WHY?—

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 May 1925, Page 18

WHY?—

Why do wo .see a black spot in the sky after looking at the sun?

The letina, or carta?n, or sensitive plate, at the hack ol the eye never needs changing. You can ■see one picture alter another, day after day and year alter year. Rut it is possible to work this .screen too, hard; for it is a living thing, and it is just because it is alive that it is able to recover it-elf, and, .so to speak, make itself Iresh again, for every new picture that we see with it. A photographic plate sees, as we may say, because certain chemical compounds that are upon it, are changed ’by the tig; lit-. TTie retinoj of the eye sees in the same way, but because it is alive it, has the power of making fresh from moment to moment the particular kind of stuff the light acts on. But if you ,sta,re hard at anv light so inten.se! as- the sun itself. then, at that .spot of the retina where the light falls, all the reserve supply of this sensitive stuff is used up; and now. if you turn vour eyes somewhere else, that particular part is useless for the moment; 'it is blind, it sees nothing. But if it sees nothing, whereas all the retina around it sees light, that gives us the notion that we see a black spot —that is to say, a, spot from which no, light comes. But in a second or two this wonderful living screen recovers itself, makes a fresh supply of the stuff light acts on, and the black spot disappears.

I-fa worn May 19

' Dear Smile Queen, —Please may 1 1 join your Smile family? 1 like reading ‘ your * stories and letters. I am twelve 1 years old and I have one little sister. ! Her name is Betty and she is one and - a-half years old, and can talk quite a * lot. I have a big baby doll and a seaI grass pram. 1 have been sick for a long 1 time, but I am better now. Mummy and Daddy and I went to New Ply- , mouth on Sunday for a drive in our motor-car. We are going to Wanganui on Friday with my grandad and Uncle. Well, I must close now. Hoping you are quite well, with best love from Adrian Blanche. ’ [Long ago, a big doll and a seagrass pram were things J always wantled. , You are lucky to have so much motoring in one week. — S.Q.] Rama Road, Kaupokonui, Mav 16. I Dear Smile Queen,—l now sit down to write to you again. I am very sorry I did not write to you the last two weeks. We are milking 28 cows at night and 42 in the morning. I. am very pleased school is opened again. We are driving to school this year. I am starting Sunday school again next Sunday. Mother is out in the garden picking some flowers for the | vases in the front room. I am very sorry, but I have to close now. I remain, your true friend, Thelma Jones. [Can you milk, too? Where did you find the poetry? Always put the name of the writer or the hook from which you copied it.—S.Q.] | Rama road, Kaupokonui, May 16. Doai- Smile Queen, —I was very ! pleased to see my last letter fn the ; Smile Column. Lam very glad, school j has started again, as I like going. My • little two-year-old heifer had a calf the other day, and I call her “Fairy.” I I am closing with love to you. From yours truly, Julia Bektrrdge. I , “ | fs “Fairy” named in honour of the I Castle ?—S.Q.] : Hawera. May 24. j Lt-.-.r Smile Queen, —T hope you and i your Smiles are quite well. We were staying at the Waingongora beach. I l hope yoit will like the things I am sending for the Gift Cupboard. .1 think it is very kind of you to put the stories and poems in the paper. J think it is lovely to have a corner of the paper to ourselves. With lots ov 'love and kisses for you and your Smiles. Your Little friend, Alison Kemp. [You do not need to write out the Castle Pledge, Alison. That is only for those new ones who wish to join. You are already a member. Who told you my secret way of writing loves and kisses? 1 send a lot back to von, too.-S.Q.] Manaia Rd., Kaponga, May 20. Dear Soule Queen', —1 must write! and thank yon for your beautiful card you gave me. I enjoyed myself very much. I have nob much to say. I •am helping Do-ris Guy write her first | 1 letter. J remain. yours, FQsie Harding. j

fl have Doris's name in the book. — S.Q.]

Hawera. May 16

Dear Smile Queen, —It is a very long time ago since I last wrote to you. You will excuse me I am sure, because I have had a lot of home work to do. So On Saturday night, when I was reading the children’s corner and had nothing to do, I thought I would write a letter to you and tell you all about the news which 1 had in my mind. 1 think your roll will soon ho filled with names, and soon you will, not be able to till them in. 1 will try and write another letter next week if I do not have much home work. I will now close. From one of your Smile friends, Lester Foy.

[The roll book is very large, Lester Are you p laving football this season -S.Q.]

Hawora, May 16

Dear Smile Queen, —I am very sorry I did not write before, but 1 did not have time. I am in Standard IV, and I am glad school has opened again, because L did not like doing work out of the paper. I have got two brothers older than' myself. One of them is in Standard V and the other in Standard V'l. We always have home work, • sometimes four sums. Every Saturday - night I look at the Smile Castle page to see how many new Smiles there are. I cannot make up any pieces of poetry. I must now close, hoping you and all the other Smiles are well. With love from, Barbara Foy. [lt’s good to hear from both Lester and you again. How is Ken ? —S.Q.J Rowan, May 20. Dear Smile Queen. —I hope you will forgive me lor not writing l’or such a long time. We, arc learning a piece of poetry about the frowns ancl smiles. I like reading the letters in the paper, and will try to make something for the Gift Cupboard. lam making a rag doll at school, and iS it is nice enough I will send it. 1 will stop now. With love to all your members and yourself, Mavis Hardalcer.

[I wonder if that piece of poetry is the piece which I had in the fu st Smile letter;-' It begins: “If I knew a box where the smiles were kept.”—S.Q.]

Waihi Rd., Hawera, May 1.6

Dear Smile Queen, become one of your many Smiles r' 1 am 11 years 7 months old. I go to the Ha worn main school. I have to walk a mile and a half to school every morning. I like reading the children’s page very much. I think it is a good idea to make presents for the children in the hospital. I will make some things and send them later. I think this is all I can say now. I remain, your loving Smile, Florence Walsdorf. > [A very neatly written letter Florence. We are ©leased to have you. — S.Q.] Mountain lid., Eltham, May 16. Dear Smile Queen. —As I have been away from schoo[ with a bad mouth 1 thought it a good chance to write to you and"ask if 1 may join' your large family of SVniles. I am six years old and in Primer two. I have two sisters. One is eleven and the other three. My Sunday school teacher is Mrs. Murray. Well, I must close now. Your loving Smile, Robin Paterson. [There’s plenty of room for you Robin. You’ll be able to wear a big Smile to schoo] now. I wonder if your big sister would join us? —S.Q.] Te Kiri, May 16. Dear Smile Queen,—May I become one of your members? I am eleven years old and in Standard fou r at school. I go to Sunday school every Sunday and like it very much. If 1 am coming home from schooj with The Star I am nearly always first to see the children’s page. My big brother has a little grey kitten. Please will you give me a name for it? We have live ducks, 26 cows, 16 hens and five horses. I have two miles to walk to school. It takes us about half an hour. Well, dear Smile Queen, 1 must close now as bedtime is near, so goodbye. With love, from Lily Blossom. [Welcome Lily. When is your birthday? . How do you think “'Mischief” would suit the grey kitten ? I suppose it does get into mischief. What lots of animals you have! —S.Q.]