! If I had known I would have torn her from their hands. You don't know: you haven't seen: it is so easy to talk wren you don't know. You ma~l'Qen yourseif with words; you damn ¡ yourself because it feels grand to throw oil" on the flaming hell of your own temper. But when it is brought home to you; when you see. the thing you have done; when it is blindirlg your eyes, stifling your nostrils, tearing your heart, then-thenlfalling on his knees) O'. God, take away this sight from me! 0 Christ,: deliver me from this fire that is consuming rrie! She cried to Thee in the midst of it. Jesus! Jesus'! Jesus! She is in Thy bosom, and I am in hell for evermore!" Nothing, perhaps, unless it was Galsworthy's "Skin Game," has brought home' to me so forcibly the iniquity of nursing a, grievance, of failing to live in love and chal'ity with my fellow-men and women. Unlike Shaw, who ridicules our customs and conventions, Galsworthy puts the case for each side as fairly as possible. In "Strife" the leader of the strikers and the leader of the employers, both according to their lights and their wives, do the same. Yet, in the end, When the emnloyees go back On the terms which were offered at the beginning, the only result of all the struggle is that the two best men, the leaders on each side, are broken, and a woman. the striker's' wife. is dead. The futility of the whole thing is brohght home to the audience. "Loyalties" has the same message. Each is loyal to hi1i caste, hi$ race 01'
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MATILDA.
his colleague. They have all kept faith ac·· cording to their narrow views. But it is not enough. Milne seems to share Galsworthy's disillusioned outlook, though his light and graceful style, his happy, whimsical character, drawing and turn for humorous situations, charm us into forgetting that in almost every play the whole thing turns out to be a lot of pother about nothing. "The Truth about Blayds" is supposed to be his best work, but "Mr. Pym Passes By," "The Dovel' Road" and "Success" cannot fail t o please either readers or audience. The lightness of Milne's plays, their wit and unexpected situations, should make us group him with the more conventional playwrights rather than with Shaw or Galsworthy, who use the stage as a pulpit. Pinero, Oscar Wilde, Henry Arthur Jones and, at the present day, Somerset Maugham, have given us comedies of manners which will all bear comparison with Sheridan's plays. The scintillating wit of Maugham's dialogue, the really funny situations in his lighter plays, such as "Mrs. Dot" and "Home and Beauty" cannot blind us to his l'nordant cynicism ~11 " Our Betters," or to his unmitigated pessimism in " For Services Rendered." Noel Coward has the same cynical detachment, but his versatility and extraordinary skill in playing on the emotions of an audienc~ combined with his stage sense and power of reversing a situation, make one think of genius, though the comparative triviality of Sl) many of his cleverest effects makes one hesitate to call him great. Even in "Cavalcade" "Those Twentieth Century Blues" seem more real than the toast to England at the end, and in "Bitter-Sweet" the modern answer to a girl's offer of devotion is "Not on your life. My God! What a tune!" Futility and boredom reach a point almost of despair in one of his last plays, "Post Mortem," in which the O"ead soldier who find., himself alive again at the present day prefer., suicide to life as it is at present. It is pleasant to think that Bernard Shaw, old as he is, and disillusioned as he seems to be in "The Apple Cart," where the King hag only to hint at resigning and entering the House of Commons to bring the Labor Cabinet to his feet, can still breathe such hope and faith in the spirit of Man that every audience that hears it sits as under a spell. In spite of propaganda, the theatre is still a place of magic. and Barrie perhaps more than any other olaywright has the power of the enchanter. There- are very few dry eyes in an audience watching Peter Pan, and even the phlel!'matic Enl1;lishman will confess to a belief in fairies rather than let Tink-a-Dell die. Barrie, too. however. seems to feel that all is not riq-ht. t.hat disaster and remorse dog those like Mary 'Rose. who cannot face their respo~ sibilities; that the fault Dear Brutus is not , 11 our star but in ourselves; that like cancer the spot that spoils 01U' sweetest human relations, as in "The Wall," was there from the beginnin~, but he also makes us realise what hum or lind commc)n-$ense clln OQ when l' siding in the
April, 1934.
Maggie Shands and Cinderellas and Old Ladies of the world. Plays of the day widen our outlook, give us new ideas, make some of us see visions, and others dream dreams. "Art was given for that; God uses us to help each other so, Lending our minds out." - I. D. MARSHALL
Handcraft Exhibition. - And that is the last time you will see those words, I hope, for we are going to build a Village! Yes, with Shops and Stores of all shapes and sizes, and wonderful wares to seW The new plan, too, i:; for Rangers and Guides to !!ombine their efforts and all work together, for we found Guides longing to help in th~ Camp House Furnishing Scheme, and Rangers simply pining to cobble in the Shoe Shop. Brownies are to have a "Surprise Shop," to sell lots of exciting things, like the Ranger and Guide "Opportunity Shop," and if any articl·; is judged suitable for either of the shops, or from any Section, it may be chosen for the Guide Camp House. Just imagine the thrill of seeing something you helped to make there, but-be careful! Don't start until you find out from Miss Littlejohn (Convener of the Camp House Furnishing Committee) some more details, because one simply couldn't put a pink cushion in an orange sitting room, or evea an orange rug in a beautiful pink bedroom. Did you k"TloW that each District is limited to two Sections of the list? but may, of course, wOl'k only for one, or even just for the Opportunity Shop! So really, Guiders, it is a very elastic, 0" should I say plastic! Village, if you are still a very small district with a few new Companies you may wish only to make things for th~ "Opportunity Shop," or join with several Districts in a "Toyshop," etc., our great object is to make money! so everything possible will be for sale. The new date, the beginning of September) will coincide with all school holidays, so we will be sure of plenty of willing workers. "THE VILLAGE ARCHITECT."
GUIDE HOUSE. PROGRESS REPORT. Subscribers. Amount. Miss A. Embling .. .. .. .. .. .. £2 2 0 1st Surrey Hills Rangers .. 100 2nd Canterbury Guides .. o 10 0 1st Apollo Guides . . .. .. .. .. .. o 10 0 1st and 4th Bendigo Camp . . .. .. o 6 0 Camberwell North District .... 050 Total, £324 / 15 / 6. THINKING DAY . Subscriptions .. . . ., .. .. £3 7 2 "Rampant activity does not always mean progression ... the stimulant of I' ush may finally produce stupefaction, and flying feet carry one over all the great truths of life." (Quoted by Mrs. Greenlees, in "The Gl,Iider"
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The Marseillaise. Some songs in the world's history begin locally, and finally outgrow their surroundings, extEnding beyond the borders of the country where they were born, to become the property of all nations. "Auld J;,ang Syne," originally a Scottish folk-song, had its words embellishe(~ by Burns, and became the voice of friendship and loyalty the world over. Similary, a song composed fo r a single Army Corps is now ri universal cry of liberty in patriotic struggles everywhere. It was not intended for the patriots of Malseilles. It was composed early in the Revulution before France had .completely lost her head;' when she strove only for the rights Jf man and appeared as the foe of all tyranny. Rouget de L'lsle was in Strasbourg, as the army of the Lower Rhine was making ready to depart for war. Moved by the stirring events around him, on the eve of the 23rtl April, 1792, he wrote the words and music of the great liberty hymn. They came as an inspiration. The song was first intended for the Army Corps of the Lower Rhine. These warriors, being a paid army, were not greatly moved by it, and for a time it lay in the background. Later, as events hastened towards their dramatic climax, Barbaroux, who was deputy for Marseilles in Paris, sent an appeal to his own city for "six hundred men who know how to die!" His stirring appeal struck home, and the men volunteered at once. These started on a long weary march to Paris, taking with them the cumbrous weapons of their warfare. There had been a civic banquet in Marseille5 to give them Godspeed. At this banquet the song composed for the army of the Lower Rhine was sung. Very different was its reception from that accorded it by the professional soldiers. It struck to their hearts at once, and became the song of the battalion. Through half France they sang it as they marchen; and sang it in Paris with a fervour which arouse:! the Parisians to a frenzy of patriotism. Less than a fortnight later it received its baptism of blood; and its strains mingled with the shouts of the dying. After this the scum of France rose; and the Revolution went mad. The patriotic hymn was discarded by the mob for cheaper songs of a more popular type. But it still stood as the chosen song of the just and fair-minded men who loved liberty without committing crimes and atrocities in her name. The author, Rouget de L'Isle, wrote other patriotic songs for various causes; but never did his inspiration lead him to greater heights. He was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror, but was later released and granted a . pension in l"~cognition of his service to his country. -M.K (Watch for "The Star-Spangled Banner" in May issue.)
For the Guide Camp House. A MARKET STALL. The Lone Guides and Rangers are planning to hold a Market Stall on 5th May. Every Lone will send something for thc Stall. Vegetables, jam, poultry and dairy produce will be sold. ORDERS TAKEN. Apply to any Lone Guider or the Commissioncf for Lones. The Stall will be situated at "Congleton," St. Kilda Road, through the courtesy of Mrs. Broadhurst. ' Read "Matilda" next month for further information.
Fares for the Centenary Guide Celebrations. To enable Guides from all parts of Victoria to attend the Rally, the Railways Commissioners for Victoria have very generously agreed to the following schedule of l"educed rail fares:(a) From Metropolitan Stations to Frankston : Second class return tickets to and from Frankston obtainable by Guides in uniform and Guiders accompanying them at the following fares: Melbourne and intermediate stations to and from Frankston . , '. " Under 18-1/Over 18, and Guiders-Illi From any suburban station not on the direct line to Frankston , . . . Under 18-1/6 Over 18, and Guiders-2t:l These second class return , tickets will be obtainable from 26th December to 1st January inclusive, available for return till January 15: (b) From country stations to ' Melbourne OtFrankston: Gt1id ~!'{ in l ' uifol'l11
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50 Miles 3 / 2 4/9 7 / f) 75 Miles 4 / 2 6/ 3 11 / 3 100 Miles 5/ 7/6 15 / Parents who do not accompany Guides will be able to take advantage. of the liberal fare reductions available to the general public at that particular time. S. M. CAMERON, . Convener Transport Sub-Committee.
6
ltfATILDA
Poplars. Poplars are amongst our best-known deciduous trees. As thel'e are several varieties, one at least should be known to everybody. The three most common types of poplars are the silver (or white), the Lombardy and the golden. The silver receives its name from the silvery appearance of the underside of the leaf. The bark of the branches is very clean-looking, and the white limbs of this variety are a distinguishing feature in winter, when the tree is bare. The _trunks become rough with persistent bark as they get old. These characteristics may be\vell noted in the splendid avenue of silver p1>plars along the centre portion of St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. The long, flexible stalks of- the poplars enable the leaves to adjust 1i~emselves rapidly to sudden changes in the weather. In this way the leaves are saved from oe1hg damaged by wind. The slightest breeze, " '"therefore, moves poplar leaves, hence the saying: "to tremble like an aspen," for an aspen is a kind of poplar, whose leaves are seldom -Still. With the approach of autumn the silver poplars turn bright yellow. This is also the case with the tall Lombardy poplars, those sentinel-like trees which can be recognised from .qujte a distance. Sometime;; they attain a height of 100 feet. The branches Df this variety, j'nstead of growing horizontally, assume an almost vertical position, and lie close to the tall "tapering trunk in the samt! way that the ribs of an umbrella close up to the stick. Lombardy poplars adorn many a town garden throughout the year, but they are seen to best advantage in the country in autumn. Then they make a pleasing contrast against the sombre-hued eucalypts, rising like Il.'olden towers about the landscape. Anyone who travels in the "a utumn through Victoria's countryside must be impressed with the glory of the Lombardy poplars in their brilliant dress, and one is grateful to the early settlers who planted them. A particularly fine avenue of Lombardy poplars may be seen near New Norfolk, Tasmania, bordering the main road along the picturesque river Derwent. It stretches for quite a mile, tree touching tree, in a magnificent green wall, following the natural curve of the river. Imagine its beauty when the leaves turn their autumnal color. The last variety. -the golden poplar, is seen more in town gardens. It refuses to grow in the hills. This tree is being much used for street planting in new suburbs. Its foliage is a bright golden green, intensified by the smooth and shining texture of the leaves, which have a continuous movement and give the appearance of "twinkling." In the autumn the leave~ turn a rich goldem hue and the trees become even more handsome. While only attaining half the height of the other poplars, this va\'-
April, 1934.
iety has compensation in its thick and bush~' foliage. The flowers of the poplar are called catkins, and come in the spring before the leaves appear (the leaf buds, by the way, are sharp and pointed). These catkins are entirely willd fertilised, and therefore they have no nectaries or scent. A poplar tree is either wholly male or wholly female, and bears either male or fen:ale flowers, but never both. These polleli flowers and seedbox flowers when fully grown consist of a long drooping axis or stem arounri which arranged in spirals are endless minute flowers, more densely set together in the mal l) than the female. When the small seeds with their silky hairs are being scattered, a poplar tree will sometimes cover a roadway as with a fall of snow. The poplar tree has quite a history. W e read of the Greeks and Romans being very fond of it, and using it in their streets as we do to-day. The botanical name then was arbol' populi, the Latin for "tree of the people."-J.H.
What to Look for in April. The parson's bands orchid; Shining purple fruits of t he Appleberry, li native creeper; Ripening and falling of chestnuts, walnuts and pomegranates; Turning color and falling of autumn leave::;, ex. elm, oak, plane, poplar, chestnut, etc. Winged seeds of Sycamore tree; Shedding of bark by plane tree, also hollow end of leaf stalk, covering next season's bud; Appearance in town of bush birds-ex. flame and scarlet robin, bell-magpie, grey thrush, ground thrush, gang-gang cockatoo, and rufous fantail (both rare); Passage of cuckoos on way north; sad trill of fantailed cuckoo; Disappearance of rufous fantail, also robins, from mountain gullies; Moulting of male blue wrens. Some will not get blue plumage until August; Passing overhead of late flocks of swifts; Migration of wading birds, ex. plovers, dotterels. and snipe. Subdued musical song of silver-eye, often very like early thrush's song; First strains of introduced song-thrush at end of April; Night calls of moving birds, ex. black swans and plovers; Seoaration into different flocks of male and female birds, px. robins, whistlers; Re-aopearance of the following constellations -Serpens (the Seroent). Libra (the Scales ), and Scorpio (the Scorpion) .
NATURE QUESTIONS.
1.-Has Australia any native wolves? 2.-Why is our Cape Barren goose in danger of extinction? a.-What Australian tree is sometimes called the myrtle? 4.-Why is the planet Venus often referred to as the "evening" or "morning" star? 5.- Why are our emu and cassowary so interesting to scientists? 6.- What is "old man's beard"? (Answers published next month). -J.H.
April, 1~34.
MATILDA
"A smile is just as easy an athletic exercise as a frown, but it is a whole lot more becoming."
Courtesy. "Courtesy oils the wheels of life!" Yes! But sometimes the oil runs out! What then, you might say, the wheels will still go round'! Yes! But not nearly so smoothly and soon with a nasty grating sound. Oil in the Pack! What for? Isn't there quit:! enough to do without that? Yes! !3ut what impression does it make on a B~'owme, a Pack without oil? What impresslOn does the Brownie give, who comes from a Pack w~ere there is no time to oil the wheels of Pack life? Something is lacking, something does not run smoothly, somewhere there is a little grating sound. A Brown Owl went to visit a Pack one day. As she walked towards the Hall she saw somo Brownies watching her approach. She waved to them and not one of them waved back. As she reached the Hall some of the Brownies started to laugh and all ran inside while the visitor stood in the doorway waiting for Brown Owl to arrive. The meeting ended in a party, and everyone sat round a large table. Had she been a dog or a cat the Brownies on either side would have taken far more notice of her. It was natural, she was but a stranger to them. They neither knew nor cared much who she was and the one or two advances toward3 frie~dliness which she tried to make were met not too politely, and most casually. It was an attractive Pack meeting, and an elaborate Party, but what a ~ifferent fe~ling "inside" if there had been a httle more OIl! Another time Brown Owl arrived at a suburban station on her way to a Pack. Two Brownies stood waiting: "Brown Owl said we could come and meet you," they said, each taking hold of one hand and leading her on. N ,) further introduction was made, she was left to find out their names and the conversation wasn't very fluent, but the feeling "inside" was so nice, so smooth. The meeting was what one might call very ordinary and rather dull to an onlooker, but the atmosphere was friendly and happy, and she noticed several instances of genuine unrehearsed thoughtfulness. She could picture the Brownies in their homes and in the future. They enjoyed being little hostesses as much as
she enjoyed being their guest; there was no "fuss"-but the wheels of life were oiled! -A.E.F.P.
SUGGESTION FOR PACK MEETING. As April 23rd is St. George's Day, the following idea for a meeting coul.d be use~ n~ar that day, and so bring home Its real slgmficante to the Pack. Firstly, the life story of St. George is told to the Brownies in Pow-wow, and an excellent version of this was given in the January issue of the "Guider" this year. . This story can then be a~ted. and wIth th: addition of a little preparatlOn In the way 01 paper caps a~d cardboard. ~words can be made most interestmg and excItIng. One end of the Hall can be Cappadocia and the other Palestine, each bearing a large and clear nameplate. . The house in Cappadocia can be very easily staged, merely being chalked .on the floor .01' made with chairs. The two biggest Brownies are Father and Mother respectively, and the smallest the little boy George. A bonnet and long coat for the Mother and a bed for Father is all the property necessary here. Then the Father dies, the journey to Palestine is taken on foot, and extra Brownies can be utilised as servants carrying bundles. Another house is necessary at Palestine, and as George grows up, bigger children take his part. On entering the King's service, he L; equipped with a sword and helme~ made out of cardboard and newspaper respectIvely. The King needs a throne and a gold crown, and is surrounderl by his men-at-arm.s wear:ing the equivalent to St. George, who, as p,e rises in rank, drills his men and has different ~ol ored paper sashes placed on him, over left shoulder and under right arm, by th!! King. The Christians, distinguished by tunics made of a straight piece of newspaper with _a hole cut in the centre for their heads to go tlirough. and kept in place by their Brownie belts, are killp.d by the soldiers. When this comes to the ears of St. George, he resigns from the service of the King, pu~s off his sword and helmet and professes hIs faith. The King tries to bribe him to renounce his faith, but St. George remains firm. He is then beheaded. -V.H.
April, 1934.
MATILDA.
8
Some Nature Handcrafts. 1. Acorns are plentiful just now so here is something you can make which, though it may look very fierce, will ' be really perfectly harmless. Collect a handful of acorn cups and then grade them according to size----the big ones first and the little ones last. Then bore a hole through each cup, making the hole at the point where the stalk grows. Now thread a piece of tough fine sh'in~ through the cups, placing them one outside the other, beginning at the largest and workin\?: along to the smallest, when the tail is reached. All must be put on the same way. For the snake's head, fit an acorn in the first cup and give it a touch of glue to hold it in position. You now have a creepy crawly snake with a spotted back and if you draw a face on the acorn, it will have a very lifelike appearance. 2. Here is a magic wood you can make, perhaps the same wood of the Brownie story. Get a nice large bowl, or soup plate will d:>, not a deep one, but quite a shallow one. Fill the bowl or soup plate with earth or pebbles and cover it with moss. Plant inside, amongst the moss, some acorns, and presently you yvill find they will grow into miniature trees ant! look ever so pretty. If after the acorns have grown you put a tiny toadstool in the centre and perhaps a tiny piece of glass to represent a pool, you will have the real Brownie wood. 3. Melons are "in" just now, so ask the Brownies to collect the seeds for you, then dry them. Dye them all one color or different shades and thread them through the centre with a piece of strong cotton. To make a variety, you could thread them with a bead between each seed or they can be done with a melon seed and apple pip alternately . These make extremely attractive necklaces. M.E.H.
Brownie Handcraft Exhibition. BROWN OWLS!! The entries for the Handcraft Exhibition have to be in by JULY 1st! So it is high time you were all working hard for it. You will have all received your notices by this and know that the Brownies are doing a scene from the well-known children's book, "Dot and the Kangaroo." In case you do not know the book very well, this is briefly what it will look like. The background will be a painted screen (where are our Brown Owl artists?)- depicting a group of blackfellows around a campfire among the trees with the setting sun in the distance. The foreground will be a bush scene with Dot and the Kangaroo and all her animal friends gazing across a sandy plain to the blackfellows in the distance. Almost every Australian animal and bird will be represented, together with wild flowers of every hue to add colour to the scene. In addition there will be an Old Curiosity Shop where all handcrafts will be for salt', which means that we shall need more tha!l
what is necessary for the Exhibition. So get to work and see what your Packs can do. Entries for the Old Curiosity Shop need not be in till August 1st, but everything for the Exhibition must be in by July 1st. All enquiires may be made to MISS N. THEWLIS, 401 Dandenong Road "!.rmadale, S.E.3.
BROWNIE GUIDERS!!! Be sure to keep the first WEDNESDAY evening in EACH MONTH free ! A series of interesting talks on all sorts of subjects will be held at Headqua_¡ters. The first evening will be on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4th, at 8 p.m., when Miss Swinburne will speak on "Local Colour-Australian ideas for Brownies." We want every Brown Owl to be present. Tawny too!
PLEASE NOTE. The proposed entel¡tainment for the Brownie Library to be held on April 14th will have t :> be postponed owing to the Handcraft Exhibition and Centenary plans. -A.B.
The FIRST Extension Camp. A house, large-verandah-ed, seven tents and a "Musca" belonging to Commandant (we can't call it a tent!) the blue sea and sky, and campers varying in number from 20 to 30these were the ingredients of the first Extension Camp, held at Dr; Laurie's house, Mt. Eliza, in January, under our Commissioner, Miss A. McA. Campbell. What did we do? Well, you might ask what didn't we do! Archery (can you hit an apple with a bow and arrow at 50 paces? )-swimming, pony and pnaeton rides, a thrilling visit to Mr. Mann's bird sanctuary, meals on the beach, campfires and singsongs--these were some of the happenings that made camp just "too-too-ish" for words! In fact, "super," as we all put it. Of course, many other excitements were ours-many of us had never camped in real tents before, and looking after guy lines, making our beds camp fashion, constructing screening for grease-pits and eats-in fact, all the fun and thrill of camping-these were very real and joyous experiences for us. Then there was the memorable campfire with 1st Mount Eliza Guides at the Orthopoedic Hospital. Their captain, Mrs. Gavan Duffy, (Continued on Page 12).
April, 1934.
MAT I L D A.
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CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Matilda, Thank you for quoting in your March volume cheering messages from our Big Chief. The other day I took the seed of the hollyhock along to Company meeting, and for the first time not one Guide could name or recognidc the little seed lying on the palm of my hand. Spontaneollsly I said: "Why don't you try to catch me, some day?" Several pairs of eyes glittered and I wondered: "Oh! my! Captain! Should you have said that?" To-day I read with relief: "The captain should be a leader rather than a teacher; she need not have exhaustive knowledge! She must also make certain effort to help them with suggestions." Again: "Something of interest may be any detail, however small. The Guide is much more likely to be interested in something she has discovered herself." Wise B.P. Talking of seeds, has any Guider introduced the common garden blue lupin to the Company? I am speaking more to those who inVite these friends to live with them. In our Guide Garden at the Kipsie we plant a seed, meanwhile securing one or two specimens to a piece of cardboard under a piece of cellophane so kindly provided upon most sweet boxes and many groceries. As leaf, flower, etc., come along in turn they are mounted similarly. Now every Guide loved the lupin seed, so glistening and solid to handle- most girls wished they could make necklaces immediately. The acquaintanceship ripened happily. Only an obstinately stupid lass could fail to recognise tne fat, comfortable-looking fhst leaves, or thrill to watch the opening fan wise of their soft green system. Before this we had been silly enough to try Lobelia in a big- bed, and fret ourselves ove ... the similarity between it and at least six "weeds"! Next in favour for good hardy friendship we would place the Nasturtium, especially as that leaf is so unusual in its balance upon its stem. Meanwhile, the flowers have not withered under the cellophane, and we rejoice in the beginning of quite an attractive form of preserving our new friends. This month-February- we fed an Emperor Caterpillar and watched him turn in for the winter, reassuring ourselves from the pages of Mrs. Gillies that all was in order. 28 / 2/ 34. . MONBULK. Dear Editor, Just a few words about the forthcoming .Tamboree. On reading last week's "Argus" Junior I noticed that special Esperanto classes are being formed for the benefit of Scouters and Rovers here. Esperanto, as very few peOPle seem to realise, has become well established in nearly every country. and is now Ilsed quite successfullv by many travellers. One has only to go to the Melbourne Esperanto Club and meet the varietv of Continental visitors there to realise just how far Esneranto HAS progrPRsed. even in our own city. The language itsplf is very easy. and anyone of average intellil!'ence would be able to converse in a very little while. The grammar section i. almos child's play when compared
with our own complicated and irregular English, and I'm sure with nine months' training (i.e., until our sister Guides come to Australia) everyone would be very competent to carry 011 wherever they were needed. Also, I'm sure that teachers would not be very hard to obtain, as all members of tha club are always eager to further the good cause. One reason for the slower progress of the language out here is that we have, comparatively speaking, very few people who cannot speak English. And, of course, the "White Australia" Policy has something to do with it also. These obstacles are counter-acted, however, by correspondence. You all have known, at some time or other, the wonderful thrill of receiving a letter from a pen-friend in, say, India or England. How much more exciting to receive a letter from someone in -Esperanto! Perhaps a generi11 Esperanto Club could be formed at H.Q.? Or one Ranger or Guider represent each Company. Has anyone any suggestions? Let me quote a letter published in the Feoruary Guider:"Dear Editor, "With reference to the language difficulty during the Baltic cruise, suggested by Mr ~ . Kerr in her book review in the Novembe!' 'Guider,' would it not be easier if all Guides and Scouts learnt Esperanto? This is simple and interesting, and then all could converse together as sisters and brothers, without that language difficulty. Yours, etc., "Nellie Wilford:' That it would seem was the original idea of Dr. Zamenhof when he first started his work. The story of the origin is very interesting and is well worth reading. In fact, one has only to read a very little about it before one is gl'ipped by the enormous possibilities of a universal language universally used! It is also interesting to note that some countries have compelled their policemen to learn Esperanto. The Esperanto badge is a dark green five-pointed star, and is worn as an armlet by these policemen when on duty. So if you're stranded in a foreign country, armed only with the knowledge of Esperanto, keep your eyes open for the Esperanto Star and all will be well. And this brings to mind another idea! Wouldn't it be grand if all people acting as policemen at our "Village" during the Camp House Effort could converse in Esperanto! There's just myriads of suggestions for learning Esperanto, and then again, there's the Interpreter's Badge. Just how many of us would love to have that! So here's hoping something will materialiSt;! out of a suggestion. What more could we hope for than to carry out our motto! And in "Being Prepared" to meet the language difficulty are Wp not opening' up a field for service? Yours sincerely, ESME MOORE. "Would-be Esperantist." P.S.-It is interesting to note that when Zamenhof first published his ideas about Esperanto he signed himself Dr. Esperanto, which means "one who hopes," the wOl'd being taken from "Esperi"-to hope.
10
MATILDA.
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Dear Matilda, I have been asked to draw the attention of your readers to the note following rule, 3 in "Rules and Policy." Although I am sure no Guider would be guilty of forcing, or even encouraging a child to attend a Church parade other than at the church to which she belongs, knowing also that the child would thereby be breaking a rule of her church, yet some of us I am afraid do not realise that "it is our duty as Guiders" to help our small Guides and Brownies "to scrupulously respect this rule." Surely it is up to each of us to help every child in our companies and packs to carry out her First Promise in the way she has been taught. A. McARTHUR CAMPBELL. Dear Matilda, Opportunities for Ranger Service are many, but Ranger Guiders may not know of a job which is necessary to the working of the Post Guide Companies, and which requires more Ranger helpers at present. Owing to the cost of duplicating, some companies type copies of the Company Letter, and any Ranger typist who would be willing to undertake to type even a small amount each month would win the gratitude of the Extension Branch. Rangers with access to H.Q. would make it easier for collecting copy, but anyone available is asked to get in touch with Miss K. Smith, c / o. Guiders' Club, H.Q. Urgent and important. Thank you. K.S.
Matilda Knows-Did YOU? 1. That there are 1,099,210 Guides in coun-
tries belonging to the World Association? 2. That the total progeny of one fly in one summer is 2,080,320? 3. That the term Pow-wow comes from the North American Indians? 4. That the physical life centre in man is shaken to the innermost depths by hearty laughter, which sends new tides of life and strength through the body, thus strengthening the health of the individual? (Now then, what about the .8th) ? 5. That a camel's hind legs WIll reach anywhere-over his head, round his chest and on to his back; and that he can even shoot them out when lying down? That his neck is of the same pliancy, and that he can with equal ease chew the root of his tail or lay the top of nis head on his hump?
Cooking Class. For COOK BADGE-Guide and Ranger. For Guides and Rangers. Miss Elsie Armstrong, Diploma of D~mes tic Science has very kindly offered to gIVe a series of demonstrations covering the sylla¡ bus for the COOK Badge (both Guide ami Ranger) for any Guiders and Rangers Whll would like to attend. The SIX CLASSES will, through the courtesy of the Head Mistress, be held at t h.e Col~ lingwood Girls' School, Vere. Street (8 mmut~" by rail to Collingwood. statIOn, thence 5 mmutes' walk; about 2 mInutes walk from John-
April, 1934.
stone Street tram; about 9 minutes' walk from Victoria Parade tram). The school is near the Collingwood Town Hall. The demonstrations would be from 7.45 to 10 p .m., and there would be a nominal fee of about 3d. each to cover expenses. The first three classes will deal with the knowledge required for the GUIDE Cook badge; the other three classes will cover t he work for the RANGER Cook badge. Those wishing to prepare for the RANGER badge should attend all six lectures; those who arp. preparing for the GUIDE badge may attend the others. if they wish. The programme is as follows: Monday9th April-Frying, boiling, grilling, stewing . 16th " - Pastry. 23rd" -Vegetables and Salads. 30th " -Scones and Bread. 7th May -Frying, stewing, boiling, grilling. 14th " - Re-heating; miscellaneous. It is hoped t hat the numbers applying to attend t his course will justify Miss Armstrong giving up her time; and all GUIDERS and RANGERS wishing to attend are asked to send their names to Miss Barfus at the Guide Office at once, s.o that the necesasry anangements can be made in good time.
Executive Committee Meeting. [Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Executive Committee, held on 21st Feb.] Present: Lady Chauvel, Mrs. Edmonston, Mrs. Littlejohn, Mrs. Faulkner, Misses Bush, Cameron, Purnell and the Secretary. It was decided(a) To form a general Centenary Committee of two members from each sub-committee, the committee to meet monthly. (b) That arrangements should be made to accommodate during the Guide and Scout Week as many Victorian Country Guides as possible, as well as Guides from Overseas and ether States. The following agreed to be Conveners of th~ various sub-Committees: Transport--Miss S. C. Cameron; Camping-Miss E. H. Purnell; . Rally-Miss M. E. Bush (Ground Section), Miss E. E. Moran (Programme); Scout Hospital-Miss G. M. Wilson; Guide Camp House-Mrs. Norman Brookes; Interior Decorating and Furnishing-Mrs. E. Littlejohn; Brownies-Miss A. Paling; Publicity-Mrs. F. W. Faulkner; Hospitality-Miss S. H. Irving; V.A.D.-Miss A. Campbell. The resignation of Mrs. Littlejohn as Commissioner for Equipment was accepted .with -regret. Miss Clara Broadhurst was appomted in her place. It was reported that Miss Olive Kelso King (N.S.W.) is now Federal Secr~tary. . Financial and routine busmess was d1.3cussed. E. E. MORAN, Act. State Secretary,
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April, 1934.
International Trainings at "Our Chalet." Two International Training Courses will be held at Our Chalet, Adelboden, Switzerland, in 1934, as follows: First International Brownie TrainingJune 4th to June 15th. Third International General Training-June 17th to June 28th. Trainers. Brownie Training - Mademoiselle Sainte Claire Deville of France and Miss Chilton Thomas, of Great Britain. General Training: Miss Agnes Maynard, of Great Britain, Madame Walther, of France, and Miss Rita Bungenberg de Jong, ot The Netherlands. An application form and full particulars concerning both these training courses can be had on application to the Director of the World Bureau, 17 Buckingham Palace Road. London, S.W .l, E ngland. The booking and training fee, amounting to £1, should be sent to the World Bureau with the application form. The booking fee (Swiss Frs. 5.00) will be deducted from the usual charges for board and lodging at Our Chalet, which are as fol· lows: Swiss Frs. Hay bag in dormitory . . 2.50 per head per day Camp bed in room for 7-3.50 " " Bed in room for 3 or 5--4.00 Single Room 5.00 " " " " Only 30 trainees can be accepted for each Course. and applications should therefore be made early. Applicants for the Third International Training who attended either the First or Second International Train ing will have their name:> put on a Waiting List.
Training. Guiders who have not previously attended a Training Class at Headquarters must bring to the first class of any Course a Nomination Form signed by their own Commissioner. Unless announced otherwise, all Training Classes are held at t he Guide Office, 60 Marl{et Street (7th Floor) . Brownie T r aining. The second Course will begin on WEDNESDAY, 2nd May, at 7.45 p.m. Guider in Charge : Miss E. L. Lardner. The third Course will begin on THURSDAY . 19th July. Gu ide Training. A Training Course was arranged to be held in the morning, beginning on Wednesday, 7·th March, but as no Guiders attended, it has been cancelled. The next COUl'se will therefore .begin on FRIDA Y, 6th April, at 8 p.m. Guider in Charge: Miss D. Hayman. Ranger Training. The first Course began on THURSDAY, 15th March, at 8 p.m. Guider in Charge: Miss F. V. Barfus.
First-Class Badge Course. The first Class of this Course (details of which have been announced in previous issues of "Matilda") was held on Monday, 26tll March, the subjects being Preparations for th~ Hike; and Judging Heights, Weights and Numbers. The second Class will be held on TUESDAY, lOth April (not Monday, 9th, as previously announced) at 8 p.m., and the subjects will be Map Reading (including Compass); Sketcil Map; requirements for the First Class Badge. The third Class will be a Hike on SATURDAY, 21st April, further details will be published in the press. The fourth Class will be held on Tuesday, 1st May, at 8 p.m. The subjects will be: Origin of Guide Movement, and development (including activities and sources of information); First Aid; and sections dealing with Thrift, Training Recruit, Swimming. The fifth Class will be held on MONDAY, 14th May, at 8 p.m. The subjects will be: Preparation for Badges (including First Class activities for the whole Company); Health Rules. The Course will be followed by several periods for testing in the various sections. Train ing Week. If applications warrant it a Training Weel, for Guiders and prospective Guiders (over 18 years of age) will be held at Morongo Presbyterian Girls' College, Geelong, through the courtesy of the School Council, from Monday, 21st, to Tuesday, 29th May, 1934, inclusive. The week will be for General Guide and Brownie Training. Fee, 30 / -. Guide Training. Miss M. E. Bush; Brownie Training: Miss A. Paling. 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, to) rrach her not later t han 21st April. Deposits will not be refunded unless withdrawal of application is made a fortnight bef ore the beginning of the Week. When applying. will Guiders please state whether they wish to take Guide or Brownie Training, and whether they have attended ll. Tr"ining Week previously? There will be NO TRAINING WEEK in September, and probably none in January. Commissioners.-Miss Bush will be at the Guide Office on THURSDAY, 19th April, fro~ 10.30 a.m. till 12.30. M. E. BUSH. COI)1missioner for Training.
RESIGNATION. District Commissioner-Miss G. M. Wilson, (Carlton and North and West Melbourne )
WARRANTS. Captain1st Alphington-Miss N. Bryant. 1st Beechworth-Miss 1. F. Pearce. 5th Brunswick-Miss V. A. Bell. 3rd East Malvern-Miss M. Collitt. 10th Malvern-Miss G. MacKinnon. 1st Rainbow-Miss K. Lindsay.
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ST. GEORGE'S DAY SERVICE.
Lieuten ant 1st Alphington-Miss A. Winch. 1a Brighton-Miss M. Doe . 3rd Caulfield-Miss D. Cole. 5th Caulfield-Miss N. McNab. 3rd St. Kilda-Miss E. Mrosk. Brown Owl 1st Heidelberg-Miss N. Walters. 1st Rainbow-Miss A. M. Habel. T awny Owl 1st Edithvale-Miss T. M. C. Belcher.
A service f or Scouts and Guiders, similar t o t hat held last year, has been arranged to take place on Saturday, 21st April, at 3 o'clock at St. Paul's Cathedral. The service is planned for Anglican Scout3 or Guides, but other s wishing to attend wi ll be welcome. Details will be sent to Districts later. E. E : MO RAN, Act. State Secretary.
REGISTRATIONS. Guide Company-6th Ballarat. Rahger Company-7th Malvern .
Camper's Licence. The following Guiders P3:ssed. the Camper'." Licence Test at the 13th VlCtonan 9ampcra~t W eek, held at Fossil Beach, Mormngton, In Jar. uaryMiss Betty Bedggood. Mrs. Arthur Fishley . Miss A. E . Gibbs (South Au stralia). Miss Dorothy H . Irving. Miss Edna C. Jones. Miss Daisy McKinnon . Miss Freda Millman. Miss Martha Morris. Miss G. C. W. Rogers. Miss W . Taylor. Miss Grace M. Wilson. EDITH H. PURNELL, Commissioner for Camping. ~0®®® ··· · · ·· · ··········
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The First Extension Cam p (Cont. from p.8.) . soon had us all singing in such a way that we did not won der they wore sunshinp. yellow ties-it was in keeping with the sunsh l'ne of t heir Guiding. Many and varied were t he songs and expressions t hat we learnt during that g lorious week. A camp encyclopredia m ight contain such expressions as usu per"- this expresses how too uttedy utter everything was; '.'~t~eam ~li n ed" -this ' when Comma went a'vlsltlllg III h er modish overall-Uthe man over there sez you're mad"-This a catchy war-cry introduced by Q.M. and many others. Time and space forbid us to write more about the tram th a~ one day some of us h ope to buy and live in; the Paris models (in shorts) that our 1st Aide!' wore; t he kindness of tihe neighbors wit!l scones and cakes, gra mophone and records, and games to play when we weren't indulging it; archery-enough to say that everything and evel'yone combined to make the whole camp an unforgettable w e e k . . . This was t he first ExtensIOn Camp; WIll there be a second? You betcha! TWO HAP PY CAMPERS.
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