W.E.A. CLASSES

Evening Star, Issue 19546, 3 May 1927, Page 14

W.E.A. CLASSES

LITERATURE Tho first meeting of tlio sixth session of the literature class of tho W.E.A. was held in the Lower Oliver Hall on Tuesday evening last, when about fiftyfive students listened to Miss M. H. King on the programme of study of tho works chosen last year by a vote of tho members—vizi, Shelley, George Sand, the sisters Bronte, Fogozarro, R. L. Stevenson. Oscar Wilde, G. Bernard Shaw, R. Tagore, Rudyard Kipling, and G. K. Chesterton. After detailing, the actual period during which the above writers were producing their best, the lecturer made some interesting comparisons between the literature of tho_ eighteenth century and that of the period of the romantic revival. The former was class-ridden, its actions were formal, its niorality prudential; its novels were typical, centring round rank ami wealthy .The’romantic revival was a very important period of English_ literature, budding with tho publication of the ‘Lyrical Ballads ’ in 1798 the revival of, romantic fiction taking place about 1850. The period marked. the new elasticity in tho choice of form and subject, a robustness of mind, and was sane and generous, as opposed to that of extremes or affectation of the earlier period. It produced works of ideal tendency, a renaissance of wonder, proclaiming a. spirituality of life, and that the rank of man is not to be judged by possessions or power—that the real_ distinction should bo sought in tbe intrinsic worth, range of understanding, and sympathy. In regard to the poet Shelley, he was born in 1792, tho year of the proclamation of tho French Republic, and tbe massacre of September in Paris. Though condemned by the English politicians, the French Revolution, strange to say, found response in the hearts of_ all the poets of the time, but in their older rears Wordsworth and Coleridge came to view it with disfavor. Shelley was inspired hy the underlying teaching and motive powers of tho French Revolution. A poet of creative imagination, he was a tvpicnl figure of the romantic revival.’ His genius was mythological, thought clothing itself in daring imagery. The next lecture will deal with Shelley’s philosophical poems—‘ Queen Mab,’ ‘The Revolt of Islam.] ‘Prometheus Unbound,’ and tbe. ‘ Triumph of Life,’ embodying his views on life. The following lecture will he devoted to the consideration of Shelley as a lyrical poet. The election of officers resulted in Mr Turner being npuointcd ns_ representative to the W.E.A. District_ Council, Misses Drakely and Boyd as librarians, Miss Roll ns secretary, and Mr Gilchrist as reporter. BIOLOGY The opening meeting of the biology class B as held on Friday, April 22, when Dr Holloway commenced a ceries of talks on ‘Plant Geography and Human Life.’ This first evening was devoted to a study of the various factors affecting distribution of plants and the effect of plant geography on human activity. The vegetation of the world can be divided into zones or latitudinal belts, commencing at the Equator and passing down to the Poles._ Phis shows best in tho Northern Hemisphere, owing to the greater areas of land. Light retards growth. Plants respond to the difference in intensity of light, types developed in the dark interior of the forest varying from those growing in sunlight. You can classify plants according to the amount of sunlight or shade required. _ Rainfall, or rather constancy of humidity, both of the soil and of the atmosphere, is modified by winds and ocean currents. Prevailing winds affect the temperature and humidity of a country. If they blow in from the ocean they are moisture laden, but if they blow across tbe land they are dry. The Mediterranean type of vegetation depends upon the fact that in summer the westerly winds in the Northern Hemisphere move northwards, and in the Southern Hemisphere move southwards. Ocean currents influence vegetation. The general trend of these currents is controlled by the fact that at, the Equator tho waters are warmer and at the Poles colder. There are two types of seasonal changes; ono is from hot to cold, the other from dry to wet. In the northern temperate zone it is the change from tho heat of summer to the cold of winter that brings about the deciduous type of forests. The change from dry to wot season you get in the Mediterranean countries, Tho effect of all these factors on plant geography is shown in tho distribution of plants and animals and so on man and his occupations. It is plant life that does ultimately control all animal life. On April 29 the_ second talk was given, tho subject being ‘ Tbe Optimum Vegetation of the Wet Tropics.’ Near the Equator wo find tropical wet forests, with optimum temperature aud optimum humidity. It is optimum because it is equable, there being no regular dry season during tbe year. The soil is at its best, both regarding constituents and drainage. On the whoje the aeration' is good. The Amazon Valley, the West Coast and Congo m Africa, Burma, Malay, Java, Sumatra, and Now Guinea all have wet tropical forests. The forests of the Amazon Valley are of two types—the flood forests along the rivers, which when in flood, inundate the forest; the floor is of slimy mud, so there is not the luxuriant undergrowth found in the dry-floor forests. What you do find are palms at their very best, also climbing plants called liancs; but mostly there is a tangled, matted vegetation of ropes and stumps. These lood forests form only a small part of riie Amazon forests. Most of the country is undulating, and there we find tall trees formis# a canopy, with great undergrowth,’ also perching plants known as epiphytes. -The forest is intensely populated, yet there is not room .for one out of each thousand of the . young plants to grow up. In the intense struggle for life every possible contrivance to gam a position has been developed, an , although the developments vary, the end in view is identical, that they should get enough sunlight to produce flowers and so carry on their race, in the New Guinea forests there are great walls of vegetation, with no end ot tree ferns and a heavy canopy overhead. In the Congo forests the vegetation is not so luxuriant. On the floor you get a fine display of creepers and shrubs. The same conditions which bring about such luxuriant plant life also bring about luxuriance in animal life. The temperature favors breeding all the year round, so tlutt insect life is most abundant. The direct heat of the sun is suitable for hatching the eggs of reptiles. The abundance of food brings about abundance of animal life, nut and fruit feeders, including monkeys, apes, squirrels, birds, all adapted to life in tbe trees. Then there are twig and leaf eaters, the elephant and rhmocero's, antelope and deer. With such abundance of animal life we must expect the carnivorous or meat-eating animals. You have the cat family (the jaguar, tiger, leopard) in the various countries.' Crocodiles without number are the pest of the Amazon. Tree snakes and ground snakes abound. Of root feeders there are a fair number, mostly of the pig family. There are plenty Of insect feeders, birds, opossums, sloths. Lizards and frogs appear to have been originally confined to the ground and water, but some species now live in the trees. These show marvellous adaptations to their environment. In a land of forest nnd_ stream, both animal and vegetable kingdoms have been I developed to suit_ these conditions. Every tree, every animal, and every man is a living example of horedjtj

and environment. _ Nature does not take care of weaklings; if they cannot fight and adapt themselves, they must make room for those who can. _ The conditions which bring about a rich animal and plant life are not suitable for heavy human population. There is no lack of food, there being an abundance of Brazil nuts, oranges, cacao, pineapples, bananas, mantioc, cassava, cocoanut and oil palms, besides edible birds, animals, _ and fish. It is the humid, dark conditions which do not agree with man. The evolution of human life under civilised conditions is not according to nature’s method. Civilised population can only bo kept going by the gathering of large marketable quantities of these foods. The lectures were illustrated by a number - of lantern slides depicting tropical scenes. After the lecture a number of questions were asked and answered. Tbe next subject to bo dealt _ with is ‘Plant, Animal, and Human Life 'f Dpsert Regions.’ , The following office-bearers were elected for tbe present year:—President, Mr G. Crowther; secretary. Mr R. S. Dunn;; librarian, Miss Drakeley.