Matilda 1935 vol 12 no 06 dec by Girl Guides Victoria

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DECEMBER, 1935.

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December, 1935.

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Volume XII.

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DECEMBER, 1935.

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Number Six.

New Year Resolutions. "Nations have passed away and left no traces And History gives the naked cause of it. One single simple reason in all places They fell because their people were not fit." (Kipling). In his preface to "Land and Sea Tales for Scouts and Guides" Kipling exhorts us to physical and mental fitness. "Be fit, be fit, for Honour's sake be fit!" Have you ever looked with a discerning eye at the Guides and Rangers one sees about the streets on Saturday afternoons? You will be shocked at the unfit appearance of many of them once you really start to take notice. I am not speaking of the Extension Guides with their lame legs, etc.; they are all known to me, and anyway, most of them take a pride in keeping their general health as good as possible to make up for their lame leg or crooked back, but many of the rank and file of the Movement appear to crawl to their Company Meetings, their general carriage except when drilling rather resembling the depressed slump of the "down and out" than the alert upward carriage of a healthy, joyous Guide. They stand wearily waiting for trams with their weight on their heels, their tummies sticking out, their chests hollowed and their heads poking forward, looking for all the world like Weary Willie waiting for a funeral. If they were in mufti we might not notice their poor posture, but in uniformwell I-to quote from the philosopher E'pictetus: "We ought not by the aspect of the body to scare away the multitude from our philosophy, but by his body as in all other things a philosopher should show himself cheerful and free from troubles." Guiding is our philosophy, we love it and believe in it--how are we, each one, to improve the aspect of the body? Socrates, 300 years before that, when talking to Alcibiades, a very beautiful young man. said: "Doest thou think that to be beautiful it is enough to curl thy locks and pluck out the hairs from thy legs -God forbid. But set thy will in order and cast out evil doctrines." The same applies to-day after 2000 years. Curling our locks and applying powdel' to our nose will not improve the aspect of the body. We must each set our will in order and cast out the evil doctrines of "faulty hygiene. The love of a fuggy atmosphere, greed and,

particularly, slothfulness, which leads to a lack of time for exercise, for meals, and even, I believe, in some cases, for cleanliness and sleep-will have to be sternly resisted. If you are the tall, thin, Uncle Sam type of person the chances are that you are fairly loosely put together and will not need so much limbering up but you will require more "will power" to keep straight. If you are of the stocky John Bull type you will need to work hard to mobilise all your joints before you can straighten. (For mobilising exercises, see the June Matilda.") In addition, it is a good thing to practise relaxations and stretchings. When once we have got a little more movement into the joints, we must stand sideways on to a friend or mirror, and see how straight we caI1 get, by the following method: (1) First press the hips back, making the "tail" firm and hard and flattening the tummy -a good way to pactise this is to put a chair from eight to ten inches from the wall and try to squeeze through sideways without touching it. (2) Next stretch up with the crown of your head-let the body weight fall over the instep, not on the heels; the chin should not poke forward and the shoulders not be either shrugged up or pulled too far back, but the arm . should hang easily, pulling the shoulder downwards, if anything. Your friend will be able to tell you when your carriage is really excellent, for then, when seen from the side, your ear will be directly over the middle of your shoulder, and hoth will be in line with the middle of your hip; and this straight line, if continued downwards, will fall a fraction in front of the ankle joint. N ow here is an exercise which you can practise for yourself; it will help you to correct . that protruding abdomen and hollow back. Lie flat on the floor and make the back touch the floor all the way down-no hollow under the belt line. If you cannot do it, draw up one knee, hug it to your chest until your back touches the floor, keeping the other knee strai~ht all the time; now keep the back flat and lower the knee till both legs are flat, and the back also. Repeat with the other leg. If you find it very difficult, get someone to help

MATILDA

by pressing your knee upwards, ond pressini the other leg flat. When you begin to get some control of the lower part of the trunk by tightening the ~ail and flattening the tummy, you must combine it with some correction for those round shou.lders and that poking head. Pull your chm back and your shoulder-blades together, and hold this position for a few seconds-five to ten. Try to breathe normally . throu~hout. When once this fundamental straIghtening of the body has been m~stered, first i~ lying, then in sitting and standmg, all exerCIses and all games will help to improve your posture. Until your habitual posture is good, no amount of physical jerks will give one "an easy, up right carriage." . In some Companies there will be GUIdE's whose backs are so hollow that they cannot touch the ground with them, even when hugging their knees; or whose shoulders are so round that they cannot flatten them. These are not things to be overlooked-the first. may lead to chronic backache, a muscle-wearmess, sickness in middle life; the second to a cram ned chest, and fin!llly to being d~seased. All the principal hospItals have pbyslO-tberapy departments where these defects can .bE' dealt with before the child is too old, so, GUIders, please try ~o interest th~ parents where there is an ObVIOUS abnormalIty, and. so ~reÂ vent one of your Guides from developing Into yet another "chronic." For the normal children I would like. to s~e a lot more drill used; when a Company IS drIlling and each is striving to do her best, the spirit of the Company must improv~ .. By go~d drill, where quickness and preCISIon gam points for the patrol, smartness and alertness are developed in the individual, and finally while striving to maintain the perf~ct I?o~turr during the drill the muscles whose Job It IS to maintain the upright po.sition of t~e bo.dy against the pull of graVIty, the antI-gra:V1ty muscles as they are call~d are exer~Ised, strengthened and built up, Just as punching a ball repeatedly will build up the arm m1!scles -and after each session it becomes eaSIer to keel> an upright posture. . Here is a sentence I read In a paper some weeks ago---it appealed to me, and I wIll .pass it on to you as a slogan for y:our compames-:"Try to make your body a thing of beauty, In which you can rejoice--as your body becomes more fit and beautiful, so you fi?d .your mental faculties have developed. ThIS IS no irllp hoast of a phvsical cultur~ crank-the mE'ntal alertness of a person IS s~own ~y their carriage, and an improved .carnage will undoubtedly help to develop a qUIckness and a hanpiness which will help each one of us to be a better Guide. Questions will be welcomed. A.McA.C.

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ruNTS (for all Tests)

l.-Should be fun; 2-~hould contain the unexpeeted; 3-Rhould be true to life; L-~hould be fair; . &-Should have a time limit, without pamc,

December, 1935.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS. At this time of year we begin to consider books not only from the point of vie.w of interesting reading for ourselves, but also as possibilities for gifts. SevE!ral of the. new publications stand out as emmently SUItable. In more serious vein there are the following outstanding books. "Down the Years," by the Rt. Hon. Sir Austen Chamberlain; "Haig," by Duff Cooper; and "The Next Five Years," which is "an Essay in Political Agreement" by many influential signatories, representative of all shades of thought. For children there are a number of splendid publications. "Gr.ey Owl," th~ author of "l;'ilgrims of the WIld," has WrItten a charming and interesting book called "Sajo and Her Beaver People"; "Awakening," by John Gals"Worthy, is a delightful production with many illustrations, and so also is "Princess Elizabeth's Gift Book." The latter has many wellknown contributors: Barrie, Galsworthy, Kipling, De la Mare and others. John Masefield's new book for children, "A Box of Delights," will prove a story worthy of its title. Amongst recent novels which can be recommended for light reading are "Regency Buck," by Georgette Heyer, "Volcano," by Cecil Roberts "The Pastimes of Aleck Maury," by c. Gordon "The House in Paris," by Elizabeth Bowen.' Two other books which are due shortly, and which p~omise to be outstandingly good are "VictOrIOUS Troy," by John Masefield,' and "Gaudy Night," by Dorothy Sayers. MARGERY HERRING, Chaucer Library and Bookshop. Stalking and Tracking (Cont. from Page 7) rather a long sitting, for them; but if there is 10 minutes' interval or more between each tracker, they can stretch, b~tween whiles. Luckily, Âˇthey know from experIence the value of remaining quiet and arousing the birds' curiosity. I knew there was a way out of the difficulty! We can get three things done at once, like this." "It sounds splendid," said Lieutenant. "Do you know that you have put the key in your pocket and are trying to lock up with ~he pencil? I have often thought that .stalkmg and tracking should not always be separated. They seem to belong together." Captain reversed the locking process, and bade her companion goodnight. "I'll ring you up afterwards, and tell you how great a success it is," she promised. (And it proved an even greater success than either had anticipated.) Note: It is not essential to have an "Indian" 01' "enemy" story. Some Guides might prefer to stalk the clue in the observers' area, treating the othert; just as their fellow-Guides; .and realising that it is "up to them" to be as lIttle of a disturbing element as possible. If they are noisy naturally they go no farther with the track~and are censored by the bird obM.S,

December, 1935.

MATILDA

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We watched for about seven minutes, until hE' flew off to a paddock further back, to a tree which looked as if it contained delectable grubs - -we hoped it did. 1. WATSON.

BROWNIE BEAUTY QUEST. Editor : M. Hoffmeyer.

As Others See US. ~ear

Guides, Though not associated with your Movement, I read about it with a good deal of interest, and saw the paragraph about your meeting. I, also, love trees, so much so that all my life I have made it a: practice, wherever I possibly could do so, to plant a tree and leave it to grow. This is the first time I have ever told anyone about it, so, though many pE'ople say, "You remember the tree you planted-i:; has grown," none of them know about the other trees that are dotted all over Victoria, and even into New South Wales. When I visited myoId home recently, the only thing left of my childhood there was an oak, grown from an acorn that I had planted as a child-forty-five years ago . Was not that lovely? Because of this, and because you love trees, I send this little poem : THE COMING OF THE TREES. "Let trees be made, for Earth is bare," Spake the voice of the Lord in thunder. The roots ran deep and the trees were there, And Earth was full of wonder. The white birch leaned, the oak held straight, The pines marched down the mountain; The orchard bowed with their blossom'd weight, And the elm rose up like a fountain. The palm stood proud as Aaron's rod, The willow billowed slowly; So came the trees at the call of God, And all the trees are holy.

WHEN WE HIKE. "Oh, look!" Eagerly we looked in the direction indicated. Clinging to the bark on the trunk of a gum tree beside the road was a most interel'ting gentleman. Leach's book calls him a "yellow-breasted shrike-tit," and says he is rare! The most striking thing about him was his head, marked in patches of black and white, with a high black crest. His breast was yellow, his wings and back green; his length about six inches. He was working very hard for his meal, prying behind the bark for insects and grubs, and pieces of bark were being ripped off by his hooked beak. Occasionally he would pull off the piece of bark he was perched on and have to flutter back again. Certainly his enel'gy was r~warded, for, while we watched, We! saw him get at least one fat white grub.

Browning said: "God must be glad one loves His Word so much." I think He has specially enjoyed watching the Brownies searching for His most beautiful creations. Barbara Clark, of the 6th Malvern Pack, wins the quest. Barbara's imagination was stirred. Here are her own words:-"On Sunday night I saw a most beautiful sight. A big full moon, or harvest moon, it was a deep lemon. It sailed like a big ship in front of a bank of black clouds, which looked as thougb they had a silver lining." Barbara's Brown Owl made a letter-box of red cardboard, into which entries were posted. Brown Owl is using this idea in connection with Golden Hand Nature Work. Coming very close to this entry was the picture drawn by a Post Brownie:"The prettiest thing I saw was one morning while I was lying in my pram in the yard, a little robin redbreast sitting on a grey fence and he looked lovely." An entry from the 1st Surrey Hills Pack indicates thrilled anticipation:"We had three birds building in our place. They now have babies. There are baby sparrows, baby thrushes and baby blackbirds. The sparrows have built in our flowering gum, the thrushes in the honeysuckle, and the blackbird in the lily pilly. We are hoping to see the baby birds, but we have not seen them yet." A Swan Hill Brownie is watching a finch, whom she has named Nancy. Nancy has a nest in the vines on the verandah, the Brownie helping to build it with offerings of hair and kapok. Nancy is busily sitting now. Other entries included beautiful leaves and sunsets. Two Brownies forgot about Nature, because they liked Titania's Palace and Santa Claus!because he "looks lovely in his nice red cloak and curly whiskers." So he does, Brownies, and he'll soon be here. Help your Brownies to "look wide," Brown Owls!

COMPETITION CORNER. CAMP MUSEUM. A Camp Museum, Guiders. Your Guides will love it. How many "specimens" can they collect? - but don't let them forget the Sixth Law. Send the result to Guide Headquarters from camp, because everyone knows what happens when camp is over!! Count the number you can name, and the total number, named and unnamed. Birds seen may be included as "specimens," but be careful not to include them twice insects, their eggs, cocoons, etc. may be counted separately; the same applies to flowers. Don't forget that water creatures are one of Nature's departments. Collections may be made in Patrols, if desired, the mus(Continued on Page 9)

MATILDA

December, 1936.

Editor: Marion Sinclair. Love shall be our token, Love be yours, and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign. Christina Rossetti. A MERRY XMAS TO ALL READERS.

Now is the Time for Hiking. Wherever you live, you should be able to choose an attractive spot as the goal of your hike, and go to it through interesting country. Walk with a free and easy stride swinging your arms. If you point your toes straight ahead, Indian fashion, you will not only cover more distance at each step, but will not tire so quickly, for your weight will be carried on the outer half of the foot, where it can best be borne. Be sure to walk with your head and chest up, so that your lungs and heart can do their work.. Never try to make a speed record in tramping; The joy of the trail is not in distance covered, but in the scenes, adventures and discoveries along the way. Three miles an hour is a good average speed after you get started, and into the swing of it. When walking along a motor road, walk on the side facing the oncoming traffic. It is always best to step off a narrow or busy road at the approach of vehicles. When walking along a highway at night, a white scarf or handkerchief should be tied round the arm on the traffic side, for dark clothing does not show, even in good lights. It is a good plan to rest for five or ten minutes once every hour. If you go on at an even, not too rapid pace, you will not, usually, need to rest more often unless it is in hilly country. The best way to rest is to lie flat on the back, with legs raised, so that the circulation will be carried away from the feet. Be sure to rest on a ground sheet or a coat, though. Most experienced trampers drink little water when on foot. Suck a lemon or orange instead. Don't forget to use your eyes, ears and nose. A hike where you have not learned some new bird call, and seen some hitherto unknown plant, is not worth taking. Note the type of trees and the soils.

Your eyes should be everywhere, ready to catch any almost hidden beauty. "You must go when it's gypsy weather-Over the hills and far away—" "Girl Scout Handbook."

Hints on Hiking. (The Guider) (For the First-Class Test) It is what you do, and how you do it, rather than where you go, that matters; though you will naturally go to as interesting a place as circumstances allow. Think out your plan under three headings1—Organization; 2—Programme; 3—General Knowledge and Common Sense. 1.—Organization. Draw up a time-table. Do not leave all the preparation of equipment, food, etc., for yourself to do. Divide this equally between you; it trains the other Guides in responsibility. Uniform. Let your appearance be smart and tidy. Pack equipment compactly, and do not appear with festoons of mugs, milk-bottles and billycans draped round you. Look businesslike. Do not depend on logs for seating accommodation. Se? to it that there are groundsheets; the ideal way is for each Guide to have a small one of her own; it makes less weight. First Aid. Carry an iodine pen and one small gauze and one triangular bandage at least, with a safety pin or two. Snake-bite equipment is a necessary precaution for Spring and Summer months, and even up to May. Burn-dressings may be required; and remember that the bullant is always with us; a little ammonia in a small bottle and a wad of cotton wool is sufficient for the inconvenience he may cause. Arrival. Do not throw things into a heap, where creeping beasties can have a convenient party. If the weather is hot, you will need to find the coolest place for milk, butter and meat; and somewhere that is ant-proof. Coats and hats should be suitably fixed up. A distribution of jobs is indicated here, as it also is in clearing up before leaving.

December, 1935.

MATILDA

Do Not Overdo. Make the hike a pleasantly memorable day for you all; but remember that this is not accomplished by overdoing things. If you are enjoying yourselves mightily just when it is time to go home, discipline yourselves to do the sensible thing. The Scout's 11th Law, also equally applicable to Guides, is "A Scout is not a fool"; and the extra time if indulged in may result in weariness and shortness of temper at home afterwards, or in colds and chills, and this is not Guiding. 2. Pr:ogramme. Provide an interesting programme for your day, to which you have given careful thought beforehand. You can centre it round one subject, such as Nature, or Woodcraft; or it may contain some of each. Include games and competitions, if you like. See to it that there is a Rest Period somewhere; this need not necessarily be a time of silence. Occupy your selves with a quiet sitting-down game; or a good story. You may each like to lie and meditate; or chat together; but be inactive. 3. General Knowledge. This includes fire-lighting, wood for fires, cooking, map-reading and making, compass, and some knowledge of Nature-or at least the ability to make intelligent observations and be able to interest the others. Common Sense. Do not trespass on property. Do no damage and leave no traces. Light the fire in a sensible place. Render thanks where it is due. Do not offend by wildness or rowdiness, or by taking kindness for granted. Remember that those who are with you are being trained in hiking, by you, and will be doing their own test one day. Finally, tell the folk at home when to expect your return, and BE HOME THIDN, as a point of honour; thus should you come to the End of a Perfect Day! M.S.

Chickens that Come Home to Roost. Although the idea of "examinations" is taboo in Guiding, an occasional General Knowledge Test is healthy both for the Company and for the Guider. It is then one's "little sins" of commission and omission in training and testing are brought home to one in a surprising way. For instance, the answer, "About four months," to the question, ''how long is it before a recruit can be enrolled" came from a Guide who arrived at the Company while everybody was in the throes of working for the Village last year, and her enrolment was .!Omehow delayed an unnecessarily long timbo Another Guide with a sense of humour replied to the same question with "!Six weeks of hard work." The question, "Who is the President of the Guide Movement?" brought forth all sorts of wild surmises, rangin~ from "Miss Huntingfield" to the name of the local District Captain. On one misguided occasion, for various l'easons, a Guide was allowed to pass her 2nd

Class fire after using three matches. Consequently, half the Company, in reply to "How many matches may you use to light a fire?" replied "Three." It was interesting to know that it was through King John that the Union Jack first became the flag of England, and I doubt if the Chief Guide would recognise herself as "Lady Bathing Power." The Company has had it strongly impressed on it not to undertake more than the barest first aid measures in case of accident, and one young lady disposed of a nose-bleed by saying "Seat the patient at an open window, treat for shock, and send for the doctor." But the gem of the collection was the Guide who removed grit from a person's eye by pulling a hair from her head, making a loop of it, and hooking the foreign body out of the eye with it. From all of which one gathers that the child mind is a rag-bag of half-assimilated facts, and that somehow one has failed to co-relate them into their proper sequence. Truly, a test of this kind "gives one to think." P.S.

Stalking and Tracking. AN EPISODE. "Things are getting complicated," said Captain, chewing her pencil, at the conclusion of the meeting. "How so?" asked Lieutenant. "Tests," said Captain. "I do wish that you were able to come out with us on Saturday; there are Prue, Connie, Jennie and Eve who V'ant to do their tracking and stalking; mid Gwen, Beverley and Ruth, who are keen on birding. These seven are all who can come, but by the time I have set a track, and the four of them have done it separately, it will take some time; and then they'll have to stalk. The other three can't go wandering off in that country alone, birding, without my knowing where they al'e; and I can't very well leave our camping ground. Anything might happen to the supplies and I must be on the spot when the trackers return. So here's a tale of woe! I'm not complaining, only filled with a big wonder of 'How is it all to be done'?" Lieutenant's brow furrowed itself in thought. "If we could somehow contrive to combine the tracking and the stalking," she said, "it would really be more exciting, and would get two things done at once." There was a moment or two of silence; then Captain gave a whoop of triumph. "You've had the very idea," she cried. "Inspirations are coming to me so fast I can not keep up with them. Listen! A treasure hunt, for the track, through enemy country. An Indian encampment somewhere--the clue written up fairly large, near an Indian Council. Stalkel's must get within reading distance without disturbing the council. The Indians can be Gwen, Beverley and Ruth, making their Nature observations from where they sit! They will be so anxious not to have their quarry disturbed by clumsy footsteps that they will be sufficiently critical. True, it may be (Continued on Page 4)

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"At Christmas play and make good cheere, For Christmas comes but once a yeere." (Tusser).

A Christmas Pack Meeting. Opening, Inspection, Fairy Ring. Wrap up presents for Mother. 5.0 Stalking Game. 5.15 Pow Wow, Story. 5.25 Tea. 5.55 Closing. 6.0 Fly Away. Brownies are "Little Brown Explorers," who are meeting for the last time before going out alone into the wide world for nearly sixty days. Opening. - The Lit tl e Brown Explorers give up the gold dust that they have collected during the week, to the Big Brown Explorers. (Pennies.) Inspection.-The Big Brown Explorers look to see that the Little Brown Explorers are well equ~ppedi and Iready for the jounrey. (Look at the knot to see if it will hold tightly.) Fairy Ring.-Each Six creeps into Fairy Ring in turn, chanting the first line of their Six song. Go away in the same manner. Parcels.-The Little Brown E~plorers tie up their provisions for the journey. (Tie the parcel up neatly so that it won't come undone, and address.) Stalking Gama- The first are Indians dying of hunger. The second Six are friendly, and say that they will go and find food for them, so they set off to catch some fish from the ri\1er. Barring their way is a hostile tribe, who try to kill them. The Indians are spread out across the room as far apart as possible, and the stalkers have to creep through the gaps, to catch the fish (silver paper ones). If the Indians on either side of the gap through which the stalker is going grunt, the stalker is dead. (Having made a noise.) Brown Owl and Tawny stand near the Indians to see that the right stalker dies as all the Six stalk at once. Chang.e stalkers, Indians, etc. Pow-Wow.-Little Brown EXplorers stand in ICircle and shout their cry, Lah Lah Lah .. Then sit on the floor. Talk to Brownies about their holidays, and what they can do in the wide world. Story-N onsense Tale. Tea.-Have as Brownie-ish a party as possible. Cover the tables with brown crinkly paper, and have brightly coloured serviettes. Have the glasses filled, as they look brighter. Gaily coloured flowers on the table. Red jelly makes it very party-ish, and Brownies love it. The outline of a little cardboard Father Christmas cut out of l'ed cardboard at each place is a good idea for the Brownie's name, and is an added attraction. C1osing.-Brown Owl in centre of ring by 4.30

4.45

De<:~m!:!..~, - - - --

1935.

the Toadstool-each Brownie comes and says "Goodbye" to her in turn, and then goes out along the golden pathway (marked on the floor). Somewhere along the pathway she finds her "instructions" (Christmas Card, etc.). At the door she turns and salutes the rest of the Pack. The last Brownie turns and salutes Brown Owl and Tawny. STORY-THE GREEDY GNOMES' CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS. Once, a very long time ago, there lived two very greedy little gnomes. They were always eating-even when they were almost fuU, they went on nibbling bits of this and bits of that, until they grew so fat that they could hardly walk. Now, as it began to get near Christmas, Nibbly Gnome said that he would make the Christmas Pudding, so Nobbly Gnome said very well then, he would gather the ingredients-currants, flour, raisins and threepences, and so they started to make their pudding. They hadn't got very far with the mixing when Nibbly Gnome had a little lick, and then Nobbly Gnome had a taste, and so it went on until there was hardly any pudding left in the basin. "Oh dear, and Oh deal'," said Nibbly Gnome, and Nobbly Gnome together, "We really mustn't eat any more or we won't have any left to cook for Christmas Day." So very quickly they tied up what was left, and put it into the pot, and cooked it. When the pudding was cooked it was such a tiny one that there were orily about four mouthfuls in it, and there were two threepenny bits, and they took up most of the room. The two little Gnomes looked very sad, tut what could they do? All the currants and flour and raisins had been used, and there wasn't anything left for them to make another pudding. However, Nibbly Gnome had an idea, and when he told it to Nobbly Gnome he cheered up, and they put on their goloshes and went out to see their neighbours. First they called on Mrs. Prickle, the hedgehog. They both began to cry, and told her that they had! nothing in the house, so they couldn't make a Christmas Pudding. "Never mind, my dears," said Mrs. Prickle, "I have two-on Christmas morning I'll send little Prickle over to your place with one of them. Don't you worry, run along now and play with the beetles," and off she went into the kitchen to make Mr. Prickle a cup of tea. "Hurray," said the Gnomes, "Now we will have a lovely pudding, Mrs, Prickle is such a good cook!" and off they ran down the path, splashing into all the puddles with their goloshes. Just then they saw Mrs. Rabbit, standing at her gate, so up they ran, and Nobbly Gnome began to look very sad, and said, "Mrs. Rabbit, we have nothing at all in the house, so we won't be able to make a Christmas Pudding." "Poor little Gnomes," said Mrs. Rabbit, "I have a baby pudding, and you shall have it. I'll send Peter along with it on Christmas morning." <lOh, Mrs. Rabbit, you are good!"

December, 1935.

MATILDA

cried both the Gnomes together, and off they went home. HTwo puddings, two puddings," shouted both the Gnomes, "won't that be lovely. I do love Christmas pudding, don't yeu, Nobbly Gnome?" Christmas morning came, so did the puddings"Let's eat Mrs. Prickle's pudding first," said Nobbly Gnome, so they put it on the table, and Nibbly Gnome put the knife into it to cut itbut "po of" went the pudding, and the plate was empty. "Dear me," said the Gnomes. "Mrs. Prickle is a very good cook, I wonder what has happened to make the pudding vanish completely. "Oh well, we still have another pudding left. Bring in Mrs. Rabbit's one." When Mrs. Rabbit's pudding was cut it went "Puff" too, and vanished. So there was only their own little pudding left, but when that was taken out of the cloth they found that there was only a horrid dry stone there, and no pudding. "Oh dear and oh dear!" cried both the Gnomes together. "Whatever is the matter with all our Christmas puddings; they must be bewitched." Just then there was a knock at the door, and in walked the kind Witch who lived up the hill, and over the hill-she had a parcel in her hand, and it seemed very heavy. "I hear that you haven't a Christmas pudding, little Gnomes," said the kind Witch, "so I have brought you one, but you must promise me something before I give it to you." "Yes, yes, anything!" shouted the Gnomes. "Well," said the kind Witch, "you mustn't be greedy and spend all your time thinking what's for dinner." The little Gnomes were longing for a taste of Christmas Pudding, so they promised, and the kind Witch stayed to dinner with them, and it really was a most successful dinner, the Christmas Pudding was the very nicest they had ever tasted, and tl)IlY both found a sixpenny bit. R.L.S. Dear "Matilda," I've just been to see South Australia's Training- House. Paxlease, which was officially opened by the Chief Guide. I am so filled with un-Guide-like envy that I must have an outlet-will you afford me one? The approach up the Mount Lofty Ranges is lovely-first the road winds in twisty curves along a beautiful valley, with lovely slones up on each side; then the road lifts itÂˇ self up on to the slopes of the hills, and there is a series of magnificent wide views over Adelaide to the sea. Then suddenly we turn off the road in the middle of the dearest little English-looking vi11:>p'e. and there. on the steep slope of a hill. is "Paxlpafle." and it is truly a haven of peace. The building was formerly a Government Srhool. which was unused after a new one was built in a more suitable spot. Miss Ralph's p.nPTl!"etic search . for a Training Centrp. for Guiding was well rewarded when she discovpred the building. and it is a delight to see it in its renovated form. The Government hM

granted the G.G.A. the use of the building for six years at a nominal rental. Inside there is, first, a dainty primrose and blue room with an intriguing idea-that is, every article of bedroom furniture rolled into one. This room has two beds. N ext door is a room with three beds, and a different colour scheme. Further on is the "Den," a cosy little room for work or talk before the fire, beyond is the kitchen, small, but well equipped; for Trainings a cook from the village is employed here. N ow we go into the lovely big room which is so adequate for meals, sessions, games or dancing. Beyond that, we go into the "dormitory"-a nice airy room, divided ingeniously into seven daintily curtained cubicles, each containing a wooden bed and a convenient little cupboard. By the way, each bed is supplied with two blankets. There are also about ten spare beds available, complete with mattress~s and pillows, and thes,e can be put up in the big room. Now, I must tell you where they wash! Ther,e are three, little cubicles which look like shower rooms, but have instead a good-sized round galvanised tub, with a plug! (A real brainwave!) There's also a tap, and close by is a copper for hot water; and there are also sevE-ral handbasins, and one "proper" bath (but how dull when you could have a tub with a plug!) Oh, and outside, up the hillside, is an enormous eucalypt, and nestling beside it are an oak and a plane: and the flagpole is on a lovely little flat bit with a view; and there.'s another flat bit where tents can be pitched for extra sleeping accommodation. When I tell you, as a parting shot, that the building is old, and built of the attractive, uneven stones that so many of the old S.A. buildings are mad':) from. can you wonder that J covet my neighbour's Guide House? -Quick! help us to get ours! F. V. BARFUS. We are a little company in whose hands flicker the tiny candles of dreams. We have dreamt of making beauty with words; of creating with joy the thin blown shapes of rhymes; of exploring, on and through words, "that still untravelled world, whose margin fades for ever and for ever .... " (Green Candles)

. .

Love is health to the innermost being, Whenever we laugh there, love deepens. -Mary Webb. Competition Corner (Cont. from P.5.) eums being pooled, but only one of a kind counted. "Matilda" would like to know of any special things found. or of exciting happenings during the hunt. Take Dr. Leach's bird book with you, and the "Sun" Nature Books--they will help identification. The January "Mati1da" will tell you what to look for. Results will be published in March. M.H.

MATILDA

II)

Camp Cooking. Sandwich Fillings. Raisins or any dried fruits mixed with cream or cottage cheese. Sliced bananas sprinkled with lemon juice, brown sugar, and chopped nuts on wholemeal bread. Mix half-cup chopped nuts, half-cup grated carrots, half small spoonful salt, H large spoonfuls of salad oil, and 1 small spoonful lemon juice. Spread between slices of buttered bread. Cream i lb. of butter. Add 3 large spoonfuls of salad oil, and a small spoonfuls of cinnamon. Spread on slices of bread. This is very good toasted. I have never eaten- such delicious salads as the American camps served, and as we are always being told in this country to include more salads in our menus, here are a few that are worth while trying. Apple and Watercress Salad. Wash and core some apples, leaving the skin on, and cut crosswise into inch-thick slices. Mix some jelly and cottage cheese until a smooth paste is formed, spread this on the slices of apples. Mix French dressing with the water cress, and lay it on one side of the plate and the apple slices on the other. Banana and Mint Salad. Skin the bananas and cut them lengthwise, place them on beds of crisp lettuce, and sprinkle with l.emon juice and chopped mint. Garnish with mayonnaise and chopped nuts., Orange and Onion Salad. Pare some oranges and cut in very thin slices. Peel the onions and cut in .even thinner slices. Arrange orange and onion slices alternating and overlapping on lettuce, and serve with French dressing. Potato and Sausage Salad. Cut some cold cooked sausages in third crosswise, chill well and pour on them som.e French dressing, let them stand for half an hour. Combine some cold cooked potatoes (diced) with a little minced onion, chopped parsley, and diced celery. Moisten well with French dressing. Heap in a mound in the .c entre of a platter, and arrange the sausages round, with thin slices of tomato which have been seasoned with salt and pepper. These salads a~·e naturally more for meals in camp than for hiking, and form an excellent light course for a meatless lunch or supper in hot weather. ("Woodland Cookery) The Committee of the Victorian Guiders Club has arranged for Miss Wigan, R.A.O.U., B.O.C., to give an interesting account of Lyrebirds and Songbirds of Moree, N.S.W., and of which lantern slides will also be shown at the Meeting Pool, H.Q.. 60 Market Street, Melbourn.e, at 8 p.m. on 7th December, 1935. Admission 6d. (club members 3d.) and supper Id. EVERYONE interested is welcome.

December, 1935.

International Extension Training. (At Bedford College, Regents Park, London, from 27th March to 3rd April, 1936.) Miss Allan, Commissioner for the Extension Branch in England, will be in charge, and will be assisted by Miss Maynard and other Guiders experienced in the various branches of the work. Mlle. Beley, Chairman of the International Training Sub-Committee, will also be present. The opening talk will be early in the evening of March 27th, and Trainees should reach Bedford College not later than 4.30 p.m. on that day, and they are asked not to leave until the afternoon of April 3rd. Booking Fee £1, to be sent to the Director of the World Bureau. (British applicants, see below). If cheques are sent, they should be made out to "The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts." The Booking Fee will be forfeited if the Trainee who has reserved her place fails to attend the Training. The charge for Board and Lodging, in single rooms only, will be £2/16/~, to be paid in sterling to the College during the Training. Applicants for this Training Course must be recommended either by a Commissioner in their own country, or by their National Headquarters. (British Applicants see below). Applicants will be accepted in the order in which their names r.each the World Bureau. The limit of Trainees is four from each country, member of the World Association, but should the Course not fill, more Guiders will be accepted from Great Britain. The address of the College Hostel is: Nottcutt House, 36 Dorset Square, London, N_W.I. PLEASE SEE THAT YOUR PASSPORT IS IN ORDER. The details programme of the h·aining is not yet ready for circulation, but the plan is to have training in the mornings, visits to hospitals and institutions in the afternoons, and lectures in the evenings. English, French and German will be the languages used. Trainees should know either English or French fluently in order to follow the talks and discussions. Special Instructions to British Guiders. In the case of British applicants, all applications must have the approval of the Guider's (or Commissioner's) County Commissioner; the Application Form, with the approval and the fee, to be sent to Imperial Headquarters for passing to the World Bureau. Guiders from the British Dominions who are visiting Europe and who cannot get a recommendation from theiJ: own Headquarters should do S0 from Imperial Headquarters.

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EquIpment Depot. CHRISTMAS CARDS. These have now arrived from England, the price being 2d~, 4d. and 6d., plus 1d. postage. They are most attractive, and cater for all demands. Commissioners, Guiders, Rangers, Guides and Brownies. CALENDARS. These have also arrived from England. The Calendar contains 12 sheets, and on each sheet is a "Guidy Photo" with little comments by either the Chief Scout or the Chief Guide. The price is 2/-, plus 3d. postage. These are alsO' most attractive. DIARIES FOR 1936. Are now in stock, and are sold with pencils or without pencils, the price in each case being 1/ 3 and 1/-. As well as the Diary, it contains lots of Guide information .a nd is of great value to the Recruit and those who are doing their 2no and 1st Class test. This is a useful Christmas present. INTERNATIONAL SIGNALLING. Price 3d., plus 1d. postage, is a small pamphlet containing the new method of signalling. This is great fun, as the signalling apparatus need only be two saucepan lids. Those who want something new will find this very interesting. REPORT OF BUXTON CONFE~CE Is a collection of talks and discussions held at Buxton in April, 1935. It is an inspiration, and mine of inÂŁormation to all Commissioners and Guiders, and deals with all aspects to Guiding. If you can afford 1/6, this book is well worth having. The postage is 2d. C. BROADHURST, Commissioner for Equipment.

80th TRAINING WEEK. Dear Guiders, To say that we were surprised is to put things very mildly. Miss Lardner, Miss' Freeman and I were absolutely thrilled and delighted to receive the photograph albums that you have sent us. How you found time, during our busy week, to carryon the conspiracy, I cannot imagine. We want to thank you all most heartily for your kindness, with an extra thought for the committee, which managed things so beautifully. May I ask a favour of you? Would it be possible to make another album, for records at Guide headquarters? We would be very glad to have this, and Miss Barfus will re-

fund the expense of it. With many thanks and Guide greetings, Yours sincerely, MOLLIE HOFFMEYER, Guider-in-Cha~e.

Training. TRAlNING WEEK. As it has been very difficult to procure a suitable place in which to hold the Training Week, circulars concerning it were not issued sooner, although dates and other details were announced in the daily Press and in "Matilda." The closing date for applications has been extended to 2nd December. If sufficient applications to justify the holding of the Weel{ are not received by that date, it will have to be cancelled, but it is hoped that this will not be the case. The 31st Victorian Training Week for Guiders and prospective Guiders (over 18 years of age) will be held from 27th December, 1935, to 4th January, 1936, inclusive, at Ridley College, Parkville, Melbourne, through the courtesy of the Principal. The fee will be 30 / -. The Week will be for General Guide and Brownie Training. Guider \n Charge: Miss M. E. Bush; Brownie Trainer: Miss E. L. Lardner. Applications, accompanied by a deposit of 5/ -, should reach the Training Secretary at the Guide Office not later than 2nd December. Deposits will not be refunded unless withdrawal is made a fortnight before the beginning of the Week. When applying, will Guiders please state whether they wish to take Brownie or Guide training, and whether they have attended a Training Week before? M. E. BUSH, ,CommissioTIet: for Training.

RESIGNATIONS AND CANCELLATIONS. Dist. Commissioner, Ferntree GullyMrs. Mountain CANCELLED WARRANTS. Brown Owl. 9th Malvern-Miss J. Clarke. 1st Kerang-Miss K. Hawthorne. Captain. 1st Clyde-Miss H. Powling. 1st Kerang-Miss J. Hawthorne. 1st St. Arnaud-Miss. M. A. Wheeler. 9th Hawthorn- Miss I. Watson. Lieutenant. 1st Frankston---,.Miss A. Layzell. 5th Hawthorn-Miss L. Oliver. 9th Hawthorn-Miss L. Cuzens. J st Moe-Miss M. Flewin. J.st Nyah District-Miss G. Amos. District Secretary, Frankston: Miss M. O'Donoghue.

MATILDA

WARRANTS AND REGISTRATIONS.

REGISTRATIONS. Pack-2nd Brighton (Firbank). Companies-1st Mansfield. 1st Warracknabeal. 1st Warragul Local Association-W arragul.

APPOINTl\IENTS. Division Commissioner, Camperdown, etc. Miss G. A. Black, Mt. Noorat, Terang, in place of Mrs. Clive Currie, lÂˇesigned.

EQUIPMENT.

We have now in stock, specially imported for summer uniforms, a good quality Alpaca. This makes a very nice summer-weight Coat Frock, and is very cool and uncrushable. It is 54in. wide, and the price is 7/ 11 a yard. Patterns for this Coat Frock have been specially imported, so Commissioners and Guiders can feel that they are getting the best possible material, and a good reliable pattern. The pattern costs 2/ -. C. BROADHURST, Commissioner for Equipment.

District Captain, Warrnambool : Miss R. Rogers, 32 McDonald Street, Warrnambool.

WARRANTS. Br(lwn Owl: 1st Terang-Miss Mary White. 1st Yarram-Mrs. Vernon. Tawny Owl: 1st Avoca-Miss Vera Classon. Cap1lain. 1st Avenel-Miss M. Smith. 3rd Hawthorn-Miss M. H. Jolly. 2nd Preston-Miss E. Jackson. 1st St. Kilda-Miss J. Blake. 1st Swan Hill-Miss F . Reeves. 1st Warrnambool-Miss V. Holloway. 1st Waubra-Miss J. Thomas. Lieutenant: 1st Bentleigh-Miss B. Costain. 1st Camperdown-Miss M. Wade. 3rd Kew-Miss S. Summons. Secretary. Extension Branch-Miss M. Lambe. Maryborought-Miss E. 1. Gillies.

December, 1935.

NIGHT PIECE. \ Faint, lost, remembering call Of the wild swans passing over the dark world.

There is nothing more that can be said of this moment; Nothing has stirred in the blue steep cavern of evening, The trees are dead in their chill root-houses, Ridti.culous star s mocK in faint and sil~r voices, And only there is the far, Lost remembering call of the wild swans Passing over the dark world. (Rosemary Heath)

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