THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1953.
I Visit a Smoker's Turkish Paradise
'
By HENRY THODY
Izmir, Turkey. PEN this bale," said the tobacco mer- chant to the ware, bule holiseman und weighing almost ten stone was cut open.
hero to Lubacco "Enouch
elgarelter," the make 54,000 tobaccoman told me as he thrust his nose deep into the bale to check how the tobacco frat was fermenting
Fifty-four thousand cigarettes A little mental arithmetle and I calculated that at 20-a-day
this one
bale would last me
until Christmas, 1069!
"How many bales warehouse?" I asked.
in
this
Three thousand, five hun dred. My hond spinning, gave up the calculatione.
The inerchant seized a hand- ful of small, yellowing leaf, Inches long each about four inch-and-a-half broad, and gave it to another employee to chop
บริ
In the merchant's comfortable office near the dazzling blue Argean Sea we rolled our own cigarettes from the feat which had been finely chopped.
I
Like The Wash
of
WAS visiting a smoker's paradise--Izmir, picturesque, palni-studded port, heart Turkey's tobacco business.
Tobacco Crows everywhere. In his Everyone grows own backyard. You see the leaf drying In the sun from lines- rather like the weekly wash n home on a Monday,
Some
myn
touched or they would crumble to dist.
the In November
tobacco Jesves absorb sumelent moisture from the steady rainfall to be Handled, baled and safely marketed,
"Villager" brand, or is. 3d for be me expansive brands.
If you are the sort of person who has his
Christmas cards printed, then in Izmir you will have your own brand of charettes made for you, with your inonogram on each butt.
The factory gives you a choice of 20 samples and although it may be a trade secre!! under stand that the tobacco in every sample is always the same.
Only in length, thickness and thupe do the cigarettes differ. Tals difference plus the noker's imagination-give the various cigarettes п distinct laste.
Finely Chopped
WE
cur
IVE N ԱՅ
selt-rolled vigarettes. made from the freshly chopped leaf. I was a sadestying muke, but unlike any popular home brand. If, for in- stance, you it one up at one, your wife would throw you out
of the house.
It in the smell-only the ex- perts call it "aroma!"
orc about
On the other hand the tobacco experts, including British, not very complimentary the British smoker's taste "Virginia."
"Tastelos".
for
of tind
say the experts. Te American habit of mixing with the tobnece a nuce" liquorice. sugar, spices alcohol-a practice forbidden in
Quines
for Britain-also
in criticism.
One thing is certain. Once you
used ket.
tu the "Egyptian" aroma of Turkish cigarettes you ean chain-smoke all day long without a a suspicion of a "throat" or a cough.
rolled another we
Even if you buv factory- rolled cigarettes they cast only sixpence for twenty of the cheap, merchant recalled that cigarettes
AFASPIN
immediately
relieves
all pains!
A GENUINE BAYER PRODUCI MANUFACTURED IN
LEVERKUSIH. OʻRMANY
H. K. S. P. C.
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
JUMBLE SALE
April 14 and 15
at
KING GEORGE HALL MISSION SEAMEN'S (Next to China Fleet Club)
HUNDREDS
OF USEFUL ARTICLES
talked of toxiceo. The Turkish
were first introduced to Britain from Turkey. British officers returning home from the Cri-
mean campaign in 1850 took buck with them "paper cigars" which they had seen the Turkish soldiers smoking.
Turkey wants Britain to im- purt more of her tobacco. In 1950 we bought some two-and- -half million pounds worth, but last year our purchases dropped to about half a million pourkis,
Our prewar imports 27,000 but negligible, about Lavish Care
brand.
mense
is
pounds.
save
carc
the
In huge alt-conditioned ware- houses the bales are opened and the leaves sorted and graded by at nimble-fingered hundreds women. I raw 700 women in one An corting leaves
musle-while-you-worke Eastern programme of walling oriental music filled the room.
room
Sorted leaves are again 'baled and then fermented in tempera- ture-controlled rooms. The bales are frequently turned, moved, Inspected, as if they were boles of delicate silk.
the Even when shipped to labseco factories of Britain they must have the best freight space, well away from the boilers.
I spent a whole day watching these experts mell, taste, turn, weigh, feel, inspect these lemon- green leaves with motherly care.
could not help thinking-all this, just to go up in anoke. And, thinking thus I rolled another cigarette.
Sometimes
FIRST PRIZE they acted
ECONOMIC SECTION
FRAGILE
PLEASE DO NOT BREATHE HEAVILY NEAR THIS EXKURITA
RAB'S EASTER EGG
World Copyright by arrangement toith the Manchester Guardian.
Igor Stravinsky,
The Picasso Of Music
- GALA
performance
at the Imperial Opera
of St Petersburg was
By GERARD BURKE
Who in succession,
a great social occa- sion. Wealthy landowners from the surrounding dis- down its own melody as its
.wreath." tricts would arrive early to meet their friends, and to
discuss the latest develop ments in music and art.
each laying "Petruchka," a fascinating story years that anyone has dared to
sburg where, amid the jostle of of carnival time in old St Peter- make fun of me." the crowd and the gally colour- et stalls, the puppei Petrouchka and his dancing doll. suddenly come to life.
Shortly afterwards, the great Russian impresario, Serge Diaghileff, heard some
Kursavina was enchanted with of Stravinsky's early pieces. her part as the doll, and the we want puppet was danced by the great "That's the man
In
nationalist opera, "Russlan "It's wonderful, just what ways, the finest ballet in
ive want!"
for
When the bullet was given in London nt Drury
Lane later "Surely that year, it was violently at tacked in the press. such stuff should be played on primeval instruments or better typical comment. sill, not played at all," was a
on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its existence."
Stravinsky justifies his return to classical Idioms by saying: knows what Causes change? You never see the driving change when you are along. A ittle curve in the ceeding east, another and you road and suddenly you are pro- head north. One is unaware."
HYPOCHONDRIAC
But such scandala soen pass.
well re- Wis
the following summer, WHEN Stravinsky, took up
One evening at the end of October 1893 was particu-
residence In permanent larly important, since there for our ballet," he said, once Nijinsky who, in the words of
concert version incarnation of this character." was to be an anniversary again exercising, his extra- Stravinsky, became the very In
many velved in Paris, and later the America shortly before the last performance of the famous ordinary artistic judgment. Petrouchka" was,
the ballet was successfully revived war, he chose Hollywood, re- repertory.
with new dances by Massine, marking wrily: "The only way many poople to escape Hollywood is to live More recently,
there." effectively it enjoyed One day, while completing have
He now composes undisturbed "The Firebird," Stravinsky had adapted as part of Walt Disney's In which the
in scoluded a sudden fleeting vision: "I saw him, "Fantasia," in imagination a solemn pagan earth is seen in earliert tintes beautiful rose-garden, where ar
cidera seated in
with spouting volcanoes, while
a confirmed. hypochondriac, he young girl prehistoric monsters fight dread- ilkes to sunbathe early in the circle watchell a
ful battles. missioned Stravinsky to dance herself to death.
morning. There is also IMMEDIATELY he com- rile: Sage
aviary for his love-birds and write a ballet based on the were sacrificing her to Russian tale of the Fire- pitate the god of springoped this inspiration, he developed As Stravinsky wrote the notorious ballet "The Rite
THE FIREBIRD
amorg
They pro-
one
THE ABSTRACT
to
house
with a
space for his favourite cats.
not
TURKEY is importing much
more frem us than Britain is and Ludmilla." But from Turkey. The Turks want Britalo to
dollars by young Igor Stravinsky it cutting the amount of Virginian was exciting because his tobacco in our cigarettes by one father, the principal bass or two percent and replacing at the theatre, was appear- it by Turkish leat.
This sol
percentage would ing in one of his finest parts. mean prosperity to the Turkish Born eleven years earlier on tobacco industry. I was assured the Feast of St Igor, the boy that this small change would
Playing poker is one of his make no difference to the taste had already shown a deep
AGHILEFF admired the chief padtimes-once he wrote or-smell-of-your-favourite love for music and could bird.
Against music greatly. Shortly "A ballet in, three deals"-calling "Chru- with Dlaghileff. play many of his father's terse autobiography, Chris of Spring in close collabora-DIA
his before
death he wrote, it "A Card Party Most surprising thing about vocal scores at the piano.
friend: inalsted that Nijinsky should enthusiastically nicle of My Life": "It was the compoter's wish, Diaghileff the tobacco industry is the im-
to be write the dances although he had flattering
of the
To show his appreciation on *Hite "Yesterday, amount of
Hurrying backstage dur- highly
written only the previously "weed" requires.
tremendous becoming an American citizen, 1 Spring' proved
1934 Throughout its
success. At inst these fools his third nationality, as ke
In French growth tobacco ing the interval he suddenly chosen from
have got to understanding it became
wrote an arrange prone to attack by numerous heard friends exclaim: musicians of my generation, ballet. 11. a.m. to 5.30 p.m.|bugs trying to suck its juice.
"The "The poor bay know nothing The Times soye that The Rite Stravinsky
of
Star-spangled wrote who borate in so important an of music,
Stravinsky, is to the twentieth century ment After the leaves are gathered "Look, there's the great and to be allowed to colla
Peter Tchaikovsky and dried in September, they are
by side he could
neither read it nor what Beethoven's Ninth was to Banner." It had only been per formed once, however, when an 'Pathetic' enterprise side his
any Instrument..... the nineteenth! At last!" stored in bundles in the farmers' conducted
who were play
old Massachusetts low was un- discovered that I should achieve barns. These bundles must not symphony for the first time with personages
recognised as nothing until I had taught him
World War, carthed that forbade arrange- During the first hore last week." And for generally
in their own the very rudiments of music. Stravinsky spent much of his ment of the national anthem.
In Switzerland writing
has It was an one brief moment, which masters
exasperating task. time
But Stravinsky Stravinsky has cherished spheres."
and we advanced at a snail's works based on Russian legends
that, he had collected shortly entirely escaped the commercial ever since, he saw the small,
At first he feared that he pare."
before the outbreak, on his inst aspects of Hollywood. Recently country. when part of "The Firebird" visit
to his native bearded figure of the man
might not be able to finish
Union was adopted sa a popular tune. whom he later placed next to the score in time, but by
Nowadays, the Soviet
com- he claimed that the version was considers him a decadent Mozart in his affections. A the end of 1909 he had com-
poser. Among his closest friends "dovold of musical merit" and few days later Stravinsky posed the scintillating music.
then were Ernest Ansermet, the lowered his prestige. Ho de- manded $250,000 damager bul and NEVERTHELESS, after several
famous Swiss conductor, starmy sessions and countless The first performance of
rehearsals, Nijinsky completed Picasso, whose abstract paintings the sult was unsuccessful, The with New York Daily News head- boen compared
lined the judgment dences and the have "The Firebird," given by the intricate
performance could be Stravinsky's music.
Mortist" the Ballet Russe during the f
elven
On one occasion, Stravinsky Paris season of the follow-
left Rome for Switzerland ing summer, Was an out-
May 29, 1913, at the Champs carrying a portrait of himself standing success. Debussy Elysees Theatre in Paris, in an
drawn by Picasso, "When the vividly recalled of whom Rimsky-Korsakov evening still
all who
present, milltary authorlies examined by
Stravin A studio offered him $100,000 wrote child prodigy he had told the young Stravin- Stravinsky's early
my luggage" w ballets had sky.
"they found this drawing, acquired his remarkable
sky, "better not listen to provoked comment on account and nathing in the world would for three scores within a year, To turn out one worthwhile unusual and hard technique through
him; one runs the risk of of their
ploce of music in a year la
ho
TU work alone.
overwhelming orchestration, but induce them to let it pass. They Despite his
replied. getting accustomed to him now the storm broke in full asked me what it represented, enough" father's prominent musical and one would end by liking violence. The very first notes and when I told them it was my
de guarantee three is to make a
decelt of art,” unorthodox, and the portrait, position, his parents insisted him" was in the audience were that their son should study and complimented Stravin- solemn Introduction was greet Ungulzhed artist, they utterly law. While at the university; sky on his work. however,, he met the son of Rimsky-Korsakov, who in- troduced him to the famous composer during the holi- days.
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learnt
with
sorrow of Tchaikovsky's sudden death.
NO PRODIGY
TRAVINSKY
趄
not Was
Stravinsky was disap- pointed when Rimaky- Korsakov received his first compositions rather coolly but took his advice and studied hard under his supervision.
"
KARSAVINA
NIJINSKY
were
ed with derisive laughter.
often
Sensing the tenso atmosphere, the composer dashed backstage where he was amazed
Bona
out
.
to sco
drawn by
refused to believe it."
·
POSSIBILITIES
NOTHER time.. a
"Igor
picture
Once again Stravinsky has rolanned to classical forms with conspicuous ELSE. Some
A CHANGE
months to the first per- formance of his only full-scale opera, "The Rake's Progress," Nijinsky standing on char T is not a portrait, but a
"TE wiving his arme wildly and plan," they insistet. "Yes, based on the famous engravings was performed at beats to the the plan of my face, but of by Hogarth,
the Venice Festival. It had HE had hoped to see the shouting
donors. Soon ho became so nothing else!" replied Stravin great Pavlova dance as excited that Stravinsiy had to sky. But the officials were no art taken three yours to complete, the Firebird, but when the scize' bim by thợ clothes to connoisseurs and the portrait and Strivinely considers it his score was played over to her, prevent his rushing on to the had to be returned to Rome, moet important work. He con-
to create BONCU she exclaimed: "I shall never ghts were
scandal, whence it was later sent to Paris ducted the opera himself, since he has a horror of virtuoso dance to such nonsense!"
switched on and in the diplomatic bog.
contluctors who try to imposa rapidly, but still the up- roor continued; some shouted After the war, a marked their own readings.
Stravinsky'a offered. sugges- change came over Stravinsky was delighted, catcalls, others
as to how the ballet murde; he no longer sought to however, by the perform should be danced.
dazzle with rich orchestration have
often comtnienia. but tated to perfect his art by Before long, a new mece ance given by the lovely which he had posted to his Karanvina who, he declared, Dagtileft signalled to Pierre basing it on the great masters
back "danced like a flaming Mouth little could be heard, Verdi's famous paradox: "Let us performances, he fully approves
Monteux to continue conducting, of the past. He remembered ductor teacher was Bent
During rehear for by then the audience was return to the past and that willcat Ansermet In marked: "Not delivered on phoenix."
tur, Ansermot has cald: “You account of death of ad- sals, Diaghiloff said to her whistling and shouting Louder be progresa!"
rang, not, agree with Stravinsky dressee. Stravinsky at once "Mark him well. Ho is a man than ever. One elegantly dress-
Bach dedicated much of ble but you must admit that what ed, lady, slapped the face of .a' wrote a Funeral Dirge in on the eve of celebrity,
young man who was hiasing music "To the greater glory ever he touches is out of the Joudly in rus adjacent box, of God" and, in 1830, we find ordinary Stravinsky composes memory of his master, in Truly prophetic words!
while nearby an agod Coustons Stravinsky composing a "Bym- nothing indifferent or second which all the solo instru
During the following year stood up, looking miher dis- phony of Psalms, "for the rate. His work is a scorch the ments of the orchestra fled stravinsky scored an equal bevelled, and called out loudly: greater glory of God, and del-new posibillion, A. but it past the tomb of the masters success with the mumle for "This is the first tune in Abrty cated to the Boston Symphony, dimouli to slusser do,"
"I am not torture. I don't to be interpreted," ho
There is however, ano com
of whoon faithful
like boys
By
James Loasor WHEN, W
just after Dunkirk, Captain John Durnford-Slater read tho War Office circular asking? for men willing to raid tho enemy const from England, he once volunteered, writing out.his own glowing testimonial, as older soldiers sometimes do.
at
--
The result surprised him he WDS promoted to colonel and told to raise No. 3 Commando.
Nos. 1 and 2 Commandos had originally been intended as atr- borne units, but this idea was shelved. So, at 30, Sinter bo- came the first Commando soldier of the war.
kee he
He at once cast about for others ilke him to man his unit. "I looked for intelligence and gays in his ex- book, "Commando" (William Kimber, 15) "good physique was Important, but size was not. If I found a man I thought would do, I phoned: his civilian employers in my " own time lo sce what sort of a chap he was...."
Toughness
QUCH initial caution paid in
the end. Within one week ha, had 35 keen officers and 500 enthusiasm men whose tough lasted all through the five years : of war and into the peace ban.. yond.
They trained In those early... days as best they might, with the emphasis On toughness. Their first operation, on enemy, occupied Guernsey, was mount- ed only a few weeks after the unit was formed.
Says Slater today: "The rald
alrnost was...a ridiculous, comic failure. We had done no
Wa.. had cut. serious damage. through three telegraph cables have A youth in his teens could dono the same..
Afterwards, Churchill wrote thunderously: "Let there-be-no- more $1
flascos like this.... There were none. Next
berated
for the green
Lofoten Islands. They destroy ed fish oil refineries, brought⠀ back prisoners and Norwegians anxious to join the British Army. And one young officer sent a local Hitler a
ommandos was on the·'
office@gram from V
pool your last speech" German troops would meet the English wherever they landed stop where pre your troops query signed Wills second licu- tenant,"
Frivolity
of almost Upper feeling ALL through the Commandos a Fourth frivolity prevailed. Ono brigadier in Scotland, annoyed at inactivity, hung himself about with grenades, fighting kalie, tommy-gun, and what-all, then travelled to the War Office in London, and said: "I'm ready. Give me an operation."
Other officers belleved
information about convoys was leaking from the German Em bassy in Dublin, made detailed plans for blowing up this diplo matic household, and were only saved from;
BO by the
The
Commandos' salled from Scopa on Christmas Eve, 1941, wild, stormy night. They killed. 120 Nazis and took. 98 prisoners, plus secret maps and codes."
50 it went on. Wherever the The odds were heaviest there
шеге. Commandos
And so on
to the end of the long what?; ·
Durnford-Sister; And happened to him? Ha is now bursar to Bedford School, and The Cadet Corps rune ita boys are great," he says. Pas So the spirit of brave men and great moments lives on. If" there be any glory, in war, let it rest on men like these
POCKET CARTOON by OSBERT LANCASTER
"Hodestly I da think the Foreign Office, atas being frightfully Crætseft gergomsbara appointing!emais ambaxua dors after all what'r Mrs. --Lued goo thus 1 Hawaa'i'rur,
apare from Mr. Luce?!!