Swing Time !

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

Swing Time !

Who would like to travel on an ocean-liner with me? Close your eyes, say “Abracadabra,” turn round three times, and, presto! we are sailing over the seas to the, Philippines. Our first port of call is Davao, with its bush-covered hills and green plantations and gardens of red hibiscus flowers. The children arc just coming out from school and they smile and say “Hullo!” in English. The mothers bring their little bright-eyed, brown-skinned babies to the doorways for us to sec, and- the “shoe-shine” boys run after us, each one calling loudly in the hope of gaining our custom.. We stay to watch a large water buffalo having a mud-bath. Usually it takes four days to reach Manila, but our magic craft takes only as many seconds. We hail a carromata —a tiny, vermiUion-hooded carriage drawn by a sturdy pony in a brass-studded harness. The more metalon the trappings the wealthier the owner. Off zve jingle, over the canal bridge to the old Spanish city encircled by huge zvalls of grey stone. The streets are cobbled and narrow, and the green-

—Original, by Sandra (13). shuttered hoiiSCS lean -lose together. A black-robed priest goes by. . The sun beats down on the doors of the great cathedral, but inside it is quiet and cool. We return through a high, arched gateway in the ancient wall to view the modern Manila. 7he women have blouses of gauze, with enormous sleeves like l butterfly wings, and all the dustmen wear scarlet trousers. In Hong-Kong Harbour the Chinese propel their frail little boats against the sides of the liners and the tiny children thrust zip round, wet nets and enact a comical pantomime of signs to induce the passengers to give them money. . If a coin is thrown into the water the older boys will dive for it. Whole families live on the wharf-barges, zifiich are decorated with strips of crimson paper to scare away the 'evil spirits. We stay on shore just long enough to have a rickshaw ride and then away we sail for the Land of the Rising Sun, with its small, smiling people in sandals and kimonos; its lanterns and shrines; and its snow-capped sacred mountain. We will slide back the doors of one of the quaint bamboo houses and a smiling little Japanese maid will bring its green tea and mochi cakes before we start out to view the cherry blossoms. Now, since we have been a-journeying, we have brought back a competition all the way from China. The original pictures of the Chinese lady and the junk illustrated on our page were made from stamps, only the features and the background being painted in. Do you think you could copy one of them and send it in to me? You may use any kind of stamps you like, and star points will be given for the best entries. So get to work and see if your fingers are as clever at making pictures as those of the Chinese folk in Kowloon, where these were made. I Happy, happy days!

Furry Stories

No. 9

| 1 ERE'S Furry Fred who's pushing Fan upon the Furries' ** swing. A harmless pastime, you may think? Indeed, it's no such thing! "Just push me high!" calls naughty Fan, "as high as high can be, And then I'll reach the apples on the next door apple tree!" Up, up she went, and out she stretched her greedy little P°w — , ... But, most unhappily for Fan, the next door neighbour saw!

PLEASE SEND ME A SCRAPBOOK FOR MY FURRY PHOTOS.”J NAME | ADDRESS I Enclosed please find 4d. in stamps to cover cosy of book and postage. | (Post this to “The Dominion,” Willington.) .