COSY CORNER CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 60

COSY CORNER CLUB.

1924 SESSION. MEMBERS’ MEETINC. PROGRAMME. Second Meeting: June 17. Papers to be in by June 9. Topic: House Planning from a Woman's Point of View. Most housewives are too well aware that houses are in many respects inconvenient, and make domestic work more burdensome than it need be. They are invited to plan the arrangement of rooms and liftings in accordance with their own views. Alternative subject: A Notable Book X Read Last ear. Third Meeting: July 15. Papers to be in by July 7. Topic: A Poet’s I J arty. Members are invited to introduce some poet who particularly pleases them; quoting some short poem or suitable extracts. Note that the design is to make known a poet who is not likely to be familiar to readers generally, so great names as Browning and Tennyson should not be selected. A poet of today should be given the preference. Alternative subject: A Great Traveller —a brief account of some notable traveller and explorer, either of to-day or of former times. Fourth meeting: August 12. Papers to be in by August 4. Topic: Clothes; Do They Take up Too Much of Our Time? Dress certainly i 3 one of the main interests of women’s lives; does it occupy too great a portion of their time and thought? Members are invited to discuss this. While specially a woman's concern, masculine views on it should not be rejected, but in case our men members do not wish to tackle the subject they may give their view's on Games and Athletics; is too much made of them in School and in Life? Fifth Meeting: September 16. Papers to be in by September 8. Topic: Mothers of Great Men. It is said that great men have very commonly inherited from their mothers mental and moral qualities which are displayed in their careers; also the training

and influence of the mother has very often been a large factor in the life of the son. Members are invited to select one such mother of a highly distinguished man. give a brief account of her life and character, and show how these have influenced the life of her son. Sixth Meeting: October 14. Papers to be in by October 6. Topic: Trees. This may be taken two ways, either make it Trees of My District, and tell about the trees around you that you best know and admire, describing their growth, foliage, and any distinctive beauty; or write of Trees in Literature, selecting, if you like, some fine quotations in either prose or verse about trees. From those who write of the trees of their district, descriptions of native trees would be specially welcome. The October meeting has lately been reserved ior discussion, but perhaps this year space may be found for a seventh meeting to discuss the session's work. Dear Ccmrades of the Cosy Corner, —It is pleasant to begin a. new session of the Cosy Corner. I hope that this year’s meetings will be productive of much pleasure and interest to members, and will also please many readers outside the circle. Up to the time of writing this, I have not received a large number of contributions, but those to hand are all -interesting and provide much variety. Members will be pleased to welcome a new recruit, Templeton, who sends an interesting- contribution describing her ideal of a girls’ college. As it is long, I may have to hold it over for another week. In general, contributions should not exceed the length of those contributed by Brix and Octogenarian to this meeting. You see that if, as I hope, a considerable number of papers are sent in each time, these must be fairly short in order not to exceed the space available. I have every sympathy with those who have ideas and find it difficult or impossible to express them within narrow compass. Personally, I always find it difficult to keep within the limits I desire. It is much harder to write briefly than to write at length, as I think every one accustomed to composition soon finds. The best plan to realise “much in little” is to write out your subject, fully aiming all the time at conciseness, and then revise, strike out unessentials, and re-write it. I can’t say that I usually follow out my advice—so much the worse no doubt for me and my readers—but it is good advice. Of course it is impossible to deal fully witli a big subject in a few hundred words, so when such are proposed, or chosen, members must select some line of treatment. It is impossible in short compass to bring out some new' aspect of a question, and to suggest more than you definitely express. To Richard Norman, —Thank you for your account of your bicycle trip from Oamaru to Wanaka, and the enclosure descriptive of your nephew’s travels in the North Island. I have been interested in reading them, but I am afraid they are too long to go in with the Cosy Corner papers. I will see what I can do the following week. ESTHER. HOW AUSTRALIA BECAME BRITISH TERRITORY. Dear Esther, —The 28th April is one of the most important anniversaries in the history of Australia-, for on that date, 154 years ago, Australia became a British possession. It was a matter of chance, but- on what small chances do immense destinies hang. In previous years the Portuguese had gradually crept down the African coast, rounded the Cape, and sailed east across the Indian Ocean. The Spaniards had sailed west to collect the rich treasure of South America. But it was the Dutch who first thought of sailing south on voyages of discovery, their settlement in Java making it a less difficult undertaking. Though nothing was definitelyknown of a southern continent in those days, much had been guessed, and they fortunately happened to touch at the. most unattractive parts of the north and west coasts. Their reports were so unfavourable that further exploration w-as abandoned. Many yearß later, chance led a- young Englishman, Dampier by name, to the western shores of the unknown continent. On his return to England, he published an account of his voyage—the first authentic work printed in English in reference to Australia. The -British Government immediately sent him back to majte a careful survey' of the coast he had visited, and also discover w’hatever new- land he could. His report was so unfavourable that nothing further was done, though scientists continued to discuss and conjecture the position of this “Great South Land.” Then the Fates which watch o’er England seem to have taken a hand. A ■.party of scientists w'as sent to Tahiti to ssja-ke astronomical observations. Their ship, the Endeavour, was placed under the command of Lieutenant James Cook, who had special instructions to do all in his power to solve the puzzle of a southern continent. On leaving Tahiti, Cook sailed towards Ne-v Zealand, and by circumnavigating both islands, proved them to have no connection with the Great South Land. He then steered for Tasmania, which the Dutch had already put on the map, but by a luckychance a storm drove him northwards to the Victorian shore. Here w-as new land, and Cook, attracted* by the fascination of exploring unknown territory, abandoned his idea of visiting Tasmania, and turned north along the eastern coast of Australia. Keening close to the shore, he crept along, watching keenly for a safe anchorage, hut nine days elapsed before he sighted any satisfactory harbour entrance. Then, on April 28, in the year 1770, he sailed into Botany Bay, and there, amid the firing of cannons and volleys of musketry, he took possession of the country in the name of His Brilannic Majesty, and called it New South Wales on account of its resemblance to the southern coast of Wales. Eighteen years passed before the first British residents arrived, Captain Arthur Phillip and his thousand odd convicts, who larded at Botany Bay, and later moved to the present site of Svdnev. It was 33 years before another colony was founded, when the fear of French occupation caused an expedition to be sent to Tasmania, and the island to he claimed as a British possession. In the same year, 1803, and for the same reason, an expedition was sent to Port Phillip, and the colony now- known as Victoria w-as; claimed for the British. It was not till 1826 that further rumours of projected French occupation caused the Sydney Government to claim Western Australia as British territory. A detachment of soldiers v,-as sent to take formal possession of the country, and the first settlement was founded at King George’s Sound, on the site of the present town of Albany. And thus the British took complete possession of the Great Southern Land, and when, later on, Lord John Russell was asked by the French Government which portions of Australia England included within her lines of demarcation, he firmly replied, "The w-hole.” JOSEPHINE.

BASKET WORK. Dear Esther, —I wonder if members would be at all interested t-o know something more about basket work. In some respects it has become a lost industry, but there is evidence of an active revival judging from the increasing popularity extended to raffia basket making in imitation of the famous and artistic Indian basketry. Indian basketry is a rather misleading term, being associated in the minds of many with the India of the British Empire. But, as a matter of fact, the beautiful baskets so much prized in valuable collections are the work of North American Indians and dwellers in California. Basket weaving is as old as the hills; the ancient Britons were expert basket makers, the original word “Basgawd” meaning the weaving together of splinters or twigs. I suppose the Americans hold the finest specimens of Indian basketry, but 1 have seen some wonderful work in the British Museum, very old and yet marvellously preserved. In a museum in Kew Gardens (London) there are some perfect copies. One especially I remember in the beautiful corrugated stick of the Siiilo Indians. It was oval, copied from the photograph of a valuable ceremonial basket, the beads and shells with which it was 'decorated having been procured from California for the purpose. Certain designs are characteristic of each tribe. The diamond design belongs to the Tulare Indians, the lazy squaw is American, the corrugated stick the Slnlo Indians, the figure 8, though commonly thought to be Indian, really belongs to the Navalioes. The forker or bifurcated stick marks the Frazer River Indians. The Samoan woman makes a bowl-sliaped basket intended for a sieve, while the Esquimo woman’s basket had a bag top which was made of sealskin. A few words as to the material used; Raphia is the botanical name of a special class of palms which grow luxuriantly in Madagascar. The integument or surface taken from their leaves is known as raffia. There is a rougher material called bast, which is taken from the trunks of linden or lime trees, but this is not really fine enough for basket work, and is mostly used by gardeners. Rattan is the technical name for the cane used as the foundation or tilling of the coil in imitation Indian baskets. It is the pith of another species of palm which is found in the forests of India, China, Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula, the islands of the Indian Archipelago. It grows as a gigantic creeper, often two or three hundred feet in length, although its stems are rarely more than an inch in diameter. Rushes .form a splendid substitute for raffia, growing as they do in almost any marshy field. The Indian woman has taught us that material of this kind should be picked when in its prime and carefully hidden from the rays of the sun until wanted. So many useful as well as ornamental things can be made in raffia, and to copy old designs is a most fascinating task. BRIX. GRATITUDE. Dear Esther, —How- do you define gratitude? Is it, as the dictionary puts it, appreciation of favours received or, as the cynic says, a sense of thankfulness for favours to come? Possibly both kinds maybe met with, or there may be cases that combine the two; and why should they not? Tennyson’s “Northern Farmer” tells his son “Tbou can luv thy lass and her munny, too, Ma-kin’ ’em goa togither as they've good right to do,” so why condemn if the expression of gratitude for past favours contains a hope for more in the future. But, there are those who deny- the existence of the sentiment altogether. When Thomas Holmes, the police-court missionary, was asked “Do you meet with any gratitude ?” with the evident expectation of a reply in the negative, he said “I don’t go about, the world looking for gratitude, if I did I should not meet with it,” but he received it when it was not sought for. Those that confer favours for the sake of the gratitude they expect in return deserve to be disappointed. The doing of a kindness should, in ordinary cases, be reward enough of itself. Dean Hole tells of an instance of gratitude that was so unexpected as to he rather embarrassing. “A friend of mine who w-as located in Lancashire among the miners, was in his study one Saturday night when a visitor was announced, and there entered one of his subterranean parishoners, who, having cautiously looked round to see that there were no listeners, addressed his clergy-man with an air of grave, mysterious importance:—‘Mestur Whitworth, you’ve been very kind to my ould girl when she wor sick so long abed, and I want t-o do yer a good turn, and I can do yer a good turn. There’s going to be the gradliest dog-fight in this place to-morrow, and I can get yer into the inner ring.’ ” I regret that the worthy Dean omits to say if the clergyman accepted the offer or, if not, how he escaped wounding the feelings of his humble friend. A still more remarkable expression of this most commendable sentiment is related by Sir Henry Hawkins. “In the days when burglary was punished with death, there was very seldom any remission. I was in court one day at Guildford, when a respectably-dressed man in a velveteen suit of a y-ellowy-green colour and pearl buttons came up to me. I knew nothing of him, yet seemed to recognise his features as those of one I had seen before. When he came in front of my seat he grinned with immense satisfaction and said, ‘Can I get you anything, Mr Orkins?’ I could not understand the man’s meaning. ‘No, thank you,’ I said. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Don’t you recollect, sir, you defended me at Kingston for a burglarycharge, and got me off, Mr Orkins, in flying colours.’ I recollected. He seemed to have the flying colours on his lips. ‘Very well.’ I said, “I hope you will never want defending again.’ ‘No, sir; never.’ ‘That’s right.’ ‘Would a teapot be of any use to you, Mr Orkins?’ ‘A teapot!’ ‘Yes, sir, or jl few silver spoons—anything you like to name, Mr Orkins.’ I begged him to leave the court. ’Mr Orkins, I will; but I am grateful for your gettin’ me off that job, and if a piece of plate will be any good, I’ll guarantee it’s good old family stuff, as’ll fetch you a lot o' money some day-.’ I again told him to go, and, disappointed at my not accepting things of greater value, he said, ‘Sir, will a sp.ek o’ taters be of any service to you?’” OCTOGENARIAN. THE PHILOLOGIST. Dear Esther, —The study- of literature is an important element in the culture of every Englishman. Now that the season of bright fire and cosy corner draws nigh, one dwells fondly over the dusting and arrangement of old-time friends upon the bookshelf. I have handled lately- two quaint volumes of the English classics, “Lavengro” and “Romany Rye,’ the works of George Borrow. What an abundance of interesting travel and conw,-«>a ii*>n they- contain. What a variety of quaint individuals, the fortunate reader becomes acquainted with. Places and characters, particularly entertaining to those conversant with the delightful scenery and the cosmopolitan side of life,

characteristic of the wayside villages and shady lanes of the Motherland. The stories and adventures are strikingly British—the tent and caravan life of the Gipsies; the country inn, rich in its perfume of cloverhay and wholesome cookery. In both “Lavengro” and “Romany itye,” we journey along with the roving tinker, and the pedlar of nick-nacks. We rub shoulders with numerous roamers that frequent the highways, who occupy the booths at country fairs, and dance attendance to the racecourse and prize-ring; horse dealers, jockeys, high-way-men, and fighting-men, pick-pockets, coiners, and sharpers. George Borrow was for many years the travelling agent for The British and Foreign Bible Society, and in the course of his wanderings, made a special study of gipsy life. Throughout many charming chapters, he endeavours to trace the origin of the language and customs of the Romany tribes. “Lavengro” is the history of one possessed of a sensitive mind, a shy and cold exterior, curious as to all that is wild and extraordinary, a fine scholay and linguist, who although financially poor, never allows himself or others to forget that he is a true gentleman. Finding that h s delicate constitution will not hold out for long in the continuance of liis sedentary occupation as a hack author, he purchases the stock of a roving tinker, and pursues Lie independent calling, amid the fields and shady lanes. The author allows his reade.s the privilege of possessing much information with respect to matters philological end literary. Lavengro and its sequel, treating as they do of many of the principal languages and their literature. He minutelv describes the ways, manners, and speech of the English section of -the most mysterious tribe of neople, “The Children of Roma.” In concluding this short paper. I trust that such entertaining characters as Mr and Mrs Jasper Petulengro, Tawno Chickno, and Miss Isoyrel Berners, will endear to many attentive readers the works of this grot philologist, George Borrow-. EFFIE. VERSES OF A HOUSE MOTHER. Dear Esther, —I wonder if you have read any of Fay Inchfawn’s verses. I like them very much, so will copy Some, as my contribution to our first meeting. Wear and Tear. “We have this treasure in a fragile vase of clay, that, the exceeding greatness of the power may be seen to be of God, and not to originate in us.”—2 Cor. iv, 7. (Weymouth’s Trans.) One step too far this way, or that; A sleepless night; A headache; or some extra cleaning; A trivial worry overlean,ing; A fancied slight: Such little things as these are, fret and tear The fragile casket that my soul must wear., Yes, progress in the life of faith is slow. This makes me wonder why Mv body is so easily laid by. Why, when the will seems resolute and straight, Should nerves respond to evil temper so. Why do I wish to say the things I hate? How should wet footmarks ot a rug awry Disturb my peace and put me out of tune? I marvel that I am removed so soon. Yet dimly I can see How, holding and possessing such a treasure (The knowledge of Him) 1 might easily Forget my limitations in the pleasure Of seeking to illuminate the lost But weary. temin"st-lo»°ed. Hard-pressed, perplexed and tried: It must be manifest to all about, me That all mv "works” were nothing, Lord, without Thee. “A fragile vase of clav!” Well, this being so, I prav That it he not too hard for God to press It into comeliness. And not too thick For him to glimmer through it, sure and quick. Because, if through such clay He will consent to shine, The glory must be His; the gladness mine. What a Mere Man Said. Do you keep your temper with poor John When thoughtlessly he puts the bonfire on B-’-eath your snowy linen on the line? A- rl when he cuts a tree down that you prize To make the garden fairer in your eves. Do you grieve, or say, “Ah, splendid! That looks fine!” And say it till you mean it, through and through ? You’re a woman if you do. Then, can you peel an apple, hake a pie. Or wash your pots and nans without a sigh? Can vou scrub your sink, and never stop to think Vou 1 oS’ somewhat of dignity therebv? What? Can you put aside housewifely skill, Ard leave a dusty room ungarnished still. While you go out t-o visit some sick man? You’re a woman if you can. And when all night kind sleep has passed you by, W l --”- baby’s cough has set your nerves awry, It takes some grit to smile in John’s long face; And more, to tend the youngsters with good grace; And most to make your eyes dance joyfully That none shall guess how stormy set sky. You’re a woman if you try. And can you keep your spirit calm—yes, liappv— When Jane seems glum, or else is short and snanpv ? Touched by such things a woman needs must be, But can yon keep a little corner free To cultivate rare seedlings? Herb of Grace Well spread, and Gentleness will grow apace. Oh. cherish them! For if. vou -'ear such stuff Ycu’re a woman right enough. The First, Daisv. “I must have overslept in bed!” The drowsy little daisy said. The wind goes by with merry shout, He says the crocuses are out. Hark! There’s the blackbird’s first sweet note! (Where is my frilly petticoat?) “Yes, soon the buttercups will show Their yellow satin dresses, so I must be quick! (’Tis crumpled quitch I know I’ll look a perfect fright. Too bad, when all the thrushes say s The fairy folk are on their way.) “Ah! Now, I’m ready, and the sun Has smoothed the crinkles, every on*. I must have made a slight mistake, There’s not a buttercup awake. So, every bird and every bse Will stop to have a word with me!” With all good wishes for a successful meeting.—Yours sincerely, ANEMONE.

A DREAM COLLEGE. Dear Esther, —For the members' meeting I think I will describe the sort of college for girls that I used to dream of in the days when I led a more active life, and that I might have helped to found if I had not been laid aside. Dunedin is known as an educational centre, and I would like to have established a girls’ college that would really be a credit to it. We have our High School, which has the distinction of being the oldest in Australasia, and there are the different Church schools and private schools all doing good work in their own way, but the former is of course given up now to the free pupils and the others are handicapped to my mind by attempting too much. They aim at giving education from the kindergarten to the university, but with a limited number of girls, it is impossible to grade the classes properly. What I would like to see established is a school giving a good, sound secondary education from about twelve years of age up to University Scholarship standard for moderate fees. It would be situated in the country somewhere in the neighbourhood of Dunedin—l rather fai cy the Taieri, somewhere round about Mosgiel, if a site could be obtained. It would be well in the country, yet near enough to town to come in for special occasions, and the air there is so mild that there could be more open-air life than Dunedin’s nor'easters and sea fogs allow of. The first thing would be to raise the necessary funds, and to do that I would have meetings of people interested in the matter and form an interim Board of Governors, and make a public appeal for funds. I have calculated that a site could be acquired, and plains but substantial buildings put up and equipped for something between £30,000 and £40,000. If any money raised carried a Government subsidy, as I presume it would, that would mean less than £20,000 to be raised by subscription. Surely in all Otago there are 200 people who would give £IOO for such an object. And there you are! The appeal would be made in town and country both, for both would use tile college. All contributions would be thankfully received, but donors of £IOO or over would be entitled * founders, and might have certain privileges, as to nominating pupils at reduced fees or something of tile kind. The subscriptions need not be paid all at once, but spread over a period of five years, as it would not be nocessarv to put up ail the buildings at once. There are plenty of people who might back at £IOO down, but would never miss £2O a year for five years. Having got our funds, the next thing would be to erect the buildings. Much depends of course on the site, but the plan I have in mind consists of a main building with a central assembly hall with class rooms built round it on three sides, and at the back a big dining-hall with kitchen and offices and quarters for the domestic staff adjacent A* convenient distances, connected with the main building if possible by covered ways, would be six v eight boarding houses, arranged in pairs, each house with a big day-room, studies for the older girls, a teacher’s .sitting-ror m, and practising rooms, and sleeping accommodation, principally open-air cubicles for about twenty-five girls. Attached to one of the houses would be the principal's quarters with sitting-room find bed-room, and somewhere handy would "be an infirmary, in ease of serious illness, with a trained nurse in charge. Allowing fo* 30 to Ifi day girls from the surrounding du-trict, we could have something like ISO or 210 girls altogether, which would allow the college being divided into two “sides”

—scientific and literary, and in the latter case it might be possible to arrange a couple of classes for girls who wished to concentrate on music and art and history and so on, though the college would not cater for these so much as for those who were prepared to put in good hard work in preparation for a university or other career. The lower school would be on the- lines of the junior High Schools recently advocated, the course of study including English language and literature, French, English, and European history, arithmetic, elementary mathematics, nature study, home science, and what may be called genera: knowledge, which would include civics, and go on through tile school to give the girls some idea of the economies of daily life, including an occasional Saturday excursion to town to visit factories, museums, the magistrate’s court, etc. For the girls yho were not taking the science course, this would also include a certain amount of ele mentary science, on the lines of the lessons we used to have at one school I went to, where even though we did no actual experiments, we learnt something of modern inventions and discoveries—the theor3 r of atoms, as far as it was then known, the working of the telegraph, the history of the telephone and phonograph, etc., and it made life so much more interesting afterwards. Now, of course, it is all still more interesting. The nature study course I should like * to see divided into two lines, one beginning with botany and going up through elementary zoology to physiology and hygiene; the other including physical geography, geology, and astronomy, as far as this programme could be carried out. I am afraid that asb onoiny is not a subject for the University Scholarship Examination, and girls working for that would have to devote their energies to things nearer than the stars, but there would be other girls who would have more time, and would I think find such a course of stud}’ give them a fairly comprehensive idea of man and his relation to the universe, the comae of studj r in the upper school would, of course, 'he. governed by the University Examinations. It is a pity that this should be so, but it can’t be helped as things are at present. The present system torus to put tlie cart before the horse to some extent. Instead of being merely a test of a wide general knowledge, the matriemation examination has become a thing to be worked for in itself. “Oh, I can’t take that subject, it’s no good ’for n-atric." is the cry, and an interesting, and probably useful, study goes to the wall. But in the meantime there seems no help for it. There must be some sort of test for entrance into the University, and the only ay is to make- the test to cover as wide a field of choice as possible. Anvwav the upoer school could have its two sid'es, one including physics and chemistry, and the other giving more time to languages. I find I have not mentioned Latin. I should like to see most girls taking it. It is a fine foundation for the study of the languages, and I know I was always glad myself that I had taken it, and, of course, it is required for many professional examinations, but still it could be an optional subject. Provision would of course be made for physical culture and for singing and drawing, and a weekly Bible lesson either from the teachers or from visiting clergymen. Music is generally a difficulty in girls’ schools. Most girls take it and it is difficult to fit it all in. but here I would not encourage girls to go on with it in the upper school anyway unless they had a real gift for it. In these days of gramophones and wireless concerts there is no use in a girl going on “piano-thumping” unless she can really give pleasure to herself or others, but instead I would have classes in appreciation of music, an idea of my own which is being carried out in some girls’ schools at the present time, and I would also try to raise an orchestra. I saw some time ,ago in an English paper that the headmistress of a big girls’ school had some idea of getting up an orchestra, but was told it was impossible. It would be difficult, I know. Fqr one thing it would depend on getting come good violin players, and they are rare, and then there are so many instruments not suitable to girls—all those big brasses for instance. But there are the wood-wind instruments, and one might revive some of the old-fashioned instruments like the xylophone, which is now generally regarded as a child’s toy, blit in its proper form is sometimes used in orchestras still. Anyway, some sort of a band or orchestra I would have if at all possible, and of course a school choir. One difficulty about a new school is the supply of teachers, as the best naturally gravitate towards the older-estab-lished schools with their superannuation schemes and pensions, but I would gradually build up an endowment fund which would enable the board in time to guarantee pensions and ensure liberal salaries. Once the school was built and equipped, I have calculated that even moderate fees would cover working expenses for some time, and

the boarding department might even show a profit, which would go to winds the endowment fund which would be needed for various purposes us time went on. The routine would be much the same as in mos' schools. Bising in time for physical drib before breakfast ; breakfast early enough to allow of time for exercise or recreation before morning school. Morning and afternoon -school would i.e followed by games, and the evenings spent in preparation. On Saturdays there would be mending and other odd jobs in the morning, games or walks in the afternoon and the evenings would be devoted to dancing, concerts, debates, and lectures on interesting subjects by visitors from town, Recently I saw that some discussion had been taking place on the way Sunday was spent in boys’ and girls’ schools in England, pupils of some of the schools complaining of too much Sunday school and to much supervision, but 1 find that the sort of Sunday I had planned is about the same as that at one of the biggest girls schools in England. Breakfast vvould be an hour later, and then the girls would be free till church time, when they would go into Mosgiel to their respective denominations. After dinner there would be a quiet time for letter-writing, then a special Sunday event, in the shape of afternoon tea, which would not be indulged in on other days, then a walk In groups of not less than four, and at six a service for the whole school in the assembly liall, conducted by the head mistress. It might, too, be easy enough to evolve a service that could be taken part in by all—a few simple prayers, some good hymns, a lesson from the Bible, and either a talk from tlie head mistress or the reading of a good—and short —sermon for young people. Then supper, cold in summer, hot soup in winter, and free time till bed-time. I do not see the necessity for Sunday school, as tlie evening service would be something of that nature. The great advantage of having the school in the country is the provision of ample playing ground. There should be tennis courts. The latter is a very good game for girls—better than hockey, though the latter is good sport, I know. In one form, Che ball is kept in the air the whole time, tlie players using a sort of elongated, tennis racquet, and they are continually jumping and stretching upwards instead of bending over as in hockey. It is beginning to make its way into the schools here, and I am surprised it has not done so before. If a good water supply was available, there should be a swimming pool if possible, and of course an annual sports’ meeting. The division of the school into houses makes for a healthy rivalry in the way of games and debates, and helps to cultivate esprit de corps, and then there would be occasional matches with other schools. There should be room also for gardens for such girls as cared about them, and the school should grow its own fruit and vegetables, so as to have a plentiful and fresh supply. The girls could help with the gathering. One thing I have forgotten is the library, which is an essential feature. It should contain a circulating library of good fiction and other books, open, say, twice a week, and a reference library available at all times, the girls being brusted not to remove the books. If any were found to be taken, it would mean the penalising of the whole school by the locking of the library, so they would all be on their guard against anyone breaking the rules. Finally, I would call the college “Queen Mary’s College,” _as a memorial of our present Queen’s reign as Queen Consort, and because she is worthy of honour as a fine type and example of English womanhood. The houses I would name after “Queens” of various kinds — “Victoria” and “Elizabeth,” “Florence Nightingale,” “Lady Astor,” as the first British woman M.P., “Elizabeth Garrett, after the first woman doctor, “Miss Beale, the pioneer of secondary education for girls, and 'I rather fancy “Esther House” after your namesake of the Bible, for whom I always Lad a great affection. She risked her life for the people, and “Deborah House” after the woman who judged Israel. But alas; I fear my dream college will remain a dream and never materialise now. TEMPLETON. [This i 3 a very interesting and well thought out scheme of a girls’ college. Certainly a country site (as in the case of lona' College, if that is the right name of the one near Havelock North) offers some substantial advantages. I am not sufficiently familiar with the working of our local Girls’ High School and private schools to judge how their systems compare with that outlined here. As the province progresses and need for more schools is felt, Templeton’s “Dream College” may be transformed to reality.—ESTHEß.] (To be Continued.) BATH TIME IN THE NURSERY. A STUDY IX SUGGESTION. By PIIILLIDA. It is remarkable how well children can be managed if only you appeal to them through their imaginations. Call a orust “a crust” and no amount of coaxing will make them eat it, but treat the same crust as a little black pig who keeps stealing into the larder and getting pieces of its tail chopped off <jy the closing door, and there will soon be nolle of it left. Further, the children will take a keen pleasure in performing what was before an irksome duty. Let their imaginations play as part and they can be managed in whatever way you please. To illustrate this I relate an object lesson which came under my notice yesterday; I arrived at Elizabeth’s home just before six o’clock when the children were going to bed. Bubba was already cuddled down in his cot becide Gumph the Gollywog, but three-year-old Neil had still to ue bathed. Auntie Bab, mistress of ceremonies, -permitted me to sit out of the way and watch operations. In the big white bath Neil was smiling and sweet as a little Cupid, but remembering how hard it had always been to bring him to tlie serious business of tubbing, I was curious to see what would take place. Auntie Bab : “Now, my chicken, here you are at the old washerwoman's house. What shall she scrub first to-day?” Neil (beaming with importance): “Tis wee fcolie.” Auntie Bab, after having well sponged the proffered foot: “And what shall she scrub now?” Neil: “Tis ozzer wee one.” Auntie Bab; “And now it’s this handy isn’t it?” Neil, anxious to follow the procedure exactly correctly: “No, zis handy first; zen ze ozzer wee one.” Followed neck and body, face and head, till without really realising that he was being washed at all he was “scrubbed” all over and ready for reward. This was in the form of “frogs.” Balancing himself perilously in a sitting position, lie was swished np and down by the toes till he was squealing with delight.and excitement. How lie was going to be removed from this pool

of fasc illation I could not see, but Auntie Bab soon managed this. “Where’s that soap?’’ she asked, and after much imaginary hunting discovered it in a remote comer near the plug. “Now,” laying it in the soap-drain and covering it carefully with the, sponge, “lie’s gone to bed. There he is, all tucked up and going to sleep. Poor old soap!” Neil's eyes were big with interest. “Come on, chicken, we’ll leave him to his dreams,” and the rose cherub was lifted out onto tho big towel in Auntio Bab’s lap. When he would have protested and desired to return to the allure of the ‘splashy-dashy p.yeo he was silenced at once by. “Hush Atul ; rjuiet dear you'll wake "the soap up ! dried to the story r\ c the ten litiie niggers, meanwhile discovering that on his diminutive- feet there was a little pmk toe for each little black bov! Soon, " 11 h his nightgown trailing clouds of glory about him, he was carried forth to say goodnight to Daddy and Mummy and me, <uul, after gravely kissing us all round, away he went to bed oil Auntie Bab’s shoulder, his little arms tight round her neck, his soft mouth murmuring close to her cheek. I turned to his mother with enthusiasm. ’Why, Elizabeth,” I said, “It has been an education ! Whoever thought of such an ideal way of getting over the bathing difficulty?” Elizabeth smiled. “It was Barbara,” she said. “She is a born mother and manages those, children better even than I can with her imagination and delightful games. It was the greatest tragedy when Donald was killed at Gallipoli years ago. Barbara will never marry now, and when I see the "'ay she handles mv babies I could weep for the pity of it.” WOMEN INDICNANT. POL IXI CASE JUDGMENT. The recent legal decision which deprived Emelie Polini, the well-known actress, of her only child, has evoked widespread sympathy ttom women all over the State, and numerous agitations culminated in a deputation to the Minister of Justice. He was urged to amend the Infants’ Custody and Settlement Act of 1889. The deputation was representative, including leading members of the Feminist Club, Women Justices’ Association, Women Workers’ Union, Women’s National Association, English Speaking Union, and the Women Waitresses’ Union. Miss Preston Stanley, of the Feminist Club, referring to the Polini case, in which the court gave the custody of a young girl baby to the father, said the judgment was inhuman, unnatural, unjust, and undemocratic. The petition drawn up for urging a reform of the law had been signed by 15,000 women. The amendments desired were that, in the cose of children of tender age (up to seven) the mother should be regarded as the natural guardian, unless the court found against her such immorality as made her. care a danger to the children. Another amendment desired was that in those cases wl ere the mother had to earn her own livin' and in order to do so had a bona fide reason for travelling outside tme State, the fact of her having to do so should not operate to rob her of the right of her child. (In the Polini case there was no suggestion of immorality on the part of the actress, but the fact of her having to travel extensively was one of the grounds on whicli the judge awarded the custody of the fluid to the father.) Miss Stanley contended that, as the law stood, it gave rights to the father whicli it did not extend to a married- mother, and it remained for the Polini case to arouse flaming indignation. By other speakers the law was referred to as “a. remnant of file barbarous laws of years ago.” Miss Ruby Rich, of the Feminist Club, contended that the law as it stood conduced to immorality. The law of human nature ought in itself be sufficient to give the mother the right to her child. Emelie Polini had stated that if her child had been an ellegitimate she would have had full right to it. The Minister promised to sympathetically consider their views and to submit them to Cabinet.