THE MAIL BAG

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 25

THE MAIL BAG

Dear Scribes, So many entries that I am dividing them into two lots, and there will be star points for the “bests” in next week's page, too. For this page star points go to: Stories, Sunset (13), Nannie the Gnaine (15). Beryl Wall (17). Dad’s Cobber (9). Paragraphs, Elizabeth Taylor (13). Pearl o’the Sea (12). Poems, Mary Greig (15), and Starflower (14). Drawings, Noel Coward (10), Mai’ie Gilmour (15), and Cheepside (12). —KIW.I.

Crystal Water. Felldlnff. Many happy returns of the day. It must be fun attending the high school. Tell me more about if.

Nonnie the Gnome, Napier. Such a long time since I have heard from you, and I have remedied the missing points. The story was good, thank you. Suzanne, Tnilinpe. A delightfully neat scrapbook. Many thank yous.

Starflower, Lovin. I have read the book and loved it. too. The "review' was good, better than tiie verse. Aurora, Feilding. Yes, the pen-name is yours now, Clare, and I hope a penfriend replies.

.Mary Greiff, Wanganui. A pretty song . . . better than the last, but still lacking your usual simplicity. Grey Owl, Woodville. All the answers were right, and the riddle-nie-ree was a good one, thank you. I liked the drawings.

Yvyette, Palmerston North. Perhaps Sweetie is a hen canary, and in the spring maybe she and Tweetie will have some fluffy chickens. I am glad you have joined again, and like the pen-name. The badge will come. Mario Gilmour, Island Bay. I loved both the drawings, but am very sorry they were a day late, and will have to be used next week. The heading may have to' wait until we have another page next year. Noel Coward, Wellington. I am anxious to see the serial, so remember to bring it next time you come. Pine Needle, Masterton. It was a good beginning even if it was copied, but I much prefer original things, Brenda. Perhaps. next time you will be able to make up some small things out of your head. Bose Queen?, Hiiknnul. I hope the third time was lucky, indeed, tor whooping cough is not pleasant to have. I did miss your letter last week. The poem was good.

Fairy Maid, .Hiikanni. I hope both yours and Tiny Tim’s colds are better by now .. . perhaps .Tack Frost- had something to do with it. Fly will be fun on summer days if you can take her for rambles.

The Scribe, Wellington. Quite incredible. not almost . . . but it makes good reading! Your construction is improving. When are you coming to see me again? Ngaere Baker, Paten. Thank you for the lion. You must be very busy to belong to two leagues!

Linarla. Pulmereton North. A blue and gold fairy sounds very pretty—you must tell me more of the ball and how it goes. I am sure David will like school. The till was a good lieginning. James, Waiterere Bench. I have been quite close to the old wreck of the Hyderabad too —do you ever play at pirates about It?

Shadow Pixie, Pnrapamnmu. You must have lots of fun with Nigger, ami it was a nice little story.

Barnacle Bill, Featherston. I am keeping your wee paragraph and the good drawing for a pets’ corner in a few weeks. Jean McLean, Pnniparaumu.. No, Toi Toi is not taken if you would like that. Il was a good wee paragraph, and I am keeping it for a pets' corner soon. Bonfire, C'astleclifl'. You may just write letters and if you write stories and poems or draw, send those in for the weekly competitions for points. Watch the work of other members and follow that. Margaret McLean, Paraparauinu. Does Vanilla make the holes to let her piglets escape? I liked the drawing very much. Golden Dawn, Puhiatua. It was a lovely poem, and I wish it had been your own, for copied ones very seldom find their way into tiie page. Chum, Parev.mnui. I had pansies out until nearly mid-winter this year, they .were a constant joy. If you just put Carterton In tiie address it would probably find her. I am keeping the pets paragraph for a special pets’ corner soon. Miss New Zealand, Petone. I am keeping bits from your letter about the pets for a special pets’ corner soon. Tiki, Palmerston North. And your wee paragraph will find a corner in pets' corner too. Watch out for it soon. Tubby Toes Wilton, Palmerston North. Try to keep your paragraphs free and natural—as if you were talking to somebody. Deign, New Plymouth. The paragraph about tiie puss was excellent, and will be judged with the pets’ corner entries in a few weeks. Many thank yous for tiie wee gum boots—somebody will appreciate those on a wet day. Buster Boy, Wellington. A good story, thank you, and an unusual idea. Silver Peacock, Palmerston North. Do not miss tiie dancer, it should bo something you will always remember. I wish the Saint Bernard paragraph had been your own. New Zealand Lass, Wuipawa. Yes, blue for a favourite, and you arc far too fond of 100 many and too fine lines. I liked the bunny drawing best, but that was its fault. Geisha Girl. Hawcrii. Indeed, then I hope that Little Willie will send poems in. If is rather funny having a friend who is a member too. I will use your drawing soon. David Shaw, Wellington. I believe you are setting out upon n new adventure, and I wisli you tiie best of happiness. Pat Ilanly, Otakl. Tell Delia that her pen-name belongs to another member, and she may choose again. Thank you all for the paragraphs. Lotus Bud, Pllmmerton. And I expect you cooked and nte those cod all by yourself for tea. Were they rock cod, red. or blue, or brown kelpies? Make your drawings on unlined white paper. Popcorn. Island Bay. Drawings must be nn unllned white paper in pencil or Indian ink. say the rules. Itemember next time. Curley Anne. ■- _ A lovely fat. piggy and her piglets. I will have to find a corner for them soon. Hnin, Rnunintl Bench. Thank you for the photo. I liked it. very much, and the others too—they will be returned shortly. I am glad the canoe plans are all right, and yon must tell me more of it when it is completed.

Shirley Knowles, Carterton. Welcome to the League. Shirley, and I hope you will write me a little letter soon. Miss Billy, Wellington. Tree page on the Saturday before Arbor Day is the next “special” and your idea is a good one but would be trespassing into advertising grounds. I am going to see that picture next week. Hormia, Lovin. Quite a promising drawing, Hermia, and the ink is quite hard to manage at first, isn't it? Lieutenant Colonel, Wellington. Come, in again, another day. It is nice to have somebody to chat to us I work. Miss Lavender, Makiira. I am sure it was sent, so if you have not received the badge, it must be lost Indeed, and another will come for you. Jane Withers, Wellington. Come and see me again some d-jy, and perhaps you .ould bring Noeleen with you. Jack Lomotil, Lower Hutt. I will try to use them in Puzzle Corner soon, thank you, and it is a good idea to think out puzzles if you are not good at stories. Noeleen Ludwig. Wellington. Welcome, Noeleen,- and perhaps you could come in one day to visit me. Sybil Jason, Wellington. 1 thought you had been in before, but I could not remember when. Come again. Irish Paddy, Otakl. Welcome to tiie League, Patricia, and do you write tales or draw, I wonder? Te Roto, 'Takapitu. I will try to remember. and I liked both your pen-name and tiie wee poem. Pixie Pickles, Mastorton. Your old gnome drawing was a week late, but I liked the horse paragraph very much. Tauponui a Tin, Island Bay. Both drawings were good, but the animal one was too “liney” for use. Coming a-visit-ing son? Elizabeth Taylor, Ilataltal. I wished I could have used the photos, but tlierf simply was not room. I liked the paragraph and the wee drawing, thank you. Ilune, RongotaL I believe you had four and were missed in the last list . . . that will never do! I am glad you liked the books. It was quite a good little story. Lucy Locket, Eastbourne. I am very sorry about tiie book, and can only think it was mislaid in tiie post. I hope you like this one. and that it is not too old. Dancing Fairy, Foxton. Good old Nobby, 1 expect you missed him dreadfully at first. Tiie drawing was a good beginning. Dad’s Cobber, Carterton. Spring already? Dear me, it seems only yesterday that we had spring’s own page, and soon I will have to be thinking of another. It. was a good letter, and I expect mother never stops telling of her adventure with the white elephant. Tliiiiwlin, Rtiunuitl Beach. I thought it must have been that story, it was a good one. Duke must have been a wonderful old horse, and I am sorry 1 could not use the photos. Cheepside, Wadestown. Yon drew those animals very well, and I will use the chinchilla one next week most likely. Goddess of Hunting. Masterton. This is the first drawing you have sent me and it is a good beginning, especially as you drew him from real life.

Pearl o' the Sea, Kllbirnie. Timothy is indeed a beautiful puss, and looks almost as big as my own, which is hugeous! The scrapbooks sound most exciting, and I will look forward to tiie visit. Mako Shark, Itaumati Beach. And it was one of tiie happiest snaps I have seen for a long time. 1 am sorry I could uot use it iu the page. .Margaret Ryan, National Park. You are a lucky one to have snow outside the very window! Your canary sounds a cheerful pet. . . . how does lie like Ihe snow? The story was good, but not as good as the first. Tlmre were too many "whys.” so that, the point of the story was almost lost. Joan Turner, Wuipukurau. Yes. you may sign yourself Old Beau in future, and if you send a penny stamp you may have a second badge. You would look like a major from tiie wars if you put all those badges across your chest! Please tell me whether the poem is original or not. Curleyhuir, Featherston. It was a promising puss, and I think Mickey must have gone wild. The wattle paragraph was good. Ronda, Palmerston North. Your description in tile letter was by far the best; it. was natural and easy in comparison with the other, and achieved tiie picture that the other missed completely because it was artificial. Tiie ode missed because it was stilted and lacked simplicity in spite of its simple theme. Scotch Lassie, Atea. Dear me, I do not know how a mistake like that could have been made, and I am sorry the friends are not pleased. Please give them my apologies, explain tiie mistake, and I sure they will see reason. There will not lie a penfriends’ list this week, and I am afraid it. will be too late next week. It seems sad to let all who replied down. Valerie, Palmerston North. There are tides in rivers, and I expect that explains the phenomenon. Read Honda’s reply and think deeply upon it, for almost the same applies to you . . . Remember above all. to be natural. Te Rauparnlm, Bunnythorpe. The story was not worked out sufficiently. Could you not have explained tiie little man's presence better, instead of making the rather vague sentence at tiie end explain the mystery? Readers would feel they wanted to know more at the end of your tale. Otherwise it was quite good. Jessie Lum Jack, Waipukurau. Golden Butterfly is not taken, so you may have that for a pen-name. I am sorry tiie mistake about your age was made. Lavender, VTaipiikurau. I must have mistaken your age for your sister’s. Tell Charlie he is unlucky again, and would he like just. "Buffalo”? Jane Lum Jack Waipiikurnii. I think. I must have mislaid your badge so I will send another soon.