OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3597, 1 April 1924, Page 8

OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

A BEAUTY SPOT, What are popularly known as the limestone caves at Plrlpirl are situated on Mr Shore’s property; but the best, though least known cave in the same locality is that on Mr J. Enright’s farm, a mil e nearer Palmerston. This cave is seventy feet down, and three chains long. Ic is easy of access, and Mr Enright gives good welcome to visitors wishing to explore its beauties. Across the Kaumai and Piripin bridges and returning this side of the Pohangina river, a circuit of about sixty-six miles, is one of the finest drives in 'this district, A Genuine Amatl From Manawatn Thirty or forty years ago, Father Patterson was the well-known Pastor in charge of the Palmerston North Roman Catholic Church, but it was as a talented musician and composer, and connoisseur that he was even more widely known He journeyed to Italy with the object of gaining assistance to build the Catholic Church here, which is now about to be succeeded by the handsome structure in course of erection in Broad street. Among the donations was what proved, to be a genuine Amatl violin, the gift of an Italian peasant. After delighting the musical people of this district with its rich tones, the time came when it had to be sold in order to proceed with the building. A well known Feikling lady who now lives in Wanganui, bought it for £7O. After many years she was induced to part with it for £175, to the Trinity College examiner, who had seen and secretly admired it when on his periodical visits to New Zealand. He now treasures it too greatly to be tempted by four figures at which sum its market value is assessed. Books lor the Boys. In speaking of the influence of environment last week, Mr Walton, of Foxton, instanced the question of liter ature, for the young folks. It is true that this is either of the "goody” kind or pernicious stuff, both of which are rejected by the healthy minds ot young or matured years. The fault lies with the personal selection of those who guide the youngsters, but even more with 'the want of good production, and the flooding of the market with trash. An experienced librarian knows only too well that the juvenile section is not catered for as well as the general branch of our public library. When a ’ selector has gone through Charles Lamb, Stevenson, Kipling, Ballantyne, ond half a dozen others, he finds that only men of genius of the front rank are capable of writing for children. Why, one does not know, unless it be that only such writers forget themselves, write naturally, and do not strive after effect. To write for the people seems easy, for thousands of good books are available. To select for boys and girls, requires all the genius of a literary committee. Consequently this is where every public library Is deficient. The torch of the censor should be applied to the printed page and the picture film in greater degree. They are among the greatest of our pleasures, but are equally capable of evil, and the censorship in both is merely nominal.

The runny Bone, The funny bone is a serious matter when you consider it in the light of a knock, or even think of it by its scientific name—anatomically, it is that exposed part of the elbow where th e ulnar nerve passes down the inner condyle of the humerus. Possibly if was the similarity of the name of that part of the brachium, to the synonym for “funny,” which suggested its familiar title. A slight knock produces intense pain down the whole length of the nerve. Last week this occurred in a local household, where a lady, alone with the very small family, met with just such a knock, with the result that she fainted, and remained unconscious for some time.

Capuchin! In Ruins.

The famous Capuchinl Cathedral in Italy, which was reported in Saturday’s cable messages to have been destroyed by a landslide, has for centuries been on 0 of the most beautiful ruins in the world.A Palmerston resident has a splendid picture which shows its hundreds of giant marble columns covered with grape vines, on the steep hill-side overlooking the sea. Apparently it had once before been ruined by a similar cause. It was built in the year 1280, and was the original house of the Capuchin Order of Monks. A distinguishing characteristic of the Order was the shaven lips and cheeks, with the beard groAving from car to oar under the chin. This custom was adopted by old English labourers, and first broken by the followers of Lord Dundrary, Avho shaved the chin and neck to shorv that they Avere not of the common people. Now wc all shave clean, to show that such distinctions have been removed.