Tárogató, 1945-1946 (8. évfolyam, 1-7. szám)
1945-07-01 / 1-2. szám
TÁROGATÓ 15 SOMETHING ABOUT ELEPHANTS Do you know that no one has ever seen a wild African elephant lie down to rest or sleep? This singular oddity puzzles wild-life experts, for the Aziatic species displays no such characteristic, and lies down often to slumber and rest. Do you know that an elephant’s hide may be more than one and one-half inches thick on some parts of his ponderous body? That is why they are called pachyderms, which means “thick-skinned”. Only the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, and the tapir have hides as thick as the elephant. Do you know that of all the animals mentioned in the Bible ranging from the camel to the dog, from the bear to the badger, from the antelope to the hare — the word “elephant” appears in the Bible not a single time? Dp you know that a famous Dutch animal dealer once trained six full-grown elephants to work and carry their masters in just two days? This record still stands today; no one has ever equalled it. Do you know that at birth a baby elephant may be three feet high and weigh two hundred or more -pounds? The mother elephant is very affectionate toward her young, and carefully protects it until it is four or fi^e years old. Do you know that African elephants reach a height of twelve feet, and a weight of 9,000 pounds? The Indian or Asiatic elephant is smaller, and is easier to tame and train. Canadian Boy. LEADERS FOR THE NEW CHINA. Though few in number, and only started within the last few years the Bailie Schools are already turning out boys fully equipped for leadership in the new China that, even in the midst of war, is now being built. They are part of the Chinese Industrial Cooperative movement, for whose rapid development Rewi Alley, a New Zealander, has been largely responsible. It was Rewi Alley who, after the destruction of eighty per cent of China’s industries by the Japanese, persuaded Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek to sanction a scheme of starting small industries or workshops in farms and villages less likely to be bombed than big industrial towns. With the help of gifted technicians, professional people, and students, who volunteered to work for Wages that marely paid for food and shelter, Rewi Alley proceeded to get these workshops started from scratch. They had to get everything for themselves — raw materials, tools, power, transport, markets, There are now thousands of these Co-operatives employing some millions of homeless refugees and turning out the goods that China needs. They are started with the help of small loans and of such funds as Lady Cripps British United Aid to China. Th Bailie Schools are the latest development of the Co-operatives, and, through them, Alley is teaching the youth of China to see adventure in creative work, and youth is making a firstclass job of it. . .At Lanchow on Hwang Ho River there is a typical Bailie School, consisting of a few simple buildings with a mud-walled courtyard. The boys are all in their early teens but all of them know what war and flight and destitution mean, and some of them have lost their whole families. They have ben taught to read and write (millions if people in China can still do neither) and to keep accounts. In their technical training they learn every process. For instance, they procure the materials and make their own dyes to dye the wool which they have spun themselves. They next wave it into material on looms which they have made, and finally take it to market in a truck which is their most cherished possession. This vehicle they learn not only to drive but to take to pieces, repair and reassemble, and maintain in good going order. They also produce most of their own food and do their own cooking and housekeeping. Eventually they help to launch and manage new Co-operatives. Transport is one of the most greatly needed things in China, so in Chungking last summer the Co-operatives started a Bailie School for training mechanics and transport personnel. The course lasts for four months and is for boys from Lanchow and Shuangshihpu schools who wish to take up transport work. These are some of the boys who are already helping to build China’s new world. So far there are no Bailie Schools for girls, but it is hoped that it will be possible to start these before long. Canadian Girl. OWL AND A PUSSY CAT. Nature students of my acquaintance assured me that I would never be able to bring up the young screech owl which had just been rescued from some boys who had captured it. They fol
