Page
BOOKS... 75 MILES OF THEM
By J. W. TAYLOR
London.
HE recent stir caused by
T the discovery that a
■>
rare volume was missing from the British Museum's library is hardly surprising since everyday over 300 renders use this world's best! known and finest collection of books 75 miles of them....
This formidable literar starehouse is a veritable book lovers paradise. Six million volumes bulge the shelves. which anaka cut in an unecas= ing struggle for space at the rate et 1 miles to annual house a Now of 250.000 ad- ditional volumes.
Books on every conceivable subject. cram the shelves, rang- ing from Lord Nelson's log book to Richard Spicer's congratula- tory aration to Queen Elizabeth Опе at Sandwich in 1573.
volume stands six feet high alongside a one-inch square
The book of midget.
your is, bound to be there. Choice Says one Principal Librarian: "It is a
anyone place where who wants any beck on any subject in Any language and who has failed to get it else- where can be sure to find
Some of the library users are stranger than the fetien in it. Types like the seedy senolar. looking up research for some author, or hot-eyed revolution- aries devotedly compiling
projects that
will
enormous never see a printing press, all Pass through the British Museum Reading Room every day.
THE ECCENTRICS
Usually the escentries who gather there are hardly noticed by the staff One fellow, how- overy, did rather upset the scholarly calm of the place. He was A dress reformer, who would order all the available books on nudism. After a
a day's would Study, he
THE CHINA MAIL- SATURDAY, MAY 7,1955.
"Watch this M.P. pick my brother up we've painted him all over with treacle."
I HAVE TO ‘NAG' HIM-FOR HIS OWN GOOD!
MY LIFE
with the
AGA KHAN
Cannes. luxurious, sun- -N 1
washed Riviera villa,
I have been talking to march out of the Reading Room one of the world's most and throw off bis macintosh, fabulous women the which was his only garment. Begum Aga Khan.
This eccentricity in the raw, as
it were, really did cause a few death ago ber hores Mili- raised eyebrows. It was only tary Court. won the Lincoln- after threatening to deprive him first big event of Britain's Hat of his reader's ticket that, the racing season dress reformer ceased his ex hibitions.
This apart, the British Museum Reading Room staff handle all types and a variety of requests with scholarly
was
TRC Begum
delighted when she heard the news, for Military Court had been pub- lely upped by her husband, the Aga Khan.
The Begum nearly covered of Military Court when cost the elency. They rarely fall toit won the Lincoln. She bought
recall the breathless
rise to any occasion, and they the horse for "about £3,000" as a yearling. And the "Lincoln" prize money is £2,748.
often
young
man who asked for
portraits of Aristotle,
and
Demosthenes
Plato After
scanning them intently he ያዩ። turned them to the librarian, saying: dare say you want to know why, I wanted to see the portraits of those three men? Well, I dined with them last night."
KARL MARX
DREAM HOMETM
As I chatted to the tall," beautiful and supremely elegant Begum, she told me what it is like to be the wife of one of the richest men.
BY THE BEGUM
AGA KHAN
(In an interview with Joe Hollander)
Khan keeps to no special diet in order to retain her elegant slimness. In fact, meals at Yakymour are the highlights of the days The Age Khan is gourmet gastronomy is one of his hobbies and it is he who menus with
the
Chef Day's
Hangmining the wines which
She
the meals is the Begum special
province. *personally superintends the
stocking of the wine cellar.
After lunch on fine days she usually takes, the Aga Khan for ́a drive in her 33 h.p. Cadillac convertible, with herself at the wheel
In his work on behalf of the Ismael community, of
which
the
be is hereditary reigning prince and religious Frame Aga
Khan has no stauncher supporter than his wife.
OWN. PLAN
of.
in
She is particularly interested in promoting the welfare -the Ismaell women and
liberating them from age-old Oriental prejudice and restric- tions.
"The Begum loves the theatre, the ballet, music, architecture, painting and sculpture.
"This winter, In Assuan dur- ing my husband's convalescence. I started to paint," she told me.
1 was inspired by Sir Winston Pastime, and it has taught me Churchill's book, Painting as a
- great deal".
"Like any other husband, the Aga Khan needs looking after," said tbe Begum, who is the third European wife of 78-year-
The Aga Khan and the Begum Many a famed world. per-ald
Mohammed Aga Sultan sonality has found something Khan.
the name flow "easily off
"Many
women often 'on the shelves there to help
"Although not a difficult man, the tongue.
write to me asking for advice make his mark on the world, my husband likes an active life
When I asked the Begum to on women's social work, about widen his knowledge or spark and cannot easily renconcile
describe his imagination. It was there himself to slowing down for a Yakymour she replied: "No day daughters and, often, on per- a typical day at choosing good schools for their that Kart Marx's treatise on while after his recent illnesses.
When it is ever really typical here. sonal problems, "Das
Bible Capital," the
of So always to remind him it
1 have
re There are always lots of visitors known that His Highness is ill
the house and magnificent Communism, Was
to take things easier, to be care- compiled to
important official Ietters are gardens of Yakymour were from lengthy researches. ful of his health, to wear an on social or official calls and my im
as a hostess keep me often addressed to me.” T it is chillyin duties of overcoat when it
planned by the Begum herself. However. Lusy her day may "It was a treeless hill before short, to nag him for his own busy.
the There is generally a small be the Begum always adheres house built, 17 years long good. Jusl
of other
was party for lunch; one day it to two details of her routine ce
she said. Today it is a beautiful, exotic garden, a
com below ham or the Marchioness of
codes and a twice daily bination of features of horticul- in her own pool, once tural and botanical art taken
25, the assumed name
Library
period.
Lenin visited
daily over
a
the
Just like
chatted,
He hardly spoke 10wives the world" out might be Mr Somerset Maug- light breakfast of crange ........
anyone, but always had friendly smile for the staff.
As we a
across the terrace.
Samuel Butler read there three days a week from 1877 to his death in 1902. He always shore
by borrowing one particular book, which he later was just the right
leht And,
started
this
Africa
gum. "DUKE'S VISIT
or
The. Aga Khan's - Fons by ;)
4
Un closed sun-lounges, all de-
us lay Cannes with its villas, its Milford Haven, or other friends swim luxury hotels, and the sweeping and neighbours on the Cote before lunch and again just be from Persia, Arabia and Pro- crescent of the palm-bordered d'Azur. Or important guests fore bedtime. The pool is flood- vence.
lit and heated during the winter with golden sands. from Pakistan or East "Yakymoun
is my dream home
evenings which, even on the The Frincess's love of light, gaiety and colour is reflected in said the
Riviera, can sometimes be Cs the rooms are airy, with bright, the interior of the villa, where come true, said
indeed,
previous marriages, Pri size on which to rest his wait-cream-coloured villa with the "Sometimes there are extra
Prince Aly warm-tinted walls and glass- ing pad. George Bernard Shaw
young „gay,
sun-blinds, scarlet
set special VIP.s like the Duke of Khan and the educated himmelt there in five mong cypress and orange-trees. Edinburgh, who lunched and Sanuddin, do not live at
signed
bring the gardens and years of assiduous, hard read-
mour. Aly has his own, fabu- out-of-doors right
Into was planned and built entirely dined with us.
"Then there
on house. de l'Horizon Ing.
according to her ideas.
dre problema Tous Chateau
San- Although books
Yakymour!
Set in her occasionally
clothes An exotic, arising each day from the beavy nearby Cole Juan, while disappear, the British Museum Oriental-sounding
but mail which arrives both for the ruddin name,
still • at Harvard
Both are frequent restrained tones.
Begum's tastes are for quiet, has a very good record for actually only a combination of Aga Khan and myself. My hus University. garding its vast collection of the Begum's own initials, Y band always discusses these visitors to Yakympur whenever volumes and most of the valuvette A-ga K-han, plus part of with me, and I am able to re-they are staying on the Riviera. able items missing in the past the word amour. They in lieve him of much of the burden Exteptionally tall dew years have been recovered. the middle was-inserted to make of his correspondence.
નવ
forma
LOVES HORSES
Although she Frenchwoman, the Princess A,
JUMP (and run, dive, swim) TO IT, FROGS
From DONALD wise-
Johannesburg. can beat Leaping Lena,
You can be in the big money
chance.
the
the
occasionally
visits the salons of Dior, Bal- main and the other great Parisian designers, her favourite is Madame Gres, for she feels that despite the fame of the great male couturiers, women better than
men
woman's
for understanding? n's basic fashion' Instincts. But of all her varied interests, animals
probably take first her like. She loves
places & racehorse owner
horses
in her OWN right, with 15 horses Cocos Islands and the heavy entering a toush BOAC plots air. Add another 55, a month in training at Harry Wragg's
Newmarket stables weights from the U.S. and are combing the 50 countries the stabling fees per head and
And, of course, there are
are her Australia-you haven't a load's airline touches for champions................ That is, guarantees them pets tay Yakymour Mithou, damp bed, plenty of jumping bon and Simba. Mithou W the lady of Durban, who can Whats all this about? Well,
Brightest hop (sorry, hope) is practice, and a strictly training (the name is Hindustani for the World Frog Olymples are
the aforementioned Lena, who diet of garden insects."
Something Sweet
eet) is a grey #clarting at Margate, 90 miles will be out to beat her record of
And there are no Immigration and red. Congo parrot spaniel-is from: Buben on May 212- *720) Mini 4in. three bounds.
be high and long Vhough wizard you some say (freestyle), and diving, Lega has been but out of her, 240, and 960, (inches) stride, by the recent decision of fand dashes,
a herpetologist
bo studies
Jump 321
Cendry list (1s a frog) reptiles) now open, Already 600 are Uning up. Matal's--police are thr
blems unless the come
ething
Gok
And
by the
her on
London Express Service
Step up employee efficiency!
INSTALL
Remington
ROOM AIR CONDITIONING free estimates" from
Sole Agents
V. Spalinger & Co., Ltd. Engineering Dept.
York Building Tel. 37061.
MOUSON
AFTER A HARD DAY
RELAX IN A
PARKER KNOLL
Chath
•Traditional beauty
contemporary com fort Parker-Knoll chairs give you the best of both worlds." Try sinking into one
see how the lateral tension springs conform to your every move-
without
megs murmur.
SOLE AGENTS FOR PARKER KNOLL
Lane Crawford's
it's peanuts
15
the few more pennies you pay for the lots more comfort you get when you wear..
Jockey
Would your
SHORTS
Mods only, br
Insist on the GENUINE
Jockey
all Fine stores
watch have
time on the sea-bed?
kept
WEARING. Rolex Oyster Perpetual,' a professor of Milan University went for a swim off Capri.' But the strap-buckle was loose, and his watch broke from his wrist, and sank to the bottom. Without much hope, the professor asked some divers, working nearby, to keep an eye open for his watch. Surprisingly, seven days later, they actually found it, and it emas, still keeping, perfect time.
It is not really so incredible. For this superb watch, completely protected from water and sand by the famous Oyster waterproof case, is automatically wound by the Perpetual "rotor" mechanism- another Rolex invention.
It is in their ability to stay, accurate under such incredible tests of endurance that Rolex watches prove their immunity from the more normal ills that beset an ordinary watch.
(similar:
ROLEX
Page 5Page 6