THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 March 1928, Page 18

THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

I promise to smile every time I can, and to chase all the frowns into the dark cave, where the Smile Qiant will kiU them with his Magic Sword Happiness.

My Dear Smiles,— ~ ~ , , un Did any of you see the picture “lies Miserables at the Opera House the beginning of this week? I saw it many years ago when I was a tiny little girl and it lives m mv memory because it was so sad and at the same time so beautiful. When we see pictures like that we have a glimpse of some of the misery that France has suffered m the past. It is a wonderful country. One hundred years ago she was reduced to a state of poverty and wretchedness by all the horrors of war, and by courage and hard work—-oh, very hard work—all the people of France rebuilt their nation. They ploughed the land and grew everything it was possible to grow to feed themselves and make money to pay off the national debt. There was no waste land in France and no idle people. Every little backyard and side ox a hill was growing something. The country is famous tor "rapes, and wherever a hill seemed too steep for cultivation terraces were cut and vines planted. The sunny slopes made excellent vineyards and the grapes grew and ripened so abundantly that at the right season people were allowed to pay 60 centimes (that used to be equal to our bd) to enter the gardens and eat as many grapes as they wished. Another thing the peasants grew to a fine art was flowers. Oh! the carnations, violets and roses! We in New Zealand can hardly realise the glory. When our roses are in bloom, Smiles, try and remember to ask a florist to show you a bloom of the “Gloire de Dijon,” and you will see one specimen of rose which grows to profusion in France. In the sunny south, on the slopes of the Mediterranean, you see acres and acres of carnations and Parma violets. The Parma violets are much larger than ours and double. They are paler and have a very sweet scent. The blooms, of these are all gathered and conveyed to “parfumeries” or scent factories. , Another industry that flourishes m France is the manufacture of fabrics. Much of our delicate silk, marocain and georgette comes from Lyons, a large manufacturing town in this busy country. , , _ Oh! Smiles, I could write a great deal about France. It is a wonderful country with a wonderful people, and the secret of the wonder is Patriotism —the love for that country. Whenever it has been in distress the people, rich and poor, have worked hard to redeem the lost fortunes. There are all kinds of ways of showing our love for our homeland. Next week I will tell you about a brave woman who lost her life in Belgium while being true to her beloved Britain. You all know who it will be, don’t you, Smiles? I hope you are all starting to write diligently to the Castle, because it will be interesting to add up and see who really is the most regular correspondent. Good-night just now, my fairies. I just shut my eyes at times and see you all in my Castle, happy together—then I wave the wand and see you all happy in your own homes, always helping—always smiling. Much love from your affectionate — SMILE QUEEN.