COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

MY DEAREST COUSINS, I feel as if I have been away from you simply ages, though I really haven’t been away at all. I suppose May Fair already seems so far away that that has something to do with it. At all events, my dears, there’s one thing I do know. Here is the end of May approaching and I’m becoming very scared indeed about the plays. What heaps and heaps there is to be done before they will be ready for production —and only one clear month to do it in! You’ll all have to combine, my dears, to help me be ready in time. Not only to be ready, mind you, but to be developed to such an extent that there will be no doubt whatever that they will be better than last year in every way. I know that sounds a terribly big proposition, especially as people were so generous and kind in their criticism of last year’s recital. But as a progressive body, Cousins, we must show improvement, mustn’t we? Besides, we have last year’s experience to help us too, haven’t we? The best way clan members can help at present is by attending the remaining rehearsals not only regularly but punctually. We must make the most of the scanty Friday nighrts and Saturdays at our disposal. I don’t want the plays to interfere with your lessons in any way , so you, in your turn, must help me in the week-ends, won’t you? Don’t let t-ny thing stand in the way of your regular and unfailing attendance, please; and at the rehearsals please work with a will and put your hearts into the work. Of course you’ll do this, Cousins. I have no doubt about that —none whatever. The members of the Dhu-itz Club are arranging a young people’s dance to be held next Wednesday night in St. John’s Hall. They have distributed a large number of invitations, and have drawn up an interesting dance programme, introducing many novelties. The object of this dance, I understand, is to raise funds to help to pay for the frocking and cost of producing the 1928 plays. The Dhu-itz Club, of course, consists of those Little Southlanders who have “grown up” past the age of sixteen, and I think it is very good of them to retain such an interest in their younger Cousins. We all wish their dance every success, don’t we, Cousins. v Now, my dears, before I use up any more space I want to read you parts of a most interesting letter I received from a Little Southlander this week. You will soon discover that this Cousin is a girl, but for obvious reasons I will conceal her identity. I do love to hear my Cousins speaking so well of their teachers, whom I vow I quite envy! We have fun making paste maps. Miss told us to do a map of Asia for homework. We mixed equal parts of flour and sugar. She didn’t like us to use salt with the flour as it dampens with changes of weather. I put my dough in the middle and worked outwards. I had a great deal too much in the middle when I had finished, but that didn’t matter much as the centre of Asia is elevated. I waited for the dough to dry a little, and then pressed in the mountains, and flattened out- the plains. It was fun! There was “the joy of creating” which I think everyone likes. Miss is a dear. She told us we could do our map in clay if we liked. She thought we were still children enough to play with mud-pies. She said it with such a smile that we could not think our dignity offended, or anything like that. I think nice teachers make school life so much more acceptable. Don’t you? Miss is young, and plays games, and is always thinking out something original for us to do in History and Geography. She gives us gym. and games on Thursdays. One wet day we had a game with clubs. W’e had to run and move the club, and bunny-jump back to our places. Have you ever tried bunny-jumping quickly? It is very entertaining—to the spectators. Miss laughed at us; and next day we were all so stiff that we could hardly move. We laughed at each other, so we had fun as well. But I am wandering from the subject. We were told to bring flour and sugar to make maps of Japan. I put my flour and sugar in a bottle, and forgot to bring it. I eventually made the map at school, and I had to bring it home when we broke up for the holidays. It was rather pitifully squashed and battered, but Asia has turned out quite well, and is drying white, so I hope to take it back this term. Mother has taken my Cousin to ambulance classes tonight. I am not old enough to join, but next year I shall. The other day a boy was climbing on a bank and he fell on a piece of glass and cut an artery in his leg. His mother bandaged it up. The next day it started bleeding again when his mother was out. He never noticed it bleeding, and when he looked down there was a pool of blood at his feet. He arose to go outside and fainted. The boy who was playing with him told his mother, and she rushed for mum. When mother arrived the boy had almost bled to death. He was bandaged up, but he is still in bed. 1 think everyone should know a little about first aid, in the case of emergencies. Do you wonder, Cousins, that I look forward to my weekly letters so much. Ten thousand kisses to you all. And when they alight ever so gently on your closed eye-lids, please stir softly in your sleep, for they will be the loving thoughts of your own t/v,