Tárogató, 1942-1943 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1942-10-01 / 4. szám
14 TÁROGATÓ ANIMALS’ SENSE PERCEPTIONS The dog seems to have hearing so keen that notes unperceived by the human ear are recognized by him. A dog-whistle recently put on the market is pitched so high that men cannot hear it, but the dog recognizes it at once. Alan Devoe thinks that the story of singing mice may have its explanation in the fact that mice really do sing, but the music ordinarily is unheard by human ears, although it may be heard perfectly well by other mice. This universe is probably full of noises which we never hear at all, although other living beings may hear them perfectly. The ants may see perfectly well lights and colours which no human eye ever saw, or ever will see. The animals also have a keenness of scent which baffles man. It is possible that the dog knows when a man is afraid of him by the emanation from that man. Even the lowly oyster, so long as light strikes its body, lies with open shell, but when a shadow comes the shell begins to close. This world is really a vast series of worlds, each animal living in its own peculiar world, with its own peculiar phenomena. —Onward”. OUR PLEDGE TO CHINA China has completed its fifth year of heroic and undespairing struggle against Japanese aggression. Among the spiritual assets of the United Nations there is none more valuable than the example of this great peace-loving people which has endured so much, and for so many years, rather than betray the cause of freedom which it feels to be the world’s cause as well as its own. In a message of greeting on the fifth anniversary of China’s invasion, Mr. Churchill wrote: “We are determined to extend to the Chinese people every material, moral and spiritual help in our power. Of ultimate victory we are sure. When it is won, our present association will have laid the foundations of a lasting friendship based on mutual confidence and respect, which will secure peace and justice to all the peoples of the world.” To which the friends of China everywhere —and especially the Christian friends of Christian China—will add a heartfelt Amen. WHAT SHOULD CHILDREN EAT? Modern parents are faced with the fact that children do not seem to care for some of the foods which science says they need, and it puzzles even the doctors to get a child to take what he does not like. To such parents the experiment of Dr. Clara M. Davis is, to say the least, interesting. She experimented with children, and for four and a half years she allowed them to select their own diet from good and simple foods which were placed before them. There was a wide variety of choice, and the children were allowed to choose just what they wanted, and to eat as much as they wanted. To the surprise of many, after the four and a half years’ trial the children were not only alive, but all were well and above the average in hight and weight. The experiment is one which will amuse some and alarm others. But the children all lived and thrived. What this proves we cannot say, but it seems to lean towards allowing children a wide selection of suitable foods. -—“Onward”. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT In an age which has produced more than its share of great rogues it is reassuring to remind ourselves that ranged against them are leaders no less vigorous and outstanding. The democratic and Christian world owes a special debt of gratitude to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Of him, Professor Harold Laski has with justice written: “In a profound sense the inspiration of his policy is religion”. The President is of Dutch descent. When Claes Martensen landed at New Amsterdam in 1650, he took the name of van Roosevelt, after his native village, and set to work as a farmer. Love of the soil has remained in the Roosevelt family ever since, and it was as champion of the farmers in his native New York State that Franklin Roosevelt first rose to political distinction. But he has inherited more than love of the soil and love of the sea from his Dutch ancestors. He has inherited, too, their vigorouos independence of spirit and their simple honesty, bom of an unquestioning faith in the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount. All these things have found rich expression in his political career. Wherever he has found evil he has combated it with uncompromising vigour. At the very beginning of his career he risked political extinction by fighting the nomination for the Senate of a man of his own party whom he considered unsuitable. It was in tackling evils in the social institutions of New York State during the 1929 slump that he won the support of the American people
