THE MAIL BAG

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 25

THE MAIL BAG

Dear Scribelcts, Only till Tuesday for the Adventure Page entries to be in. Are you rcincmberingt Here arc this week's star-point winners:—Drawings: Geisha Girl fid). Coquette. (TA), and Diana (15). Poems: Junior. Peach Elf (S), Hume (12); senior. Eunice. Paragraph: Favourite (.12). Stories: Junior. White Dove (12); senior, June Hickson (17). Letter- Silver Peacock (13). Illustrated poem: Rose Queene. KIWI.

Woodcutter’s Daughter, Upper Hutt: J know the part where you live, and it is beautiful and peaceful indeed. Tell Fairy Night light to write when she can spare a minute, and tell me if your request for the penfriend is successful, won’t you. Tb*» story was quite a good try. New Zealand Eass, Waipawa; And then you didn’t send the stamp—l could not find it anvwhere in your letter, but I should think it would be an 1896 one, or thereabouts, of not much value, although some of them are misprints. Elva Tremaln: Certainly Keith may join —and J hope you win that shield! The recipe sounds an exciting one. Christine Fisher, Carterton: “Goldietop ’ is a good choice for a pen-name. I wonder if you have a golden “top”? The badge will be coming soon. Daphnis. Featherston: Mary’s address is IS Purnell Street, Wanganui. The bulky letter of news made up for all your term’s silence, thank you. Carolyn-Joy, Wellington: I don't think it could be a nicer name—so stick to this one. won’t you—-there is a rule saying pennames must not be changed. Jarko, Clarevilie: Welcome, .Tacko, and write soon! Elizabeth Taylor, Wellington; A letter from Mt. Cook! I turned the envelope over and over. But what a thrilling birthday gift, you lucky girl! Did you topple over when you went ski-ing? Try to come in before holidays end.

Christine Salmon. Otaki: “Tommy Bear” Is not taken so you may call yourself that. The painting was beautiful, thank you. . . ■ Maybe you will be an artist some day! Dewdrop, Nelson: I hope the missing roof did not damage the electricity* part of the lower power-house. Were you without lights any of the time? Good luck with the drawings fo r the show. George Swan. Tarata: Was it “Mike” you chose for a pen-name? There is not much room Oi. tht. entiy torn.s and sometimes it is hard to fit everything in. Basia Goodman, Wellington: A sweet wee poem, yours was—keep on. And come in to see me again, won’t you? Tigger, Otaki: I wonder if-you have been having such” lovely neat her as the Wellington holiday-makers have been having? Wo have been most lucky so far. Golden Star. Day’s Bay: Quite good wee poems for your age. Golden Star, but do try to make them shorter in future, please. Ngaire Copeland, Carterton. I am sorry’ I do not know of any* penfriends in those place.-, but. I will ask the members for you. Scotch Lassie, A tea. I am very sorry that I made that mistake— 1 must have been dreaming! But if you really want the change, yes, you may! And the book paragraph will most likely bo in adventure page. Queen of (he Snows, i’ahiutua. A good begin, Queen of the Snows, but next time don't write about a hidden treasure being found so easily. Too many tales of this kind are sent to me. Try to write simply and naturally about people and things you understand. Spotty, Putara. You must have had some of Wellington’s good luck with the weather for your holiday . . . and oh. what fun you must have had among those apples! Valerie, Palmerston North. F could not make out the letter from “March.” Did you mean it for me. or did it creep in by mistake? Your story was well-writ ten, but the end must be altered, so I am sending it back to you. Instead of Bunny getting killed, have him go for a walk round the garden, so that the children think him lost (to Rodger’s regret), then have him wander back to the cage by himgolf, to Joan's joy, and Rodger’s “reform.” Then it will go in the page. Polly Flinders, Eastbourne. Congratulations . . . what fun winning the competition! Do tell me more of the Palmerston visit.

Sparklet, Featherston. The rules say drawings must be made on unlined paper. Sparklet, and I am sorry, for yours were quite well done. “Original” means only “out of your very own head,” did you know? Quite a good wee story, thank you. Cottage Fairy, Wellington. The drawing will be in the page soon, thank you. Come again. Betty Binebird. I was sorry you had all the work with the crayon drawings for nothing, but you will try some pencil ones soon, won’t you? Maid Mignonette, Eketahnna. Such a surprise, and I am so glad you came! Next time you must try to stay longer. Polly Pixie, Baby Witts, and Joyful, Wellington. Next time you come up you will all have a surprise ... can you guess it? Peter the Sailor, Wellington, Are you coming to see me again, Peter —and did you take the certificate safely home? Billy Button, Wellington. Maybe you can draw, too, or write exciting stories—can you? Spider, Wellington. Too bad your having to do the drawings again, but you will know the rules next time, won’t you? You would have had a long wait, for your friend did not come up at all! Guardian Angel, Featherston. But you must write on one side of the paper, please! I don’t know what has happened to Delga —do you? Perhaps we will have a picture story soon, and overseas penfriends are ever so hard to get! Quicksilver. Hataltai. Poor you—perhaps Mr. Printerman missed you out! But your three points are down on the list safely now, so don’t worry. You haven’t long to try for a star, so send in some entries soon! Beverley Shore. Ka-rori. Indeed, I am sorry I missed you—you will always catch me in the afternoons if you could come again one day—will you? To become a member just fill in the certificate at the bottom of the page, and thank you for the winter drawing—the page Is not till June. Lucy Lockett, Eastbourne. But your drawings must be in pencil on plain paper, and the subjects good and clear—keep on trying! T like your poems, though, and your wee stories.

Tubby Toes Wilton, Palmerston North. What fun—yours sounded like a Spring letter with all the new farm life, instead of a wlnt’ry one! White Dove, Palmerston North. Good work, “coming top” is not easy, I know. And how did you get on at the competitions? a t 4 Favourite, Stephen Island. A most interesting letter—thank you. Do you ever come to the mainland for a visit? Geisha Girl, Ilawera. Yes. I think that was about your best drawing yet. And you will be pleased at the sight of it. Star Dust, Palmerston North. “Round and round tlie mulberry bush" to find your friend! I expect you were both too tired to do all you had planned!

“1 <_ TllTnny Tess, llnsting.*. A well-written tale. Tiffany Tess, and very neat, too. Bike Boy, Palmerston North. And this will be the last day of your lovely holiday! Never mind, ynu will be able to think of it many times when school gets dull—if It ever does! Thank you for the funny drawing. Diana, Eastbourne. Perhaps you could come after school one day? The illustrations were just the kind I like—and did you know you may make them as big as you wish ? Mary Greig, Wanganui. An unusual poem for you to write . . . thank you. I liked It. Yes, I liked the Blllabong books— I read nil I could find. once. Jacqueline. Ohau. And so the visit did not eventuate. Never mind, perhaps you will have a chance to come down next holidays. star rlower, Devin. I looked for a visitor—everywhere! Did you come when I was out? I wonder, or did you not have time to come at all?

Hune, Rongotai. Quite a good wee poem indeed—are you coming a-visiting these holidays ? Rose Queen, ITukanul. If you keep on trying and trying you will succeed. For practise in drawing copy figures from books—in time you will find it easy to copy moving people. The star point omission has been remedied.

Silver Peacock, Palmerston North. Yes, the painting came, thank you. I think it is a great pity that the trees have to be cut down—rather would I read by candlelight! Moonbeam, Sanson. You wlil soon be sitting for your proficiency exam, won’t you? . . . and are you allowed to take the new baby cousin out yet? June Hickson, Wanganui, An. amusing sketch. . . . Thank 1 you. Eunice, Lower Hutt. Why didn’t you say “Hullo Kiwi?” It is such a long time since I first met you. and I have so many faces to remember ! So next time you come up, don’t fail to come and see me too. Fidgets, Featherston. And did you catch the fish? I have never heard of a peanut eating lamb—ever! Thank you very much for the dear wee photo; it is not clear enough for the page, but it Is in my big photo book.

Tuppence, Te Horos Yes, you will receive it to-day. and thank you for your little letter and the big loves! Pink Carnation, Kilbirnler Rather an Incredible story; try to write about everyday people and things that you understand. more, for you can! Sunbeam, Haweru: Serials must be sent In all together, Sunbeam, and must be written on one side of the paper only, with a margin. Drawings must be made on plain, stiff white paper! Your work was very good, so I hope you will try again—aud remember to put "original" only if it is out of your very own head. Five points make a star. Margaret D'Atli, Purim: Badge and certificates have been late this month, but you will soon receive yours. Goddess of Hunting. Masterton: Such a pleasant surprise! And I was very pleased to meet one of our busiest scribes. Dad’s Cobber, Carterton: The drawings were splendid attempts! I have put the adventure story away in the big envelope marked "competition stories for adventure page." Uranus, Feilding: "Cowboy Jim" was full of action, but too many lines! I am sorry I don’t know of any American newspaper that can be bought here, but some magazines have children's pages. Ask a bookseller about it. Golden Fleece. Napier: Yes, I saw Shirley in that film, and she was very good. Try hard for another polut. before the end of'June, won't you? I haven’t any chrysanthemums this year, but lots o£ African marigolds Instead. Wilin' Will, Dannevlrke: And the sun was shining brightly ... so you wrote to me. That was a nice thought. Are you going to the hue new school: Thank you for the poem. Beach Elf, Wellington: Good work, small person! .Sweet Adeline, Hustings! A good little story, well written, Doris, but too many stories are written about lost children finding their parents aud "living happily ever after.” And it was really more suitable for Christmas time, wasn't it? Ir.V a New Zealand farm story.