THE COLOURS WE LIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE COLOURS WE LIKE.

Tlie cheerful reii plow of the fire and the cold white of snow illustrate very clearly tliiit colours produce a delinite mental effect upon us. Rod and orange we call cheerful; they are stimulating. Blue and green, on tlio other hand, are cool colours, restful and soothing—except in certain "dreadful" shade?! speaking, according to whether we like to he stimulated or rested; our preference depends, in fact, on our temperament. Very often, though, we like or dislike certain colours through a particular personal association of ideas. For instance, we because it" is the colour of Mi*s .Myrtle's tie, and Miss Myrtle, our sports mistress, is utterly "adorable! With equal probability we'may detest a perfectly harmless colour because it reminds us, perha|« unconsciously, of a dress we once hated! have been carried out l)oth in England and on the Continent, to discover which colours are generally preferred, which bring to light the fact that our preference alters as we -row up. lied, it is found, is the most popular colour between the ages of four and nine, while blue is the most popular colour between the ages of nine and 15. I he average gii'lV; colour preference differs slightly from the average boy's. Girls 'generally like colours in'this onler: Blue, red, white, green, yellow, black; while the equivalent list for boye runs, according to the experiment'-: Blue, red, green, yellow, white, black.

"There, sonny." He replaced the receiver and turned towards the child. Hut Colin was lolling forward, i-oiind asleep, and not till his usual time in the morning did he awake. It proved to be one of those bright. exhilarating mornings, with a strong breeze that was, at the same time, not uncomfortable. . "Daddy's baby," mother teased at breakfast. Had she known how worried tire child had been she would have told him when his father rang, almost two hours after bed time though it was. Alter breakfast father and sons made tlicir merry way to the favourite corner ewect shop, each of the brothers in possession of a shining silver shilling. The morning's newspaper placard wnfi in full view by the door, and Colin recognised the large letters that spelled his father's name, although the rest —regardless of his knowledge of the facts—was a little beyond his understanding. But others could read the large letters that said "Mail 'Plane Delayed." "Pilot's Spectajcular Rescue." And underneath, "Edgar Manly Again." The again was significant. When they stepped out into the street after making their purchases, there was a noisy group of boys racing about the pavement. One pulled himself up just in time to avoid a collision, and glanced up quickly, a hasty word of apology on his lips. Instantly, there was recognition in his eyes, and something, too, like awe. He plunged his hand into his' trouser pocket and gaining confidence, proffered boldly a small dog-eared book—"For Autographs." "I always cany it with me, sir, will you sign it for me?' . His companions were suddenly aware of something unusual, but a swift whisper from one to the other supplied the explanation. They stared at their hero, wide-eyed. This was the man who had seen the desperate flaming torch signals of the two-day lost aviator; who had made the "impossible" landing in some "impossible" place in the mountains; who had put the weak, injured man in his 'plane, and taken off as skilfully? They realised it at length, and the airman was forced to sign the proffered book, alid, for the others, scribbled his name on torn leaves from his pocket book, before he was allowed to proceed. The while. Jeremy unconsciously held his head high, his face flushed; Colin's eyes were shy a? they strayed to the excited autograph hunters.

They were £ny on the war home, Jeremy clutching proudly at one big hand, Colin, affectionately, t!ie other. Then the latter, childish'fate illuminated bv an unmistakable Mow, looked up suddenly. Had someone boon afraid! Of what?