AUNT HILDA’S LETTER

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19060, 3 May 1930, Page 18 (Supplement)

AUNT HILDA’S LETTER

GOLDEN PROVOCATION. THE WIND-FAIRIES’ CARNIVAL. J)EAR LITTLE READERS. Have you noticed how suddenly bare all our golden and scarlet trees have been stripped this last week? Poplars that a week ago were pillars of gold are now standing in jackets of silver grey; willows are decked in a more green-grey: oaks in a brown-grey, and all the other trees have shared the same apparently cruel fate. The silver poplar seems very loath to part with its topmost leaves, and they still defy successfully the combined efforts of all the little Wind-Fairies. These are the very essence of sprightly mischief, for they sit secluded in the yellowing branches, watching with merry eyes the frantic efforts of poor human beings to tidy the lawns and walks. Then just as the last leaf is raked up, they shower the earth with gold and brown again, and though we groan at the mess, we've got to clean it up! And there is nothing they love better than to find an open window, through which to flutter their brown bits of provocation; failing that, any culvert or drain which will cause us humans a bit of exercise suits their purpose finely? One even pelted Aunt Hilda on the tram the other day and I found a little brown elmleaf sitting cheerfully on the edge of the book I carried, with another in my bag for company! _. . , , . High jinks no doubt for the Wmd-Faines, but how sorry we are to part with our beauty-giving friends. Around Christchurch is one ot the best places in New Zealand for the delight of autumn tints; Rangiora has been especially beautiful, and that poplar avenue beyond Kaiapoi must have roused the inspiration in many an artist. There is also a beautiful avenue of golden poplars near Lumsden (Central Otago) through which Aunt Hilda passed on holiday one year. Central Otago has wonderful little sheltered valleys where the red leaves linger on the rowan trees till well into the winter; but any garden in Christchurch has its own on the chestnuts at night. Just now, when the leaves are getting thin there is a fanciful, unreal look about the brown leaves that I have not found elsewhere. In between the thinning leaves are patchesofdark •hot sky Remember to look next time you pass. All through the I'mter, too they have a unique beauty, the little grey twigs shining against the darker dry. Those whose eyes are shut to these small delights miss all the best in life. Nature is so subtle in the way she spreads her beauty, and what you have always thought of as obvious suddenly one day appears full of new wonder and beauty. So, eyes wide open, please, for all the joy* that cost so little and help so much to keep you in tune with life, animate and inanimate. WHAT SCIENCE IS SAYING. Bv the way I am not sure I should have used that term ‘‘inanimate,” for science is daily telling us of the wonders of these very same mand we are finding that our existence is very humdrum compared with that of apparently lesser things. Wonderful discoveries have been made concerning the “atom” which only a few years ago was considered the very lowest indivisible thing in the structure of life. Now we have split the atom into protons and electrons, and found centres of energy undreamed of before. I have just read a very instructive article by tS distinguished physicist Sir J. J Thomson in which he state > **t the size of man is midway between the atom and a star, bo if you can compare yomself to such an infinitely big thing as a star, you will form some idea of how infinitely small an atom is. . . „ An electron is a unit of negative electricity, while a proton is a unit of positive electricity. You can remember, the latter easily, because “oroton” and “positive” both begin with P- • .. a r. We are beginning to find now that a thunderstorm is caused by a eiant electric spark. The field of physics is going to be a more wondeiv ?ul one still in this next century, and every boy and girl should ha\e -ome knowledge of the meaning of physics. . Enormous discoveries, quite undreamed of at present, await us m future • and come of you boys will, I hope, be the ones to add your ha-e How manyof you have even heard of Einstein yet? Or h.s theory of relativity which confounds so very much of our former knowledge? ’Tis time you began to study these wonderful advances in the ranks of science. ■, m m Success to you all in your end-of-term examination and all good wishes from—■ ESSKSSS®SHHSSHffI@K@SSE3HSISSHffIaH!3ffIHS®HS@ffi®