CHILDREN’S PAGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XXV, 19 December 1903, Page 62

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

Cousins requiring badges are requested to ser.d an addressed envelope. when the badge will be forwarded by return mail. ♦ * * CO’ SINS' COKKESP JNDENCE. Dear Cousin Kate.—l would like to I" : ■>u:e cne of your little eousius. My name is Leslie Vivian, and I am in s’ ndard I. I go to the Bayfield school, and I have a niee teacher. I am seven years old, and as I cannot write very v. ell my brother is writing this letter for me. We get the “Graphic” every week, and I like reading the letters and Jungle Jinks. I will write a longer letter next time. With love to all the cousins, yours sincerely. Cousin Leslie.—P.S.—Please send me a badge. [Dear Cousin Leslie. —I shall be verypleased indeed to have you for one of my little cousins, and you are one of the youngest 1 have. What a very nice brother yours must be. It is very good of him to write your letters for you, don’t you think so? I should like him to write to me himself. If you are in standard one now. you will soon be able to write long letters to me without anyone to help you. I will post a badge to you to-day, and I hope you will like it.—Conan Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate, —You will think that I have quite forgotten you. Are we net having dreadful weather here now? It seems to be always raining, or else -very windy. Last Wednesday night I went to Professor Potter’s carnival, and it was very nice. I think that it is very wonderful the things that the pupils do. I wonder that they are not afraid, but I suppose that they get quite used to it. Last Saturday I went to the Show, and it was very nice. I had a look at all the cattle, and then I watched the jumping competition. I shuppose that you went to the Show, Cousin Kate, but I would not know you if I saw you. Fancy only two more weeks before the holidays. I am looking forward to having a grand time. I may go up to Cambridge for a while, but I am not quite sure yet. I hope that this letter won’t be too late for this week’s “Graphic.” I had better close now with love to you and all the cousins.-—I remain, yours sincerely, Cousin Muriel. [Dear Cousin Muriel, —I really was beginning to think you had forgotten all about me, as it is such a very long time since you wrote to me last.' Professor Potter’s carnival was a great success, was It notf and the fire clubs exercise was something quite new» to most of us. Tea, I went to the Show, and liked It vary much indeed, especi-

ally the jumping competitions. All my cousins seem to be counting the days till the Christmas holidays, and I don’t wonder at it, but I do hope we shall have better weather, don’t you? Cambridge is a very pretty place to spend a holiday in, but it is very quiet. I am sorry your letter did not come in in time for last week’s “Graphic.” You must try and send it in by Wednesday next time.—Cousin Kate.]’ * ♦ Dear Cousin Kate,- —Will you allow me to be one of your cousins, and will you please send me a badge? I was eight years old a few weeks ago. I go to King’s College, and in the holidays we are going to Kamo for half the time and to Waiwera the other half. I am going to get a prize for winning a race at the College sports. My sister is at Mount Eden College. She will be ten in two weeks. I will tell you about my pets next letter, and now remain, your loving cousin, Keith. [Dear Cousin Keith, —Of course I shall be very pleased indeed to have you for one of my little cousins, and I will send you a badge to-day. I hope you will like it. I wonder if you were at the King’s College dance at the end of the winter term. What splendid holidays you are going to have. I think Kamo and Waiwera are both grand places to spend a holiday in. You must write to me during the holidays, and tell me what yon are doing, and how you are getting on. W hat is your prize going to be? I hope it will be a nice one. Will you wish your sister many happy returns "of the day on her birthday for me?—Cousin Kate.] + * * Dear Cousin Kate.—l suppose you went to hear Miss Ada Crossley. What did you think of her? I think I saw you at the sports on Saturday, but perhaps I might have been mistaken. Did you go? I thought very few people were there, considering it was such a nice afternoon. Did you go up to the camp last Sunday? 1 saw quite a crowd going in, but did not notice you. I had an idea the Mounted Rifles were going into camp in the Domain because I saw some of them passing, and thought perhaps, that was where they were going. Last Friday evening our school concert was held in St. Mark’s Hall. Remuera. I did not go, but I believe it went off splendidly. There was a lot of decorating to be done, so some school girls and I helped all we could. I did not wait until the hall was finished, but what I saw of it looked very niee. What a number of cousins you are getting. Cousin Kate, I suppose you will have to be putting an extra page in the “Graphic-’ in order to answer their letters. I think some of them write such interesting letters, so I like reading them very much. As soon as I get the “Graphic,” the first thing I generally do is to look for any pictures of actors or actresses. I then look at the “Cousins’ Page,” and, if I have time read through all the letters. I think Desmond and Valerie take more interest in Jungle Jinks than in anything else. Was not that a frightful accident that occurred last Saturday morning in Khyber Pass? Mother and Desmond were on the verandah and saw the ambulance going up to the HospitaL Mother’s fingers are ever so much better now, thank you. The doctor saw them on Friday morning, and he said they would not take long now, but she must be careful and not knock the skin off, otherwise they would leave marks. I suppose you remember what a wet day

lost Wednesday was. Well, I did not go to school, as 1 was staying with my cousin Olga. I played their pianola nearly all the morning. Although Olga is so young yet she can play tho pianola quite nicely, and Gretchen loves listening to it. They have some lovely pieces, one of which is, “Keep off the Glass,” song from the “Toreador” I suppose you saw the “Toreador” opera when the Pollards played it. 1 went to the matinee and thought it very nice. Ruth and I go to nearly every matinee that is played here. Now dear Cousin Kate I must conclude as it is getting late. With love to all the cousins, not forgetting yourself.—Muriel. P.S. —Is this the way you mean me to write ? —Muriel. [Dear Cousin Muriel.—Thank yon very much for your niee long letter this week, and also for only writing on one side of the paper, as I asked you to. You can't think how much easier it makes it for us to read. Yes, I went to hear Ada Crossley and thought her singing was simply exquisite. I would like to have heard her again very much indeed. She had a very good company with her to, so altogether the concerts were a great success. I have not been to the camp yet, I have been so dreadfully busy that 1 have had no chance. I am glad your school concert was such a success. Why did you not go? I always think decorating very hard work, but I like doing it if I have plenty of pretty things to do it with. I am getting a great many more cousins lately, but I don’t think I shall have to add an extra page, because all the cousins don’t write the same week you see. It might have been a real’; terrille accident in Khyber Pass last Saturday, I think the men were lucky to get off without being hurt more than they were. They seem to have been dreadfully careless, don’t they? I am so glad that there will be no scars on your mother’s hands. The pianola is a splendid invention, isn’t it? but it always annoys me because I cannot play as well myself. I did see the “Toreador,” and liked it very much. I used to like going to the Pollards, though, of course, they are not supposed to be a very good company.—Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate, —It is a long time since I have written to you. We have three ladies staying with us. They are going to Wellington for Christmas, and then they are going to Auckland. Father and Cecil were at Akaroa, and mother and father are going to take me at Christinas. We are having lovely weather. The gooseberries are getting ripe. I got a lovely French doll sent to me. Its name is Marguerite. It has lace stockings and kid shoes, and a pretty blue silk dress, and golden hair, and a hat with marguerites in. ‘ It is our examination on Friday. I hope to get top of the class. Lots of love to all the other cousins, and lots to yourself.—Cousin Doreen. [Dear Cousin Doreen, — Thank you so much for your dear little letter. It is rather a long time since you wrote to me last, but 1 have heard from Cecil once or twice. Were you not phased that Cecil won the prize for the puzzle competition? II? told me that he had been to Akaroa, and had had a very pleasant trip indeed. I hope you will enjoy yourself as much, and that you will have a very happy Christmas. You are a very lucky little aren’t you? It is not very long since your birthday,

and you had such lovely presents then, and now you have got a lovely new doll. Y'ou must take great eare of Marguerite; it would be a pity to spoil sueh a beauty, wouldn’t it ? ’ She must be a great swell. I hope you will pass your examinations, dear, and that you will be at the top of the class.—Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate, —I am going for a trip to Kaikoura next Monday. I have such a lot of ducks now, as some more have hatched. I had twenty-one of them, but two died. I have ’to look after all of them till I go away, and then I will leave them in charge of my sister Anne till my other -sister eomes back from M e'lington. My mother came back and left my sister. I have extra holidays because I am going away. I think the badge is very pretty, especially the little pin. I am in the Fifth Standard now; we had our examination a good while ago, and I passed into the Fifth. lam 11 years old, We are having such nice weather lately, and I hope it will continue. My sister Anne said she might write to you too, and my friend Monica. I think I must sav goodbye now. With love to you and all the Cousins.—Cousin Amy. [Dear Cousin Amy,—l am so glad you liked your badge and pin. I thought the pins so pretty that I bought soma for myself. Was your mother very pleased to find so many more ducks when she eame home? She must have thought you a splendid little hen wifeWe have some ducks, too. about 20 I think, but they are all different sizes. I hope no more of yours will die. I think you are a very lucky girl having extra holidays; you must write and teU me how you are enjoying your trip. I shall be very pleased indeed to have Annie and Mouiea for cousins—Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —I am very sorry not to have written before, you must have thought that I had you, it is sueh a long time since I wrote to you last. I was so pleased to see that I had won the prize for the puzzles. I did not expect to be anywhere near the winner, as they were so difficult. lam so sorry that none of the other cousins got a prize. I have not been very well lately, so father took me to Akaroa for a holiday. We had such a good tine. When we arrived there a party of ten of us went fishing and four of us caught about fifty red cod, but they were no good for anything. It was a lovely evening, the sky looked so nice out in -the boat. Next day we went round the harbour on one side and came back on the other side in a gentleman’s oil launch. It was so lovely, we saw such a lot of shags and babv petrels. In the afternoon I was fishing 'with the boys off the end of the jettv, and wa caught sueh a lot .of fish, and the boys sell them at twelve for sixpence. We went up into the bush to get some ferns and we got some beauties, then we had tea in bush; and when we were coming home we saw them sheep-shearing. We returned home next day. I was on the roof of the coach most’of the journey. It was very hot, the sun streaming down on us all. I have my exams coming on this week, I hope’ I shall pass. This is all the news I can think of just now. With love to yourself and all the cousins.—l remain, Cousin Dear Cousin CeciL—You will see that I have written to you in last week’s “Graphic,” asking you to tell me of any particular book you would like to have. M ill you let me know as soon as possible? Very few of the Cousins really tried to do all the puzzles I think, and your answers were really very good indeed. I am so sorry to hear that you have not been very well lately, and hope you are quite well again since your trip. What a lovely one it must have been. Doreen tells me she is going to Akaroa at Christmas time too. I hope you will pass your examinations, but I think you are sure to.—Cousin Kate. + ♦ Dear Cousin Kate,—l was glad to see my letter and your long answer in the “Graphic.” I shall like still being a cousin, and will try to send you interesting letters. The most terrible southeaster is blowing to-day. Luckily it is

Bunday, so there is no need to go out. It is almost Impossible to open any doors except those inside, and the dust is so thick that as it blows across the sea nothing else in to be seen. They call it the “B.A. Doctor,” because it carries everything before it. In summer these winds are not scarce, so we have something to look forward to. Auckland has been gay lately! Such a lot seems to be taking place in the way of entertainment. We are going to the Italian Opera on Thursday uight. Everyone says it won’t be very good, because no really good companies come to Capetown. I wonder if Mel. B. Spurr will go to New Zealand. He would be appreciated if he did. He entertains the people alone, with no help, and all he does and says is amusing. It is wonderful how one man, in such a quiet way, ean make a crowded house laugh so much. My brother took me to the top of Signal Hill a few days after our arrival. The view of Table Bay and Cape Town is very fine indeed, and all the way up we pitied flowers—such lovely ones, and a lot of different kinds. Of course South Afriea is renowned for its wild Cowers, but I could not imagine so great a variety. The heath comes mostly from Caledon, and is sold in town by the coloured people. Wednesday and Saturday are flower days, and the sellers stretch all down town. In September a Saturday was kept for the hospital collection, just as it is in Australia. Girls stand at every corner with boxes, which they hold out to everyone passing. These days are always great successes in Johannesburg and Durban, but it is the first time Capetown has had one. The sum collected was over £IOOO, but I can’t remember the exact figures. In every letter to anyone I have given a description of Cecil Rhodes’ home, so I must tell you, as I hadn’t seen it when I first wrote. The name is “Groot Schur,” Dutch, of course, but I don't know what it means. It is something like "Great Scott,” isn’t it! The house is an exact copy of a Dutch home built in the old style, with a huge tiled stoep (verandah) supported by big white granite pillars. The top of the

stoep b quite flat, and easy to walk on. The house is enormous, and a short time ago was occupied by Dr. Jamieson and Rudyard Kipling. If there is no one living in it people are allowed through, but we had no luck that way. The grounds extend for hundreds of acres, laid out in gardens of glorious flowers and long oak paths. Up the side of the mountain lions and tigers can be seen, while a little further down a small menagerie is still kept in order, and quite a number of birds and animals are running almost free, because their homes are so large. It would take some days to see the house and grounds thoroughly. Groot Schur was thrown open to the public after Cecil Rhodes’ death, so that it is free to all. It is unsafe to go alone, for crowds of coloured men swarm in and out, and one can’t tell where they will be met. Rhodes died in a little cottage, which I have passed, at Murzinburg. a seaside resort where people go for their summer holidays. It and Kalk Bay are lovely places for shells, because the beach is so open, with no rocks near the shore. I gathered a crowd of pretty shells while there for half a day, and my collection is increasing rapidly. The Atlantic comes straight into the beaeh below us, but the rocks are so large and the breakers so big that very little fishing, and no yachting or bathing, can be done. Only last week a woman was drowned a little distance out, while going for <a pull in an open boat. Even in summer the sea is never warm, while at Murzinburg the water is not cold in winter. Cape Town does not possess a museum, except an empty one, and the Art- Gallery is shut up, but the Public Library is splendid—so is the subscription to join. There is not much to see about here, unless we go for a few days. Places like Camp’s Bay and Murzinburg have crowds on Saturday and Sunday, but it is no use going often. Camp’s Bay is a great favourite, and has a concert once a week, also a bousing tea-house called the “Pagoda,” built in brown and green like a Japanese temple. I know you like all Ethel Turners books, so I will tell you about a girl from Sydney

who knew her. She told us Miss Turner was grand, ao jolly and interesting, and had the prettiest home you ever saw. She went to school with E. Turner, and is in one of the books of abort stories as “the long lanky schoolgirl Thea.” “Thea” says all Australians love the writer of those pretty stories, and so they might. I had a grand letter from Cousin Dora to-day, and she asked me to write to you, and she will post me the “Graphic.” Cousin Dora said she might go for a trip to Singapore, so that will be lovely for her. I wish she would write to you again, because we like getting any news of our oldest ehum. Perhaps she will see this and take the hint. I am finishing this letter some days after I began it. and the storm is over at last. People say it is the worst that Capetown has known for a long time. Roofs were blown off, some part of our own among them, and Texas Jack’s Circus tent was turned over. It will be a big loss for him. My two sisters thought they would like a walk, so they went to the beach road, where they were rolled along the ground in grand style. Everyone said it was unsafe to go out at all during the gale, and the paper gave a long account of it. By the time you get this letter it will be December, so I must wish you and all the cousins “A merry Christmas.” Are you getting anything up for the children this year, Cousin Kate? They did seem to enjoy getting the dolls last time. We think of going to a seaside known as Simon’s Town for our holidays. It will be lovely, for the beach is covered with shells, so I will get crowds, and we can fish and bathe. I suppose you have heard of Princess Radziwill? She was tried here in connection with some forgeries which were mixed up with Cecil Rhodes’ name. I’ve forgotten all the particulars now, but she has been in the prison for fifteen months, and has now gone to England. From there she is going to tour all over Europe. I hadn’t heard of her till I came here, but some one gave us a book on her trial, and told us a lot about her. I have written this at odd times, and so you must excuse the

writing, please. I will atop With love from Cousin Alison.

[Dear Cousin Alison, —I am sure I was quite as glad to get your nice long letter this morning as you were to see my answer, and I am sure all the cousins will be delighted too. Isn’t it a pity, I can’t tell you all the news about Parnell people when I write to you, but I suppose it would hardly do for me to mention people by name. Your description of the south-easter is very graphic, and it does not make me exactly hanker after South Africa. It must he terrible while it lasts. Does it only blow for a few hours, or for days at a time! Auckland was very gay last winter, and one or two of the dances were simply lovely, especially the citizens and the Auckland Club balls. Of course you saw all about them in the paper. Did you see the Pollards when they were in Capetown? I see they have been burnt out. We miss them very much in Auckland, though we have been having some splendid companies here lately, and have actually had both theatres full at once most of the time. Auckland must be going ahead, don’t you think so! Did you see Clifford Walker when he was "here? He called himself a drawingroom entertainer, and must be something the same as Melville B. Spurr. 1 have always heard that the S.A. wild flowers were lovely. I should like to see them very much indeed. I think one thousand pounds was a splendid collection to make in one day. don’t you? It was a pity you were not able to go inside Cecil Rhodes’ house. What a perfect place it must be. He has always been one of my heroes, so of course I was specially interested in that part of your letter. It was very nice for you to meet that friend of Ethel Turner’s. It makes on. take a more personal interest in an author, I think, if one knows a little of their private life. Cousin Dora has been very good indeed lately, and has been writing most regularly. Did you answer her letter in shorthand. I hope your sisters were none the worse for their walk in the south-easter. If there had been no danger I should have

liked to see Elsie blown about. I expect she laughed over it, didn't she? Does she still play ping-pong’ We are not getting up anything for Christmas this year. All our energies are being used up at the Veterans’ Home bazaar. There were long accounts of Princess Radziwill in all our papers, so of course 1 knew a little about her. 1 could write a great deal more, dear Alison, but space will not permit, so will close till next time.—Cousin Kate. P.S. — “Groot Schur,” the name of Cecil Rhodes’ home, means “great shelter.”

Dear Cousin Kate.—My mueh-looked-forward to sister and baby have arrived at last. The baby is a sweet little thing, and 1 never saw such a young baby laugh like she does, as she is only four months old. I have got such a lovely lady’s companion, and n>y little sister has also a lovely one. and her’s has such dear little reels of silk in itAre you going to the Veterans’ Homo Bazaar? 1 hope to. That book I told you about last week is very pretty, hut I don’t know the name of the author. as whoever it is never signs her name to her books. J have not been out at all this wees as I have been staying at home playing with baby- We break up next Friday, and on Monday week we are going to Rotorua, I think. Now dear Cousin Kale, I must close, as there is no more news, with heaps of love from Cousin Gwendoline.

[Dear Cousin Gwen,—l am so glad your sister and the baby have arrived safely, and I think babies of about four months old are nicer than older ones because they are not old enough to cry at strangers. I suppose she is shortcoated now, isn’t she? I expect I shall go to the Veterans’ Home Bazaar. I do hope we shall have nice weather for it. don’t you? Did you go to hear Ada Crossley last, week? 1 thought she had a most lovely voice, and would have liked to hear her again. Some one asked me a riddle about her. Have you heard it? When was Melba angrv? W hen she spoke to Ada Crossley.— Cousin Kate.l