OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15099, 23 March 1911, Page 4

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS.

(Conducted by Haoisteb, to whom all communications must be addressed.)

[MagISTEr will'bo gtnd'to receive Nntiiro notes, marked papers continuing educational articles, diagrams, details o; \cxperimcnts, etc., of scholastic interest to teachers mid pupils. Correspondent must, use only one side of tho paper, and whether using a pen Mime or not, must send both same and ADDRESS.]

SHILLING BOOKS FOR LIBRARIES. 111. Tho first, series I nan noticing to-day is " The World's Classics," published by Henry Frowde, of tho Oxford University Press, at Is net. Tho pocket edition, thin paper, limp cloth covers, gilt top, and each containing a portrait, are beautiful litt.lo volumes. There- is a. goodness about tho Oxford editions which appeals at once to the educated taste. In ono volume wo have "Lamb's Essays of Elia," and " Tho Last Essays of Kliu," and other volumes arc "Oliver Twist," _ "Tale of Two Cities," " Silas Jlarner,"' etc. (T. YVatts-Dunton); "Henry Esmond," "Gulliver's TVaiMJis," " Sartor Rosartus," " Biblo in Spain," "' Romany Rye," "Book of Snobs," " Professor at. fclio Breakfast Tabic" (Sir W. Robertson Nicoll); "Dutch Republic." (C. K. Shorter); danford (C. K. Shorter); "French Revolution" (C. R. L. Fletcher); "Gibbon's Autobiography " (J. B. Bury); " Cowpcr's letters" (E. V. Lucas). Tho names within parentheses are tho writers of the introductions or notes, and readers will recognise that they are in the flight as men of letters. This eerks gives a choice of over 150 volumes, the majority appealing to tht general and tho cultured reader. -Most of ''Tho World's Classics" are beyond tho average boy and girl reader, but "The Boys' Classics," 11 in number, by James Grant, Captain Marryat, W. Harrison Ainsworth, Fonimoro Cooper, Captain IVlayno lteid, and others fill tho bill.

"Tlio Everyman's Library," published by Dent and Sons, gives 500 books to select from, and covers a wider range flia.n a-ny other scries, 'fhoy are ciiisiliod under the following headings:—Biography, Classics, Essays and Belles Letters, Fiction, For Young People, History, Philosophy iind Theology, l'oetry ami Drama, Reference, Romance, Science, and Travel and Topography. Many volumes found hero do not appear in any other scries. On the other hand, many volumes aro found in three or four series,'and it then becomes a question of taste or particular requirements as to what series to select a volume, from. For instance, "The Ago of Fable" and "The Ago of Chivalry,'' volumes by Bulfinch, may be. preferred in " Eoutlcdgc's Universal Library," Robinson Cruses" in "Everyman's Library," and, say, "Ivauhoe' in " Coliins's Illustrated Pocket Classics." Again, many do not, like- the Hat backs oi Dent's series, tlierc being a tendency for t'ltnm to becomo concave und tho front convex. ''Coliins's Illustrated Pocket Classics" numbers about 150, almost all fiction. These are very neatly got up, and with many the illustrations will turn the genie in their favour. As most of the works appear in somo other series 1 shall not name any. Like tho books issued by John Murray and Henry Froivde. they present a good appearance. They are not cheap-looking; tliu print, however, though in clear type, k not quite so perfect, 1 think, as in the ease of tho two other publishers. "Library of Useful Stories," published formerly by Newness, is now sent out, I think, "by* Henry Frowdc. This series contains a very lino selection, and many of tho.m are cl direct value in school life. The stories of " Bird Life," " Forest aiul Stream," "The Atmosphere," "Tho Weather," "Life in tho iieas," "Geographical Discovery " " Euclid," '' Tho Alphabet' aie some among tho many. Of •' Blackio's Home and School Library" the "Bookman" says: "It is one of tho healthiest juvenile libraries in existence." Take the following as tome of the hundred or so:—'"Lives of Drake and Cavendish," "Tho Swiss Family Kobinson," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "Little Women," " Good Wives." Kinglake, Kingsley, Kingston, Ballantyne, i?eott, and a score of other good writers are levied upon for this scrie.s. This is one of the nories I recommended last year.

Ward, Lock, and Co.—This is a goodlooking series—nothing cheap and nasty either in matter or general get-up. Carhie, Thackery, Dickens, Eliot, and other standard writers are represented in the 50 odd already published. Among those familiar to boys and girls aro "Kric: or Little by Little" and "St Winifred's or the World of School" by Farrar —personally I am not too much in love with Canon Farrar's books; " Gooffry Harolyn" (Henry Kingsley); •"Gulliver's Travels;" "Theinnocents Abroad;" "Charles O'Mallev" (Lover); "The Gladiators" (G. J. White-Melville). Macrnillau's shilling (net) editions of Lewis Carroll's works. —In this series wo have "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in tho miniature edition at Is, with the original illustrations by Sir John Tenniel, and tho same book "adapted for liitle folks" with 32 coloured pictures by the same artist: "Through the Looking-glass and What Alice found there." in the same two styles, but the coloured picture, edition is Is 6d net; "The Hunting of the Suark: An Agony in Eight Fits," miniature edition, with illustrations by Holiday, Is net. The other volumes by Carroll vary from 2s 6d lo 7s 6tl. And here I think I'll stop. There aro other shilling series, but some aro cheaplooking inside and out, so 1 do not recommend them.

A lx>ok I. strongly recommend for a teacher's ov a school library L; MacKcnzic's " The Nineteenth Century: A History," published by the Nelsons. When it came out first it had n very large side at 7s 6(1. and (hat was about 30 years ago, and it has had a steady sale ever since. It is now published at 3s 6d; bus had added some notes and two chapters: " First Years of a. Now Century in Great Britain and her Empire." and " First Years of a New Century Abroad;" awl over 30 very interesting illustrations. I recommend ail who are interested in Empire and European history to read it.

I hear that, in spite of all the Otago Education Board is willing- to do in assisting to establish school libraries, there aro only some 60 or 70 schools equipped with Ibis educational aid: and probably many of these are established where there is the less necessity for them. When a bookcase is given free, and one-third of thy cost of the books, it is a pity that, so subsidisedj-overy school hasn't a'library

THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR. Last Friday was St. Patrick's Day-I wonder how much you know about" St latrick,-but .according to tho itinerary published m tho supplement of the Won Musical Courier for December 24, it is also tho day on wiiich tho Sheffield Choir set Ki.il on its tour of the English-speak in"world, including some. . 0 r tho cities of the United States. With the 2CO voices invited by Dr Charles Harriss, who conceived the. idea of a world tour, comes Dr Henry Coward, "the king c f chorusm ii.stcra.

Of t.70 Sheffield Chorus, which is said -to bo the finest in the world, the liCiitlon Musical Courier says:-" Tho Sheffield Musical Union was founded by Dr Henry Coward in 1872. The choir consists of men and women representing all walks of life. The wealthy manufacturer sits and sings next tho mechanic, who amongst u thousand other workmen does his bidding during working .hours. Ladies of social'slamling blend their voices with others of the. gentler sex unknown to social life, but whose equals are they when called to I lie baton of their leader, Dr Coward. Rehearsals for them are frequent, as many as sixty sometimes being called in a year; and seldom is it that, tho full muster roll is incomplete. Of the two hundred chosen to uphold the renown of the, famous Sheffield Choir in _ their visit around the world, the applications exceeded the total desired by three hundred and sixty. Ot these two hundred specially selected,'many arc conductors of choruses themselves"; whilst there is not amongst them a singer who is unable to read at liret sight the most difficult choral music written. The entire repertoire, embracing the above long and exacting list of works, choruses, madrisals, glees, and part songs, is committed to memory by the choir, :i herculean task such as perhans no other chorus in the world is capable of. The Sheffield Choir, however, are so familiar with the standard and modern repertoire as to make this effort of memorisation to them comparative!}' easy accomplishment. Repertoire of the Choir.

The following is a list of the music tho combination will make up its programme from; —

Works.-The Messiah (Handel), Elijah (Mendelssohn). Choral Symphony (Boefhovcul, (lerontius (Elgar), Tho Kingdom (Elgar), Faust, (Borlioz), Golden Legend (Sullivan). Requiem (Verdi), Sing yc (Bach), Blest Pair of Sirens (Parry), Pan (Harrisl, Bavarian Highlands (Elgar). Madrigals.—ln going to my lonely bed (Kdwanlcel. In tho merry spring (Havens.

croft)', The Lady Oriana (Wilbye), Yon stole my. love (Macfarren), Fire, l'iro HIGlees.—Strike tlio lyre (Cooke), Sisters of the sea (Jackson), bells of St. Michael's Tower (Stewart), Stitch in time (Coward). Part .Songs — Go. song of mine- (Khrar), Awake, awake (ihuitook), On llinialay (liant.ocki, L'riiiskoen Lawn (Hantcck), Thero rolls tiie d*pp (Parry), Moonlight tfanint'), Angels' whisper (Coward), Shepherd's lament (Smart), A sons lor the seasons (Smart.), The nights (Cliallinor!, King Arthur (Boughton), Aliun-a-dalo (M'Ewcnj.

Men's Voices. —Long day closes (Sulli van), Franklyn's Doggo (Mckenzie).

Ladies' Voices.—Distant bells (Mackenzie!, Indian lullaby (Vogt), Como away, death (Corder), Might hymn at sea (Thompson), Nightingale (Woolkes). Empire Choruses.—God the King (arranged by Elgar), For Empire and for King (Fletcher),* land of hope and glory (Elgar), Come, if ycu daro (Pureed), Imperial Greeting—Esipiro of tho Sea (Hiu riss), Comrades' song of hope (Adams), God of our fathers (Dykes), It comes from the misty ages (Elgar), Sing, Britain's Sons! (ITarriss). The principals arc Miss Jennie Taggart, Miss Maud Willby, Lady Norah Noel, Mi' Gertrude Lonsdale, Miss Alice Hccley, Mr Henry Turnpenney, Mr Wilfrid Virgo, Mr Robert Cliarlesworlh, and Mr Robert Chignell. Solo organist and chorus accompanist, Mr J. Edward Hodgson, Mus. Baa, F.R.C.0.; conductors, Dr Henry Coward and Dr Charles Ilarriss. Tub Itinkiury,

Junior readers —many senders, too — might tako down their atlases and follow tho track of tho travellers. As at present mapped out it runs as follows, figures in brackets denoting days sDe.nt in the town: March 27, Montreal (3); 30, Ottawa (2); April 1, Kingston; 3, Toronto (3); 6, Buffalo; 7," Rochester; 10-15, Eastern Canada—names not given; 16, Detroit; 17, Pittsburg; 18, Cincinnati (3); 21, Indianapolls (2); 23, Chicago (3); 26, St. Louis (3); 29, Milwaukee; May 1, St. Paul; 2, Winnipeg (3); 5, Portage la Prairie; 6, Brandon; 8, Kegina; 9, Moosejaw;10, Calgatry (2); 12 Edmonton; 15, Vancouver (2); 17, Victoria (2); 19, sail for Australia; 26, Honolulu; June 5, Suva (Fiji); 10, Brisbane; 13, Sydney (7); 21, sail for Now Zealand; 26, Auckland (3); 29, "Wellington (3); Juno 2, Ohrwtolvtiroh (4); June 6, Dunet'Ln (3); 10, Invcrcargill; 11. sail for Tasmania; 13, Hobart; 14, sail for Australia; 15, Melbourne (6); 22, Bollarat; 24, sail for Adelaide; &, Adelaide (3); 28, sail for Western Australia; August 3, Perth; 4, sail' for Durban; 21, Durban (3); 24, Pictermaritssburs;; .25, Pretoria; 26, Johannesburg (6); September 1, Pretoria; 2, Bloemfontein; 4, Kimbcrley (2); Capetown (3); 10, sail for England; September 30, arrive at Plymouth. Dots it, strike you what a marvel steam is when such an extensive tour can be mapped out and times pciiioilled in almost to the tick? This tour is one of tho many agencies helping to mako thb crimson thread of kinship draw together the different parts of the Emnire, and if my young readers wore to get a copy of the musical supplement I have made use of they will find it interesting to look at the pictures and scan its contents. On the front pago wo have George V, surrounded by their

Excellencies the Earl o. r Minto, G.M.5.1., G.M.1.E., U.C.M.G.; Eari Grey, G.C.M.G., Governor-general of Canada; Viscount Gladstone, Governor-general of South Africa; the Earl of Duclloy. P.C., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.0., Governor-general of Australia; and lord Islington, I'.C, D.5.0., Governor of Now Zealand. Other illustrations, however, picturing choirs, and leading musiciaiis associated with the . enterprise will, perhaps, be moro interesting. EiinitE Soxos. One of the pages is given up to names of musical selections suitable for the Lorcvmtkm tiroo. " CorMatirm Day, "Britons alert," " Mow Pray we for our

country," "IV Umpire flag." 'Lost we forget," " Coronation «ong. ! " God prosper him-our King"(Barnby). "All the hosts of Britain gather." " Gcd of our might, our land's defender," are- a few from aranvi which migl* bo worked up by schools and church choirs. Is it top late for organised effort in that direct-ion! Ticket Clubs. In Melbourne- I read that some • tunc ago clubs were formed, the members putting in so much a week to have a fund to provide- for the purchase of tickets when Madame Melbn brings out her operatic artists As Melki will not bring hpr company here, perhaps some here with purses 'rntlier small could do likewise to provide funds to draw from when something specially good comes along. Tni; Imperial Choir. What a magnificent ami harmonious bodv of'sound must come from this organisation! The following is a Portion of. a paragraph referring to st:—" Tho Imperial Choir, orcmiifwl by Dr Charles Harris, 1910, with the aid a.nd co-operation of the conductors of Ixaidon, consists of 10U) voices: Kmranos. 1200 voices; contraltos, 1000 voiced; tenors. 800 voices; bassos, 1000 voices; recruited from oyer 40 olioral societies for his annual Empire Day Concerts " Could we organise an Empire Day 'concert by combining our choirs and musical eceictics?

CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES. Some one sent mo a fine specimen of a trap-door spider-Who? It hat .spun a large cob-web bag, but perhaps tins was a parUl U.e lining of her lube on»cst. ' "Enquirer's" specimenl h avo ".»,}, got identified. It is allied to the chanihus, but its exact name I cannot give. V alcli "'^„"£cr W " >amo not enclosed, though) sends °...o tlio following:-" Nature Column, Otago Daily liine=ffi in a small tube I am sending a «,nall black insect, some sort of Hy 01 beetle I caught it on Saturday, and gave Home sugar 0 and, water, which has, cv - dcnllv got sticky, but if some fra.li vato is given in shape of a bath or wash for [hi?"hap von will be able to .see bat it as a pair'»f wings on the baefc. Also, it », £ peculiar habit of tucking.the wings Sudor he shells or black parts ot the, back. U 11 s ] thought 1 had damaged it while hold n- it in a paper, but as soon as ren,s ' the wings came into view again. ThU is the first of- the kind I have seen In,t perhaps vou have had a specimen before, if not," the" I trust this one will P Wo taelf Sllod S^hylinu.«»Wn fc 'Hie Shells" are tho outer wing*, and tolled elytra, (plural « o vtn.m ; haps "Engineer-' nottcial that the c.*e w iigs-tho elytra-wore very short, not b' nr more ilian about half tlio length of thc'alxionicn. The largo yoUow anccs so noticeable are. the eye*, lho lowing general description ot beetle* «U interest voung natnralsU. >>U > l beetles bv plunging them into boiling WJ ,H and then work out details as fai oft possible by the, description given lho extract is taken from "British Button,«., Moths, and Beetles," one of '"lho Young Collector Scries" -nublished at Is each by Swan, S-'onnensihcin, and Co.: — " Beetles belong to the order Lo coptea or case-winged insects. They have four' wings, like most other insects; but the. two first -arc modified into stiff wmgcovcrs culled elytra, which protect tlio delicate transparent umier-wings, when these are not in use, and serve rather, as iioitcrs than as locomotive organs during Might. The elytra are genoraly hard and horny, though' sometimes of a leathery consistency, but always much stouter in texture than the lower wings. Thev almost alwa.ys meet down the middle of tho back in' ii .straight suture. In some families, especially in the Staphyliuidre and ailied families, which are often called Brachelytra on that account, they are very short, leaving the greater parr of the abdomen exposed. In some winglesi beetles tho elytra are present and movable, and in' others they are soldered together: while in a few instances, as in the. female of the common glow-worm, both wings and elytra arc absent. "The character of tho wings at oneo separate tho Ooleoptcra from all orders of insects except tho Orthoptcra and tho Hcmiptcra; but tho last have a strong proboscis for imbibing their food, whereas the Coleoptera are provided with mandiblcß for biting. There remains the Orthoptcra. but in these insects, tlio tegmina, as their wing-cawa aro called, differ much les? from tho lower wings: they are generally more or less veined, and ofton overlap' each other, in all. which cliaracclrs they dill'er from Coleoptera; besides, the Orthoptcra have imperfect metamorphoses -that is. the stagrti of larva, pupa, and perfect insect are not sharply defined; but in Coleoptera the mcla.ir.orpho.sis is complete, and a beetle passes through the four stages of egg, larva, pupa, and imago, or perfect beetle. " The larvie of beetles are white maggots, with n hard head, and six legs, and tho pupa is inactive; hut the ca.sos which rnclr.se the various parts of the perfect insect are much morn clearly visible Hum

in tho pupa; of I<epidnpjcra. ''Before proceeding to give a short sketch of the principal sections into which the great order Coleoptcra has been divided by entomologists, it will bo ne«weary to Eeticc a iow more points in the

structure of booties. Their bodies are divided, like, thoso of other insects, into threo principal portions—viz., head, thorax, and abdomen. The most important parts of the head are the eyes, the antenna, and the mouth. Thero arc two largo compound eyes, one on each side of tho head; and two additional simple eyes or ocelli, aro occasional}' present, placed on tho top of tho head. The aniennaj, or foolers, which aro long, jointed organs, are very important in classification, as tliey differ very much in structure in different families. They may be uniform, or thread-like; moniliform, or bond-like; pectinate, or feathery; clnvato, or knobber at tho tip; lamellate, or furnished with a series of broad layers at the- end opening out like a fan, etc. The mouth is composed of a variety of organs, which cannot hero bo described in detail'; but we may mention tho mandibles, or upper jaws, tho maxillic, or lower jaws, tho labrum and labium, or upper and lower lips respectively, and the mentuin, or chin. To tho maxilla: and tho labium aro attached pail's of small feelers, called tho maxillary and labial palpi .respectively, and composed of only a fow* joints. " The thorax is composed of three fiegmenis, soldered together, called tho prothorax, mesbthorax, awl mctathorax respectively. To tho lower side of each is attached a. pair of logs; the elytra aro attached to the mesothorax, and the wings to tho mctathorax. Tho legs aro composed of the following principal parts: tho eoxie, or hips; tho trochanters, or joints below ■tho coxa;; tho femora, or thighs; tho tibire, or_shanks; and tho tarsi,'or feet. Tho tarsi consist oi from three to five joints; fivo is tho normal number, and the principal exceptions will be specified. Tim abdomen requires littlo special notico here. In most beetles it is flattish above and convex below, and cover-oil by tho wings and elytra when theso aro closed."

I might add incidentally that a cockroach isn't a bcotloj it belongs not to tho Colooptora, but to tho Orthoptera. "Tapanui" sends along a very good specimen of tho stick insect, but I am ■not sure that ho gives it its right nn.mo. I'll try to find cut for next week. Though a fairly • good one, I have ono equally large found m Dunodin. The Museum has some) good specimens, and parhaps I'll find time before next week to liavo a look at them and' give readers an idea of the.ir size and whoro found. Tho Pricmus reticularis beetlo is a perennial specimen, two coming to hand last week.

I nave two botanical specimens to identify; notes on these, one or two letters, and other matter promised must stand over.