Tárogató, 1943-1944 (6. évfolyam, 3-12. szám)
1944-03-01 / 9. szám
16 TÁROGATÓ dinosaurs roamed. The park area is only four hundred feet deep and two miles wide, but it contains some of the most remarkable fossil bones to be found in the world. They may not be removed, however, except by permission of the Government. It is quite an attraction to wonder-loving tourists. —Onward. NORTH AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING Before the war shipbuilding had fallen on evil days on this continent, but now it has staged a great revival. In the United States in 1939 they built one ship every thirteen days; in 1940 it jumped to one in seven days; in 1941 it reached 1 in three and a half days; in 1942 it had reached one in one day in April; and by December it reached four ships a day; in March, 1943, they were turning out five ships a day. And in Canada we are told by a British statesman that we are building as many ships as the Motherland. How long this extraordinary maritime activitiy will continue is, of course, very problematical. , —Onward. REGULATING THE GLACIERS Russia seems to have a very decided bent towards doing the unusual. Her scientists do not appear to be hampered by the fact that something has never been done before, and they seem willing to try experiments, even with glaciers. In Central Asia certain territory is supplied by glacier-fed streams. In order to secure a more plentiful water supply, the Russians are experimenting with material which will be used to cover the surface of the ice, and it has been found that this cover causes the ice to melt just four times as fast as when it is uncovered. This means more water for the crops. Ingenious, to say the least! —Onward. HITLER STOLE THE SWASTIKA The Swastika does not belong to Hitler or even exclusively to the Aryans. It is one of the oldest decorative motifs belonging to mankind and has been used in many lands. Until lately it was considered an emblem of good luck just as potent as a four-leafed clover! Now' Germany has made it the emblem of death. A Swastika hunt through the ages will find a Cave Man carving the first Swastika that wTe know. The hooked cross was found on the first fired clay of the early period produced in Greenland, and by the Incas of South America. It w'as found in Greek vases made about 800 years before Christ. The motif was carried on in the art of Mediterranean lands, on Oriental rugs, and worked into the textile and porcelain designs of china. It is found on figures of Buddha and, most interesting of all, in view of Hitler’s persecution of the Jews, this symbol was also used in the ancient art of Mesopotamia. THE GENERALSHIP OF A CAT The mastery of herself which a cat shows when, having been caught in a position from which there is no escape, she calmly sits down to face out the threats of a dog, is a marvellous thing. Everybody has seen a kitten on the street doorstep, attacked by a dog ten times her size, as apparently self-possessed as if she were in her mistress’lap. If she turns tail and runs down the street, she is lost; the dog will have a sure advantage of her. Even as it is, if he could get up courage enough to seize her on the spot, he would be able to make short work of her. “You dare not touch me, and you know it!” is what her position tells the dog. But she is intensely on her guard, in spite of the air of perfect content. Her legs, concealed under her fur, are ready for a spring. Her claws are unsheathed. Her eyes never move for an instant from the dog; as he bounds wildly from side to side, barking with comical fury, those glittering eyes of hers follow him with the keenest scrutiny. If he plucks up his courage, she is ready; she will sell her life dearly. She is watching her chance and she does not miss it. The dog tries Fabian tactics and withdraws a few feet, settling down upon his fore paws. Just then the sound of a dog’s bark in the next street attracts his eyes and ears for a moment, and he starts wildly in that direction and w'hen he looks back, the kitten is gone! He looks down the street and reaches a high board fence just as a cat’s tail—a monstrous tail for such a little cat—is vanishing over the top of it. He is beaten. The cat showed not only more courage than he had but a great deal more generalship.
