Your Hobby

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22337, 26 February 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

Your Hobby

Collecting Rocks

"I Collect Feathers"

My hobby is collecting feathers. This may seem a queer hobby to some of you. but it's nothing new to

me, for I have collected them for more than three years. My collection is increasing all the time, and already I have quite a few varieties. This is a very interesting hobby and there is no hard work to it at all. If you live out in the country where there are more trees, naturally you have an advantage over the city boys and girls. I find my feathers on the ground under trees, and some of them almost dazzle me with their beauty. My feathers are placed on cotton in a glass case, and by their side is a little slip of paper bearing the name of the bird from which the feather came. I have heard of people becoming famous over their hobbies, and I wish that I may, not for the title, but because I want to give talks on hobbies and encourage their growth.

—HAZEL MAHER (aged 12), Scottsdale, Ariz.

Taking Stereoscopic Photographs

My hobby is photography, and an Interesting one it is, too, although a little expensive. Most of all I like taking stereoscopic photographs. A good camera for stereoscopic photographs is very expensive, but quite good photographs for stereoscopic use can be taken with the cheapest of box cameras by following this method: Take a piece of smooth wood or thick cardboard, and with a pencil

draw two lines. The distance 'between these two parallel lines should be the distance between your two eyes. When taking the photographs hold the board on a level in front of you, and place the camera so that the right side of the camera is on the left line, and snap your photograph. With the board in exactly the same position, turn the film and place the camera on the board, so that the right edge of the camera is on the right line. Now snap your photograph. When the photographs are developed and printed, paste one of each on to a card, making sure that the photograph which was

taken from the left, is pasted on the right side of the card, and that the photograph which was taken on the right side be pasted on the left side of the card. This transposing of the photograph is very important. Now, look through the stereoscope at the pictures, and they will become one picture, and the objects within it will spring to life. When I am taking these kind of snaps I fit a portrait attachment on to the eyelet panel in front of the camera, and this helps to make the objects stand out more prominently. . „ As I went to Peel Forest for one of my holidays I had a good opportunity to take the bush, which comes out excellently in stereoscopic photographs. —'MATE LADY OF THE SNOWS. 34 Middle road, Allenton, Ashburton. Soap-Carving, My Hobby

This hobby is very inexpensive and yet very entertaining. All you need for it is a bar of soap, a paring knife, and some paints. I have been working at it for two years, and I have about 50 carved and

painted objects, which I completed. For those who are just starting this as a hobby, I would advise that you start with some simple figures first, such as fruits, and other large and plain objects. Later when you have become more skilled, you can make animals, dolls, and so forth. To begin with you smooth off the surface of the soap with a knife, then you trace the outline of what you wish to carve on the soap with a pencil. Then cut away the parts

not included in the outline. Then gradually shape it, and after it is finished paint it in suitable colours. Last summer I won a prize in the hobby show at camp with my Popeye figure. All those who are interested in this hobby please write. —CAROL DONOVAN (aged 11),

51 E. Utica street, Buffalo, N.Y. Valmai Makes Scrapbooks

My hobby is making scrapbooks, but they are not the ordinary kind. One is for ships, another for royalty, another for countries, and

still others for insects, animals, birds, and so on. By the time all the books are made I shall have about 30 in all.

Famous people play an important part in my hobby. I have some very interesting paragraphs about Lord Rutherford, and many others. Although I only started this hobby last May, I have a considerable number of photographs. Both

my royalty and ship scrapbooks have 14 pages, are two feet long, are one and a half feet wide, and are filled, and there are dozens of pictures over.

—VALMAI DOAK, Waipara,

I have a hobby I think is very in* teresting. It. is collecting mineral rocks. I have more than 50 different rocks. { have two different kinds of pumice stone. I have a very rare rock called malachite. It is a ' beautiful green and white colour. It is used as a veneer for costly, furniture. In olden times it was used as a protection against witches. It was used by the high priest of the Jews as a sacred jewel. P also have copies of other rara stones, some of which are pitch' stone, cinnabar, gneiss, chalcedony < and geyserite. I have a box madd for my rocks and they are all labelled. I have had this hobby fog about two years and .think it vertf interesting. " N

—STANLEY GUSTIN (aged 12), I Medford, Oregon*

Margaret is a Gardener

My hobby is working in my flower garden. I have a little plot of my very own and I have edged it neatly with stones. Some of the flowers in my'garden are: poppies,

violas, carnations, daisies, violets, and many other flowers. I have made a little border of yellow and purple violas. At the back of the garden I have some sweetpeas growing, I sowed them late in the season, and they are just coming into bloom now. I am very interested in my garden, and water it every evening when the weather is dry. —MARGARET CALDER, --...- A. 8., L.8.H., Halkett.

HOBBY CLUB RULES

What is your hobby? Is It cofc lecting books, stamps, dolls, coin* stones; making thing's with tools or with your needle; learning to cook; making special scrapbooks, studying nature, music or dancing, taking good care of pets; taking picture* drawing or painting; giving play* or making puppets? Or have y<W some other hobby? Write a letter to Lady Gay tell* Ing her of your hobby.

Letters should be kept as short as possible. Not less than 75 words, and not more than 200 is a good average. Snapshots would also oe welcome.

Every girl and boy, whose letter appears on this page, will receive a "Press Ship" hobbies badge. The writer of the best "Hobbies Letter" for the week will also receive a prize.