6
Remington Rand
THE FIRST NAME IN TYPEWRITERS.
mintilunt.
BACKED BY 75 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
DAVIE, BOAG & CO., LTD.
Chung Tin Building
Telophone 26862
... To make your Imas thappy
- and typing ou pleasure
throughout the
New Year!
For everyone who has letters to write, reports to make, lessons to do the career girl, business
man, doctor, pupil, journalist the HERMES BABY is a gift
that will be treasured.
To the important people on your gift list give:-
JS
HERMES Baby
THE PICK OF THE PORTABLES
Spalingers
OFFICE EQUIPMENT DEPT.
JA Wyndham Street, {Next To S.C.M.POSL) TOL, 32783.
This is
the Gin
GORDONS
DRY GIN
DANTEBRALIK,
KY APPOINTRINE
CON DESTELLENI YO
BAL KING GEOSCE ES Casey Cordas §1Ça, Lab
Quality Incompara
Gordon's
Stands Supreme
Sole Agents DODWELL & CO., LTD.
"TOLD IN THE DARK”
boing contributions to a series of: informal, talks by G. P. do Martin during the winters in the
STANLEY INTERMENT CAMP
on sale at
«KELLY & WALSH, LTD.
*nd
SOUTH CHINA: MORNING POST, LTD. Price: $3,50
THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1950.
TOYS
GAME
"Let's buy Grandma something really useful—like a train-set or some roller skates,” London' Express Bervice
SHORT STORY
罰
THE LAST BILL OF A MAN WHO DIED IN A SMALL HOTEL
• In a small hotel on the left bank of the Seine, writers and scholars gathered recently. In memory of a man who died there 501 JORIE Ago.
MONTGOMERY HYDE Ulster Unionist MP, here clears up somno misunderstandings about' one of the most.
controversial figures in literature.
DUPOIRIER
10. Rue des Beaux-Aris, 13,
DESENNENS A DINERS - SERVICK A VOLONTÉ APPARTEMENTS & CHANDNES MEUBLED- OWNER ELECTRIUM
Ab
The truth about WILDE
HE final
PARISI
patron had to wait for 'nearly two years before the total. amount of Wilde's indebtedness to him was discharged. As will be seen from
document,
this
Wildo was registered in the hotel as "Mr Melmoth." He had
and wanted adopted this namo from the
act in the the contrary, he had excellent Oscar Wilde tragedy, medical attention,
for nothing during his Anal 01- which took place on ness. Nor did he dacit drugs to title of a novel Scbastian Mel November 30, 1900, in a relieve his suffering He was moth, written by a great-uncle, the reason being, as he put it,
prevent postmen having
he could drink, until it was
room overlooking the tiny given as much champagne no 1440 courtyard on the first floor forbidden by the doctor towards fits." - of the Hotel d'Alsace in the end. Indeed, as he himself Paris, caused little comment said at the time, "I am dying TURNED OUT
or beyond my means."
charitable man, on discovering
in either the English the French Press when it And there was truth in the COME time previously Wilde jest. Special food was sent in No had been turned out of occurred.
from a near-by restaurant be another hotel, because he could Wilde was only 46 when sides the meals provided by not pay his bill there. The pro
the hotel. he died, and the circum-
He had, too, the prictor of the Hotel d'Alsace. stances of his death have services of the British Embassy Jean Dupoirier, with whom he doctor, whose name was Tucker, had once stayed, met him by been widely misunderstood. as well as two specialists and chance in the street. This At the time the impression a nurse. gained belief that he
It is true WAS
that the Hotel that Wilde was homeless, took Bot the kind of him in and paid what was ow- neglected by his friends and d'Alsace was
luxury establishment that Wilde ing so as to recover his luggage passed his last days in sor- would have liked to stay in. It from the other hotel. Later on,
when be was
he was taken ill, the kind did and penurious surround- was small; but, like many
M. Dupoirier bought him little ings. This impression is similar hotels in Montparnasse,
luxuries, and even medicines, false.
was comfortable and clean. Wilde's last hotel bill, the out of his own pocket. original
of which is in
in good health throughout the summer of 1900. possession and which is repro- duced here, was rendered two when he made
Italy and days after his death. It was eventually settled by his friend. friends, 15 well as Robert Ross, although the hotel Exhibition, which was held in
visita to
was con-
CHAMPAGNE THOUGH Wilde
tinually short of money to- wards the end of his life, his friends did not desert him. On
it
by BERNARD J. FARMER
Some People Like Ghosts
BZW
мпа
better
Wilde was
SIM to
with
the Interment
Paris that year. The first sign. of trouble came in September, when he complained first of a headache and then of carache.
HE LAUGHED ON October
10 an сат
specialist performed ад operation, which seemed suc- cessful. The patient stayed in bed for a fortnight. He then
out for Hot up and went drive
In the Bois de Boulogne with Robert Rocs and another friend, Reginald Turner.
ENTURIES-OLD Dan- of Joan of Arc?" said the critic and up the stone stairs to the be a real ghost. Don't let your hand was my head. I remember
sarcustically,
Norman tower. I began to think shoes show. In fact don't show thinking that it was bery Castle was up
about the real ghost and hoped yourself at all. Just open the looking than Henry,
But a weird I want Ave pounds for sale; and, among The caretaker took no notice. I wouldn't meet it. I knew which major's door and give
from Dr Tucker was not satisfied. he said, you,'
'to return to do so; of us would be the most moon. Try one now.'
He was uncesy about his other privileges, visitors to "Mr Feebles agreed to
However, I
Major Blaker. He has told me patient's general condition, inspect had the opportunity and the stakes were ten pounds frightened.
"Of course I had to do it. The the whole story and the Mr Peebles to do the a side,
Strake which, in his view, was aggra- the nothing. The door of tower- for a chat with the
angry__it hovated by Wilde's partinilty for care sitting from midnight till dawn room was half open. A lamp major's five pounds was in my would be very taker who was by no means A
good
absinthe. many
gentlemen was burning on a table. And trousers' pocket and Strake the knew.
was surprised
that a gen Wilde did Peables by the light of It, saw Mr butler was a stir un. If I were
not realise how averse from having halt-a-ghed and said Mr
to him he wouldn't teman like the major should sce nothing. But some of Peebles in an armchair, huddled reported erown, or even sixpence. them knew nothing about in his overcoat with rugs over think being a ghost was part of toll on me; but I supposed that serious his condition was. He
at laughed a second footman's duties.
merely Henry had got it out of him. slipped into his hand.
His head was bent history, only what they thought his knees.
One of his duties was to valet could never outlive the century remonstrances and zald he they knew."
over a book, but I think he was
""There's one thing more, Major Blaker. usleep.
aald Mr Peebles, as I prepared "I let out a groan. He woke, to leave, taking my head with looked round, then jumped me. If you see the real ghost, from his chair.
give it my compliments.'
on
A fine ghost
carc-
Somebody asked about ghosts and the caretaker was cautious. Some people like ghosts. Others object to them. Finding that opinion Was
the whole The critic remained silent. favourable, he said: "Ever stage "Well," continued the William the Conqueror slept in taker, "after dinner the major in the gun-room. the Norman tower or maybe it sent for me was Henry the Eighth this He hummed and hawed and place has been full of ghosts. then asked me it I would like Why, I've often spoken myself to earn äve with Lady Jane Grey that was Henry the Eighth's third wife. A very nice lady I found her. Once she showed me where someone
pounded. Yes, sir, I " 'Good,'
said the major,
can show you a then I think
a fine ghost, way. You'd make William. And as you'd make
had dropped a gold sovereign. such a fine ghost I think you A hard-working man like me can alwaya do with a bit of had better be one for tonight. It extra money,"
seems a pity for Mr Peebles to sit in a nasty draughty tower and see nothing.
A voice pointed out that the caretaker was mixing his history and that Lady Jane Grey was not Henry the Elghth's third wile.
Useless
Was
op-
ARTIE'S HEADLINE
STOVES
"I keep asking the missuS. where can I get a turkey for Christmas 7"
You mean for me to dress up and frighten him, sir?" I said. Not too much, William,' he said. Perhaps one groan. That "How do you know, Bir?"
and truly horrifying
your sold the carelalter. "Were you pearance will be enough." there when King Henry
"Well, I have always Deco alive?"
considered rather a handsome man; and I thought that the to argue should be. But af
ajor's eyesight I give you my wasn't all that word that when, at a quarter to twelve, the major had finished me up, in the old house- keeper's room that wasn't in use
I could hardly ihen, as if the critic had 100r hed pillaged the laundry- carne
at myself in the glass. The
The critic. said it was useless to argue and that history was history.
said the
hear to
"Thank you, sir," caretaker admitted he was right. "And talking about ghosts reminds me room, I wore somebody's night of a very curious thing that
dress
which reached down to my happened when Mr Porron was ankles, and over
my head the owner here. It was Christmas major pulled a white stocking, and the castle was full of so that I didn't appear to have Umo guests. was second footman a face at all,
Henry the Eighth (this to the
then, Henry-no relation to
critic) was frst footman.
"He was a man I never liked.
The head
Moaning noise
"Well, gentlemen, about five minutes later I stood outside the tapestry-room, which was in the east wing. I heard a sort of thinking moaning noise, and,
I
was the major talking in his sleep, I opened the door, put in my head (the real one), and moaned too.
"What's that?" said the
major.
44
Ross's
re-
There stood Henry with hiss the English people would not
had to give him
stand it. hand out.
On November 25 he com- the money; and, as I did 50, 1
plained of giddiness and noticed what a cold, clammy touch he had. I have no doubt his mind began to wander, and mained in bed. The same day that he was ghost number two next morning he became de- haunting Major Blaker's room *** that night; and that Mr Peebles Irious. A brain specialist was had put him up to it!"
called in, but he could do nothing except prescribe mor Phia
and ice packs, Wilde had developed
"My meningitis. throat is Jimekün," he said in one of his last lucid moments, "my brain is a furnace and my nerves a coll of angry adders."
The climax
Most of the visitors applauded politely the climax of the tale and were quite generous with their tips. But the lingered.
critic still
I'll give history" he said. "Henry the
you a lesson in
that
Ross
ori
"But I never Bald priest. One of the English
LAST RITES response to an urgent tele- gram from was Jane
Turner, who "It was pitch dark. I moaned Eighth's third wife
friend's side twice more, then thinking I had Seymour And Dauberg Castle carcely left his
no part in the fighting throughout
weck, I was look earned my Ave pounds, going to withdraw when some during the Wars of the Roses, so hurried back from the south.
By the time story you see your
he arrived, really thing cold and clammy touched
However the 20th, Wilde could no longer Impossible. my hand. I yelled and dropped quite
spcaic, but here is threepence,"
by signs ho made my head.
Thank
you, sir," said the known that he would like Stay where you are or I'U
caretaker. shoot, said the major. I've got Dambery Castle did take part Passionists, Father Cuthbert a loaded revolver here.'
in the fighting. I said a poor Dunne, duly arrived and ad- "It's William, sir,' I sold desperately. I was hunting about man was beheaded then. And ministered the last rites of the
Roman do you know why, sir?
Church, into whose for my head and
ho couldn't and would argue: and that annoyed communion "The ghost' he said. '
received the dying man. "I was going to fade gently
"I heard the major feeling for
(World Copyright Reservad—London Express Service). Tom his sight. Stop,' he said. matches. There were only can- You look almost human.' He dles in the bedrooms
close and suddenly hit Someone has taken my me in the chest. I fell backs, but matches, he said at last. 'Stand managed to say nothing. still, William, and tell me what you are doing here. I told you "More and more extraordin- to haunt Mir Peebles. Have you ary,' said Mr Peebles. 'It'a a done it?' solid ghost. I wonder if I can set It on fre?' He felt in his pocket for a box of matches.
"This was too much. 'I'm not
He is dead now, poor fellow, "You should be carrying a zhoat, sir" I said. "I'm William and I don't want to speak Ill of your head,' aald the major. And the second footman.
it.
then.
A real ghost
" "Yes, sir," I said, but he wasn't very frightened and he's still there.
put you up to this: Major "Again the cold something
the dead. I will only say that from a small pillow and some * Take that stocking off your "Then go to bed, sald the he was the kind of man who grease-paint he made a head face, said Mr Peebles, Now major testily. "What do you mean would rob a beggar woman and which seemed to be all dripping then when I had obeyed, who by yelling in my room?" then try to find her son and rob with blood. It gave me the him too. In all the tips he got, shivers to hold it.
see through that and the major. Blaker
"Not very well, sir,' I said. He bet Mr Peebles. another And I think-
he never, gave me a penny.
it was Major
mwell,
who started the curious business.
Blaker?'
"'Yes, sir,' I sold.
"And how much has given you?'
"Five pounds, sir,' I sold.
touched me and 1 nearly let out There's A real another yell, he ghost in here, sir," I said. I can
feel its icy hand. "Stuff and
nonsense,' said sporting gentleman of the party, Fine, said the major. "You. 'that he wouldn't sit up in the won't have to do much seeing.
""Right, said Mr Peebles. T the major. So, as I couldn't find Norman tower on Christians Mr Peebles will do that. Now suppose you want to keep it. my head, I left him with it and Eve when a poor man who had give him time to settle down, And if I report you to Strake the real ghost; and I hoped he had his head cut off in the War then up you go."
the butler you certainly won't liked it. of the, Roses was supposed to
Well, gentlemen, 1 waited So-down you go and haunt "Next morning Henry sent WE a nesly walk."
till the house was quiet, then I Major Blokor. He's sleeping in for me. There
and in his "Was he fighting on the alde erept along the stone passages the tapestry-room. And this time gleam in his eye,
Little squirt -
POP
TTS LUCKY FOR,
YOU ́ POP -
THAT YOUR. NISULT
WAS NOT OF A
ĮMORC". BERKOUS
NATURE
Charles the Third very much!"
(Copyright)
He
"Happy Landings!"
Bon Voyage!
FOR EXTRA SERVICE-
Agents, Jodi
Book" through: '
BUTTERFIELD
& SWIRE
CRINA. NAVIGATION "Co. AUSTRALIAN-ORIENTAL BANK, LED,
BEUR #UNNILA LANBIDE
AIR CARETAKERYACHING AIRWAYS, LED
31111
BOOK
Malouing