Tárogató, 1939-1940 (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1939-10-01 / 4. szám
16 TÁROGATÓ wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.” Those words represent a simple pattern to help us keep a balance in planning our time. It is not a matter of finding time for music or books, but music and books, not family or friends, but family and friends. None of these things can replace another, none should crowd another out of its rightful place; they go together to build a balanced, rich, efficient life. During a recent examination at a public school one of the questions set was the following : “If King Alfred were alive today, what would be his views on (a) Conscription; (b) Universal Suffrage; (c) the Press (d) Polo?” A boy with a very logical and practical turn of mind wrote: “If King Alfred were alive today, he would be too old to take any interest in any of these things.” EARLY TO RISE Young people often are warned about the importance of getting enough sleep to keep their bodies healthy and strong. But too many of them try to get the necessary eight hours of sleep by staying in bed long after sunrise, instead of retiring at a reasonable hour at night. There seems to be considerable truth in that old proverb about “Early to bed, early to rise.” Many young men have made themselves famous by wise use of the early morning hours. David Livingstone, when merely a lad, rose early enough to study Latin and Greek every morning before going to work in a cotton factory at six o’clock. It was the regular practice of Sir Walter Scott to rise at five o’clock to begin his writing. Elihu Burritt, “the learned blacksmith,” who is said to have become proficient in fifty languages and dialects, would begin to study at three o’clock in the morning, though he had left work at his forge only three hours before. John Wesley found that by four o’clock he had had sufficient rest. We are not recommending that any young person try getting along on three hours of sleep, but we are sure that anyone who never gets up in time to see the sun rise is not getting the most out of life. Find out how much sleep you really need, then form the habit of getting up when you have slept long enough. Get up when you wake up, and see how much better you feel. Get up and get busy while the day is cool and quiet, and see how much more you accomplish. HOW FAST DO BIRDS FLY? The speed of birds has been rather a vexed question, and seems now in a more satisfactory state than ever because of the swift aeroplane which is able at times to check up on the flight of birds which cross its path. A circular has been issued by the United States Department of Agriculture which places the duck hawk first in the list of speedy flyers, with a speed of one hundred and sventy-five miles an hour. This is surely a remarkable speed, and if not well-authenticated would be deemed impossible. Three observations of eagles give three speeds: one hundred and twenty, sixty and thirty miles an hour. The' Canada goose, the mallard duck, the pintail, the canvas back, the pheasant, and even the crow have been listed at sixty miles an hour. But the majority of birds fly at speeds of twenty to forty miles an hour. WHEN GLASS WAS VALUABLE When Queen Elizabeth ruled over England, glass was somewhat expensive, and people who had to go away from home thought it wise to remove their glass windows and put them in some safe place till they returned. Only the very wealthy were able to afford glass windows in those days. Today glass is both common and cheap. And now, since the automobile has come to bless us, we have seen the introduction of unbreakable glass in the windows and doors to prevent injury to the occupants of the automobile should happ>en to run into something, or something should happen to run into it. Who first discovered the art of making glass, we do not know, although the Phoenicians are commonly accorded that honour; but now the composition is so well known that almost any one can make it. Just take five parts sand, one part soda ash, one part limestone and a great many part of heat, and the thing is done. About 6,500,000 Canadians will be able to vote in the next election, and amongst them will be around 500,000 who will be qualified to cast their first vote. The cost of the coming election is estimated at around $2,500,000.
