THE SMALLEST HOUSE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18009, 20 November 1926, Page 19

THE SMALLEST HOUSE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

PUZZLES. SQUARE WORD. 1. Keeps you warm in winter. 2. A very hard metal. 3. A measurement. 4. Finishes. (Solution on Wednesday.) WHAT ARE WE? Black are we, but much admired; Men seek us until they're tired. We tire the horse, but comfort man— Tell me this riddle if you can. (Solution on Wednesday.) WHAT IS IT? My first is in.table, but not in chair; My second is in pine, but not in pear: Mv third is in gone, but not in come; Mv fourth is in deaf, but not in dumb; My fifth is in run, but not in walk; My whole is an animal you've never heard talk. (Solution on Wednesday.) A SIMPLE BAROMETER. Take a jar and a sauce bottle; fill the jar sufficiently, full o'f water so that when the' sauce bottle is inverted in the jar the neck of the bgttle will lie in the water. If the water rises inside the neck of the bottle the weather will toe fine; if it falls it will be wet.

EVENING. When evening dips her brushes in the light of the fading day. She paints tlie weary world with the dying sun’s last ray; And when the darkening sky is lined with purest gold, We see a cloak of azure with silver in its fold; Both birds and mankind hasten home to rest, Man to his bed, the bird, to his nest. At the fall of night the children stop play. And playthings are left for another day. Then to rest slowly sinks the sun: He knows quite well that his day’s work is done. —rE. Hurrell. THE FAIRIES’ WASHING DAY. The fairies had a washing day The other dewy morn; Their dresses were of pearly grey, All in the soft blue dawn. Their wash-tubs were the buttercups, With spider’s silk for lines, And dainty little pegs made up Of tiny woollen .signs. But while we watched they fled away As the sun came o’er the hill; And though I waited there all day, They ne’er came past the rill.

GAMES TO PLAY. HANDS AND FEET. The players are divided into two sides, one going out of the room and the other staying in-it. In front of the open door place a screen above which no players or the opponents can be seen. Those who are on the outside then walk past holding up their hards above the top of the screen. Those left in the room must then guess whose hand it is, and, if correct, they score a point. After all of A’s side have shown a hand, B’s side goes out and does the same. The players who score the most points on the end win. If the feet are to be shown instead of the hands the screen should be raised not more than a few inches from the floor, so that just the shoes may be seen underneath. THROWING CARDS INTO A BOWL. The players are divided into two sides, each side sitting in a semi-circle, so that each member may be an equal distance from the bowl, which is placed in the centre of the floor. Each side is then provided with a pack of playing cards with different coloured backs to facilitate the counting at the end. The pack is divided up so that each player has six cards. The end member of A’s side then tries to throw his cards, one at a time, into the bowl. He is followed by one of B s side, and so on alternately until all have tried. The cards are then taken out of the hat and counted, a record being kept till the end of the game. At the second round the players throw two cgirds at a time, at the third three, and at the fourth all the six. The points thus scored are all added up at the end of the game, the side with the largest total winning. i THE WALKING SIXPENCE. Put a sixpence on the table, place a wooden match on each side of it, and then stand a glass upside down on the matches. Now tell your chums that you can get the sixpence out without touching it with anything. To do this you simply scratch the cloth gently with your finger-nail and the sixpence will gradually move towards you. EDWIN LANDSEER’S ANIMALS. Amoilg English artists Sir Edwin Landseer was remarkable for his love of nimals. The wild deer of Highland glens and mountains live still in many of his pictures. The dog, was. however, his favourite subject. From the cur to the most aristocratic of the race, he could see qualities that aroused his interest or sympathy. Landseer was born in London in 1802. His father was an eminent engraver, and from his childhood his little son had the advantage of good teaching. He was brought out into the country fields, parks and lanes to find subjects for his brush and pencil. He was only five when he began to sketch, and at twelve the boy could paint', well both with oil and water col-

When he was seventeen, two pf Landseer’s pictures were exhibited. The first showed dogs fighting, followed quickly by the “Dogs of St Gothard.” Many of.-you have seen reproductions of these noble dogs trained to find, lost travellers in the Alps. His fellow painters recognised the young man’s genius and as soon as he was old enough he was made a member of the Royal Academy. As a young man Landseer visited Sir Walter Scott, then at the height of his fame. The two great lovers of dogs became fast friends. Landseer came to love the Highlands which the great poet and novelist revealed to all English-speaking people. It was there that the painter saw the “Monarch of the Glen’’ and many other deer that still look out from his canvases. There, too. he found the “Old Shepherd’s Chief Mourner,” and “The Drover’s Departure,” with many subjects showing the sympathy between men and animals, Indeed, critics say that the painter often erred in attributing to dogs and other creaures, the feelings of their masters. A hundred years will soon have passed away, but still Landseer’s pictures of animals are loved, especially by children, and the best art of the engraver is employed in their reproduction. * Who has not laughed at the picture called “Dignity and Impudence,” where the big dog looks quietly down on the saucy, snarling cur. We have all seen these dogs in real life. The sad fate of Sir John Franklin and his party of heroic Arctic explorers gave.the painter a .sad subject for his brush. His last great picture is said to have been “A Swannery Invaded by Eagles.” He was growing old, and was suffering much himself. Little folks will like better his painting of “Squirrels Cracking Nuts.” Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, were very fond of Land seer. Both of them took lessons in etching from the famous painter. He was knighted by the Queen in 1850 We may be sure it was with special pleasure the good Queen Conferred the honour on Sir Edwin Landseer. ENTER TO-DAY. For the benefit of those children who have missed the commencement of this competition, it has been arranged to supply back copies over the counter. They may be obtained direct at this office or else post 2d in stamps to the Publisher, “ Star ” Office, Christchurch, for each copy required. IMPORTANT NOTICE. Save up each coupon as it appears until you have ten, then send them in with your solution. Several children have already sent in the coupons, but these have been returned. You are asked not to send in any part of the competition until after the closing date, which will be announced later.