OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 71

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS. (Conducted by Magister, to whom all communications must be addressed.) [Magister will be glad to receive Nature Notes, marked papers containing educational articles, diagrams, details of experiments, etc., of scholastic interest to teachers and pupils. Correspondents must use only one side of the paper, and whether using a pen name or not, must send both name and address.] “SHAKESPEARE AND NATURE.” A short time Ago at a meeting of the Southland Naturalists’ Society, Miss B. Hodgkinson read a most interesting paper on “Shakespeare and Nature.” A reader of our columns sent it to me, and I do not think I can do better than publish the following extracts: “Shakespeare’s allusions to Nature all through life show how deeply the impressions of his early days had sunk into his mind. The scenery of his plays is English, oven when this does not accord with the imagined background of the drama; the birds and animals, flowers and trees, he introduces, except for some that are common property of poets, as the lion, the tiger, the wolf, the eagle, the pelican, etc. —are what ho knew in Warwickshire woods r.nd meadows. In his day there was little study of local colouring nor attempt at historical accuracy. We know that he gave Bohemia a sea-coast, and introduced cannon into the battles of King John. Perhaps if he had given the matter thought ho would have considered it more conducive to truthful effect to paint the Nature he knew than to compose a picture from hearsay or study. Thus in the forest of Arden, though a lioness is introduced for the sake of dramatic effect, the scenery is really that of England. The wood of ‘The Midsummer Night’s Dream’ has its ‘faint primrose beds’ in spring; its oxlips, woodbine, and eglantine later in the year. And Cupid’s dart, missing ‘the Imperial votaress, enthroned in maiden meditation, fancy-free',’ falls on ‘a little western flower’ the ’lovo-in-idlencssr-of English meadows. Shakespeare is true to the Nature he know, and he does not trouble about aspects unknpwm to him. “It has been stated that 20 kinds of trees and no fewer than 76 birds are named by Shakespeare, most of these, as said above, being characteristic English species. Som< of the birds are kinds that only one familial with the country would think of, as the lapwing, the bunting, etc. And they are introduced by some phrase that just hits off their distinctive appearance or habits: as ‘the ouzel-cook (blackbird) so black of hue, with orange-tawney bill.’ He often alludea to insects with the same exact characterisation. For example, ‘The small grey-coated gnat,” “A red-hipped humble bee on the top of a thistle.’ ‘The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums!’ “His descriptions, of flowers are exquisite: — Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty; violets dim, But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes Or Cythcrea’s breath; pale primroses That lie unmarried eve they can behold Bright Phoebus in his strength. .The cowslips tall her pensioners be; In their gold coats spots jou see; These be rubies, fairy favours; In these freckles live their savours; I must go seek some dewdrops here And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s oar. “Ho often alludes to the dews of morning gemming the flowers : The marigold that goes to bed with the sun, And with him rises weeping. “And in the song in Cymbeline: Dark, hark, the lark at Heaven’s gate sings. And Phoebus ’gins arise His steeds to water at those springs On chaliced flowers that lies; p:i And pretty mary-buds begin To ope their winking eyes. “Poor crazed Ophelia makes herself garlands of the wild flowers that grew on the banks of the Avon, ‘crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples.’ Perdita, in her rustic garden refuses to cultivate carnations and streaked gulliflqwers, because in producing them she joins with ‘great creating Nature.’ It is hazardous to deduce an author’s own sentiments from the words ho puts in the mouth of a character, but one feels inclined to see here some indication of Shakespeare’s own tastes. At all events, it is plain that he prized the common cottage flowers, and wild flowers that many would pass over as mere weeds. Perdita offers her guests the. best cottage flowers of the season when ‘the year grows ancient, not ,yet on summer’s death’ —lavender, mints savoury, marjoram, marigolds, and the rosemary and rue that keep their freshness and scent through winter. “The brothers in Cymhelino say that Imogen’s grave shall not lack" ‘the flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose, nor azurod harebell, like thy veins, nor leaf of eglantine, whom not to slander, outsweetened not thy breathj nor furred moss besides when flowers are none.’ “It is interesting, in view of the Shake-spcare-Bacon craze, to compare Bacon’s references to trees and flowers with Shakespeare’s. Bacon wrote an essay on ‘Gardens,’ which certainly shows appreciation of the beauty of plants. ‘God Almighty,’ ho says, ‘first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures.’ But he catalogues merely, he scarcely uses an adjective to characterise a plant. He was not writing poetry, it may be said. But neither was he writing a scientific treatise: the essay is a form of composition allowing the fullest scope for the play of an author’s personality, and if Shakespeare had written an essay on gardens we may be sure it would have been informed with his imagination, and would have abounded in such felicities of characterisation as we find in his poems.” THE SOUTHERN STARS, JULY 12, 9 F.M. J. F. Morris, Roslyn. The broken up and blank regions of the Milky Way arc still very much in evidence during the early hours of the July evenings. The axial rotation and the orbital revolution, of the Earth both combine to cause an apparent daily and yearly circular motion in the Milky Way. v If you look at the Milky Way about 9 p.m. (Dunedin time) on July 12 you will notice that the general trend of the Galaxy (Milky Way) is from the S.W. horizon upwards tc the zenith, descending thence to the N.E. horizon. On July 13, "at 6 a.m., you will notice the Galactic Stream right down near the southern, eastern, and (perhaps) the northern horizons. On July 12, at noon, the Milky Way will come to the meridian with the Sun. Being daylight, we shall not be- able to see

it, but if we could we would be able to see the whole region of the unbroken part of the Galactic stream with the glorious region of Sirius and the giant hunter Orion. The apparent motion continues until the evening of July 13. At about four minutes sooner than on the evening of the 12th the Milky Way is again N.E. to S.W. Now this apparent change of position in the Milky Way, during the 24 hours, is an exact reproduction of the axial rotation of the earth. The orbital revolution is also reproduced. Watch the region of Argo, with its advance outpost Canopus. In mid-July, at midnight, it is almost N. and S. on the meridian, Argo and its chief star, Canopus, being at the southern end, Scorpio and its chief star, Antaree, being at the zenith. Down towards the northern horizon we can just make out Cygnus, the Swan. Halfway between the Swan and the zenith we can see Altair, the Eagle, a bluish white' star, No 12 on the Harvard photometric list; brilliancy, 0.9; altitude at Dunedin, about 35deg 33min. At this time—that is to say, midnight in mid-July, the Galactic Stream will bo slightly on the western side of the meridian line. As the Earth moves along the orbit, the Galaxy, month by month, has an apparent westerly drift. This westerly drift will become more and more apparent as wo watch the Milky Way during the midnights of August and September, dates about 15th. By the first week in October the westerly drift will have reached its maximum. The Galaxy will look the same at midnight as it would appear on July 15 at 6 a.m. Sirius and the Hunter will be in the eastern skylit midnight when the westerly Galactic drift will have reached its maximum at midnight? The whole of the Galactic stream will lie all along the horizon, except for the brilliant section lying between the S.E. and Nt,E., of which Sirius and the Hunter are the out posts. During the first -week in November the Galaxy will appear in the eastern heavens at midnight and Canopus, Sirius, and the Hunter will be again in full evidence at midnight, with Procyon on the eastern border. By the bye, Sirius used to be on the eastern border not far from her sister, Procyon ; but that is a story- for another article. Wo pointed out that! ,n October at midnight, the eastern section of the Galaxy, the portion lying between the S.E. and N.E. horizons, will not be visible. In November, at midnight, the opposite is the case. The Galactic stream will then be visible low dow-n from the S.W. point to (he N.W. point, while the western horizon lying between those two points will bo Out of the range of the Galactic circle. As the Earth moves along the orbit the Milky Way apparently moves from the eastern horizon towards the zenith, crossing the zenith at midnight on December 20. It then moves westerly, passing the moridan about two hours sooner each monthly interval until, so far as we in southern latitudes are concerned, it reaches its western limit between 7 and 8 p.m. the last, week in October. So von can actually sec the rotation of the fearth on its axis by the manner in which the Milky Way moves round the sky (on a pivot, as it were) during the 24 hours, and you can see the orbital movement reproduced by the western movement each month. Frcm the very earliest times the Galactic stream has arrested the attention of all shades of civilised culture. It has been spoken of as the pathway of the gods between the Halls of Eternal Light and this r ether world of ours. It is the “Jakobsstrrsse” (Jacob’s Ladder) of the German mother when tolling her children about the Patriarch’s dream and his encounter with the angel. Our great classical poet, the noble Milton, writes of the Milky Way: Broad and ample road whose dust is gold And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, ' Seen in the Galaxy, that Milky Way, Which might, as a circling zone thou seest Powdered with stars. We could prolong this article indefinitely had we only space and time; but we must draw it to a close and pass on to the more prominent stars which are visible in'the-July sky on the 12th. Our nearest neighbour, Alpha Contauri, will now have fallen away from the zenith. The Cross will bo lower down, being halfway down towards the S.W. The scattered constellation of Argo will be lower down cn the border of the Milky Way; its principal star, Canopus, will now be almost due south. Achermu- will now have passed the lowest point of its circumpolar circle. On the morning of the 16th Achernar will pass the Dunedin meridian at about 6 o’clock. The clouds of Magellan are now due south, between Canopus and Achernar- Jpver in tho S.E. we can sec the Crane arid the Golden Eish. Fomalhaiit is now in the evening sky at any time after 7 o'clock at Dunedin. Capricornus and Aquarius have now risen clear of the eastern horizon. Coming wwt,«sve have the interesting constellations of the Archer and the Scorpion. The chief star in the Scorpion, the beautiful red star Antarcs, will pass the Dunedin meridian about 9 a.m. on July 12. On ,ho western side of the zenith wo see Spica, tho “Ear of Corn” in the Vh'gin’s hand; while between the Virgin and the Scorpion lies Libra, the Balance. Down towards the west we see fho last of Leo; its principal star Regulus, has disappeared, but hte second brightest star (Beta Leonis) Dcncbola is still visible to good eyes. Its altitude at Dunedin will bo about 29deg. To the north of Spica we can see the Herdsman, its principal star, Arcturus, is numbered third on the Harvard photometric scale. Arcturus will be on tho Dunedin meridian about 7 p.m. on July 12, altitude not very high, about 24d?g _33min at Dunedin. Another bright star will cross our Dunedin meridian about mdnght on July 12. Ths is Vega; its transit is at a low altitude—about sdeg 28min for Dunedin. I must now finish, as I have coran to the end of my space. I will send in the article on Argo next month. A good posit'on to take up in order to sec the stars mentioned in this article would be at the junction of the Roslyn and Maori HU tramway systems.

Notes. —I meet draw attention to the spelling of Fomalhaut. There is no “r” in Fomalhaut, and I am sure I speit it correctly. Kindly see my last article. Every time the word occurs it is wrongly spelt. As to the diagrams, I will do as “Magister” suggests, and send them in in plenty of time. The first one will be the Mariner’s Compass, handy size for a newspaper. “Magister” asked for one some months ago. The second one will bo a star compass, also explanation of the inverted bearings and the reason why. Following those will bo star diagrams, containing only about 10 of the principal stars, month by month, • and as they will not be overcrowded with too much detail, such as the lessor stars of the constellations, etc., etc., I hope they will bo of interest to the boys and girls in the higher standards. Meantime, I would like every pupil in our schools to learn the following rhyme. It refers to the successive groups of the Zodiacal constellations. Of course we know it is not quite true, but it is near enough the truth for a start:

The ISAM, the Bunn, the Heavenly TWINS, The Crab, he next the Lion shines. The Virgin ami the Scales. The Scorpion, Archer, and He-Goat, a The Man who bears the water-pot, And Fish with glittering scales. [Mr Morris’s astronomical notes are unusually interesting to one who has time to read the skies by them. Boys and girls might learn the following names of the signs of the Zodiac, the names corresponding to thpse given by Mr Morris: —Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. Mr Morris plight note that I have had a block mad© of the Mariner’s Oompess. By the bye, boys and girls might look up the meaning of, capricious, a word we often apply to a girl or boy. In a slangy way, one says to another, “Don’t goat. Is there any connection between “goaf and ‘‘capricious” ? — Magister.] Nolks AND CORRESPONDENCE. H. B. —Never mind the date and address —sends mo the following: — Dear “ Mag is tar,” —As this is my first correspondence to you, I hope you will accept it and give me a good answer. I got a sentence from my teacher a few days ago. _ I had to supply the missing pronouns, which I did, but the teacher only gave me credit for having one pronoun right. She said the others were all wrong, but would not explain why they were wrong. I afterwards went to the rector for an explanation, but he would not look at it; he simply told me to clear out of his office. The sentence was. The boy met —sister —told—that —was going to visit the people—they had met yesterday. I wrote it thus. The boy met his sister, ho told her that he was going to visit the people whom they had met yesterday. The teacher said it should have been: —The boy met his sister, who told him that she was going to visit the people whom they had met yesterday. Now I do not see why this one should be right and mine wrong, as wo do not know which one sj?oke first when they met. The teacher would not explain, so I would like to have your advice on the matter. I do not do this with the object of showing my cleverness, but would like an explanation on this sentence, as neither the teacher nor the rector would explain it to mo. As I see in the Witness you must have a considerable heap of correspondence waiting on space in the Witness, so I would iiko you to send mo a reply, for which I enclose a penny stamp.—Awaiting your reply, I remain yours sincerely, H. B. I am giving a reply : but first let me say that I cannot help thinking that FI. B. is a little bit bumptious, and that Under many rector's he would think himself fortunate 'in being told simply “to clear out.” Perhaps his teacher should have explained, but a good deal depends upon the conditions surrounding the incident, and upon the way an explanation was asked for. The teacher’s reading is correct; but H. B.’s answer would be given some marks by some teachers. In his version, however, he should have a full ston after “ sister,” when the sentence would read thus: ‘ ‘ The boy met his sister. Ho told,” etc.; but a better reading of his interpretation would bo: ■"The boy met his sister, and he,” etc-. So while his pronouns can bo justified his punctuation cannot; and even then “and” and “he” omitted would bo better. I have published the letter as sent, so that H. B. can see his errors in punctuation and in the spelling of “ Magister.” Why haven’t you used quotation marks, FI. B. ? v. hat are quotations preceded by? A colon? A colon and a dash? A dash only? A comma? What rule have you been taught? Do you use Goyen’s “ Composition ” ? H. B. spoils “Magister” “Magistar.” Of course,' that is a slip such as wo all make. “ Dictionary,” a little chap in a Standard V in one of our city schools, asked last week wasn’t- “ scimpy ” spelt wrongly the week before. Certainly. It should have been “skimpy,” and I don’t think the mistake was mine, for I have never had “c ” for “k ” in my mind. Another error I saw the other day. A correspondent wrote about artistically pinking an opponent with his rapier, but “ pinking ” appeared as “pricking.” But almost anv paper contains slight slips. An I have said before, the winder io that such accurate work is done when such pressure and speed have to be used to get a paper out in time.