HAPPY COGS

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 160, 9 July 1938, Page 14

HAPPY COGS

SKILLTEST WINNER The winner of this week’s Skilltest is Jewel, who is by the way, a little sick Cog. Congratulations from us all

Jewel. WELCOME IN Edgar Brett, Halcombe. Cyril Brett, Halcombe. Sylvia Smith, Makerua. Noeline McNab, Halcombe. A LOST NAME Would Little Old Woman please send 1 in her name and address—she will re- - ceive her Skilltest prize? i “ Father,” said Jim, “there’s a big < black cat in tho dining room.” “Never mind,” replied his father, ; “black cats are lucky.” ] “Yes, this is, he’s got your dinner.” i (Sent in by Silver Spray.)

■J ANSWER TO FISH PUZZLE ' The correct answer is 12 fish, usln* ALL of the letters of the 12 given, thus:—

EEL HAKE. RAY PIKE. COD SOLE. BASS TROUT. CARP SHARK. LING SPRAT. ANOTHER REQUEST FOR MR PUS. Bainesse. Dear Hub, —Has not the weather been dreadful lately?—of a morning I don’t feel like going to school as it is raining too hard. We have just about fin* (ished our first exam and there are only one or two more subjects to do. lam knitting a grey and blue jumper for myself which I think will look very pretty. May we have jumbled birds’ names for a Skilltest Juanita.

YET ANOTHER NEW COG > Halcombe. Dear Aunt Jane and Hub, —We have just started to take tho “Times” and I am interested in the Cogs’ Page, i do not know any particulars of your Page. My name is Cyril Brett, I was thirteen last May 9 and I am in Std. 6. I am very keen on stamp collecting, also my Meccano which I have made quite a hobby of. I would like to become a member of the Cogs’ Page if I am not over age. I am sending in this week’s i “fishy” puzzle, but as my brother is ; sending the piece that is .in the paper, I am putting mine on a piece of pad paper instead. Will this mean the same ’ us we both can’t have the paper? Cyril Brett. P.S. I would like my pen-name to be j“Popeye. ” Does it matter if the Skilltest fish are English fish or not? I am putting the English fish in a separate column. Welcome in Cyril to our Happy Family. No, you are not over age. You will find a corner in the Page which will explain just what being a Cog means. “Popeye” has already been taken. Would “Captain Blood” do? Send threepence in stamps and a Cog's badge will be posted you. You may write out tho Skilltest on a separate paper. Makomako. Dear Hub, —Here I am again. I meant to write last week but did not send it away. I only thought of it at the last minute. I hope you can read my writing, as lamin a hurry. I never forget to read P. and P.’s nice long letters. I also read Bonnie Bluebell’s, and Lily of Laguna’s letters. I lovo reading them. Well as there is no more news I will close. Dorothy Perkins. We have some very clever poets among our Big Family, haven’t we, Dorothy Perkins? It is a marvel to us how P. and P. manages to write in as she does every week. Feilding. Dear Hub, —It is a long time ago since I wrote to you. I always read the Cogs ’ Page overy week. lam doing the Skilltest. I have been home with a very bad cold. I have some pet bantams, one I call Tiny and she will follow me anywhere and let me pick her up. She also comes in the house if she gets the chance. She lays me a lovely little egg which I have for my breakfast. It is very wet to-day. It is not very nice for the little lambs. I will try and write more often in future. Lots of love to the Cogs and yourself. Honey; The Den wondered what had become of you, Honey. You are a lucky little girl having a chookie like Tiny. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CORNER “THE LITTLE BUSY BEE” The word “bee,” as applied to spelling, sewing, etc., came to light in America during the 18th century. It refers to the accurate and industrious nature of the bee. In the 19th century I there was & vogue for spelling-bees in j England, but except in this case, ‘ ‘ bee ’ ’ was seldom attacked to other words. .In America, however, there still exist 'quilting-bees, reading-bees, huskingbees, apple-bees and raising-bees, the last three describing meetings of farmers to assist in each other’s har- | vests.

POWDER AND PATCHES WRITES OF MANY THINGS Hukanui. Dear Hub, — I'm going to pen a letter And I sit in bed to write, The time is just ten thirty And my rhyming’s not bright. I’m think of the times, Hub, In the golden, olden days, When adventures thrilled me daily, Like a set of children ’s plays. I’m going to write on everything That comes into my mind, I hope that something interesting My readers all will find. Jennifer is one to-day, Her charm is still increasing, It seems when e’r we see her, A. new word she’s releasing. I went shopping in Palmerston On Tuesday, and I had Lots of fun in buying Things that make me glad. Last Saturday I danced, Hub, In Masterton, and I Did the olden dances, The time did surely fly. On Monday I attended The R.S.A. ball Held in Eketahuna, Where there were thrills for all. I’d never danced before there, And enjoyed myself a lot, Although the night was chilly And I was never really hot. And I wish were Victorian And rustled as I pass, Keeping modest eyes upon The daisies in the grass; Carrying a parasol, Wearing a bonnet sweet, A shawl and tiny locket And recticule so neat. If only we could act and dress As in the days of old, When women were womanly And only men were bold. When gowns were surely gorgeous, And maidens shy and prim, When feathers were considered Most elegant for trim. Most of this arises From our play ‘ 1 April Showers ’ ’ Where old and young and middle-aged Needleworked for hours. Oh! Hub, the sun is shining, It makes me feel less cold, And with institute o’er the way It makes me feel more bold. I’ve done a hooked rug, too, Cogs, The first I’ve ever seen, And Snowy (as I put him off) Thinks me very mean. It’s too wet to wear my costume And I have grown to sigh, Wondering at the season, Hub, And the senseless time to buy. Annie’s house is lovely, Cosy, modern, neat, It really is a dream come true Now everything’s complete. The little kitchenette, Hub, Most truly takes my eyes, Cupboards, cabinets and such, All low and also high. A tiny electric stove, A sort of buffet thing, Where you can get from either side, Things otherwise you’d bring From kitchenette to breakfast room, Primrose and green Are the chosen colours And a truly lovely scheme. The dining-room is modern, With built-in cabinets And the breakfast room fireplace Has little seats for pets. I think it very lovely, But can’t describe it now, For my work is waiting And I don’t want a row. So love to cheery Coglets, And one who wrote of me, Cog Barpo, please accept Kind thanks from P. and P. Now this is all to-day, Hub, Love to all I send, And with hurried greeting My name once more I lend. Powder and Patches. Your letter this week is a veritable pot-pourri of ideas and things, P. and P. I am sure though that you would not feel very happy skating in a crinoline! ANOTHER NEW COG Halcombe. Dear Aunt Jane, —This is my first time of writing to you, and to ask you if I can be a member of your Cogs’ Page. I would like “Romeo” as a pen-name if it is not taken. I like playing football and soccer. My name is Edgar Brett and I am in Std. 3. I am nine years old and my birthday is in March on 25th. There were lots of children at my party and of course we had a good time. I am going to send in this week's Skilltest because I think ifc is easy and I hope I have got the right idea. I had a book from England which when opened the pictures stand up and I got another book of the Coronation with lots of picture of Their Majesties. Edgar Brett. Certainly you may join our Page, Edgar. What a newsy letter you write. You may have “Romeo” for a penname and if you send threepence in stamps in your will receive the Cog’s badge. AN ORIGINAL POEM THE LITTLE BAMBOO HUT Beneath the giant cedars Is my little bamboo hut, Where the gates of Heaven are open, And the gates of earth are shut. Nature unrolls her pictures, Her pageant of earth and sky, Morning, noon, and evening, While moon and stars pass by. There are visions there, and voices Within the bamboo hut, When the gates of Heaven are open, And the gates of earth are shut. —Original by Silver Spray.

A cameraman, working for the educational department of a film company, met a sarcastic farmer in town and said:—

1 “I’ve just been taking soma moving ipictures of life on your farm.” ‘‘Did you catch any of my men iu motion?” askod the old farmer, curiousitv. “Sure I did.”

The farmer shook his head reflectively, then commented: “Movies aro a wonderful thing!”

Pig.-—c—-Zoological Puzzle Look at the drawing and see how quickly you can detect a mistake made by the artist from sheer eagerness! Solution:—lf you know your natural history you will know that a giraffe cannot reach down to a stream to drink without spreading its front legs wide apart. The giraffe in the picture, as you will observe, has its front legs quite straight, although it is drinking. ROYAL PETS AT HOME We do not read of Royal pets in history books, but we may be sure that kings and queens all down the ages have had pets which have meant much to them. In tie time of Henry VIIL mention was made of money paid by the King and Robin, Keeper of the Royal Kennels, for ‘ ‘ hair cloth to rub spaniels with, >} and we hear of King Charles’ famous spaniels that lay on silken cushions by their master’s side. The English Royal Family is no exception to the rule, for they know that no home is complete without its pet. King George has a strong affection for horses, and at Buckingham Palace Mews are kept two of his favourites. Vain Bachelor and Daunsey, the splendid charger which he rides on State occasions. These horses are high spirited and in some hands are difficult to manage, but it is a pretty sight to see them nuzzling for sugar brought as a special treat by Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose. In another home of the Royal Family in Beigravc Square, there lies, on his own special mat, Druska, a huge Alsatian and faithful shadow of the Duke of Kent. Whenever the doorbell rings, Druska insists on being the first to inspect the visitor, and always sees him off when the visit is ended. His greatest doggy friend, strangely enough, is a quaint little Welsh Corgi, tho special pet of Princess Elizabeth, whose antics when he meets stately Druska cause much amusement in Hyde Park. The Duke and Duchess of Kent have lately added another pe to their household, Dinkie, a donkey, who lives down at Coppins in a paddock all to himself waiting for the day when little Prince Edward will be old enough to ride him. Many years ago a small boy took his rough-haired terrier for a walk in tho grounds attached to York Cottage, Sandringham. Like most small boys the sight of water suggested all kinds of exciting games, and although he had been warned to keep away from the lake and “not to get messy,” stick after stick was thrown into the water to the delight of the small terrier. But it happened that the steep bank at one point was too much for the dog’s legs, which meant that his young master had to rescue him at great expense to his new suit. And so Edward, Prince of Wales, as he then was, went supperless to bed. j King George V’s affection for his ; dogs was a very real part in his life, and he was never happier than when he could slip away to his kennels and help with the daily grooming. Perhaps his greatest favourite was Bob, a little grey Cairn,* whose chief delight was to scamper at the heels of Jock, the King’s white pony who so often carried his master through the woods and country lanes adjoining Sandringham.

Until recently Queen Mary never possessed a pet of her own, but now Bob has his special place by the hearth at Marlborough House. Queen Victoria was deeply devoted to animals, and strongly opposed all form? of cruelty to them. It was she who first gave Royal patronage to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal?. But perhaps no queen of recent history has surpassed Queen Alexandra in the intensity of her love for her pets. During the years she spent at Sandringham, she gathered about her a remarkable collection of dogs of all sizes and pedigrees. Big and little, well bred or of no breeding at all, they all found a home at Sandringham, and records show that there were sometimes as many as a hundred dogs living in tho Royal Kennels while she was mistress there.