THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER

Nathaniel Gubbins

T

made down

HE first photograph of observed without nauisca -be- dovolion under mackintoshes. If There was hardly any they looked into illuminated an outsize cook of the chuse

ment in them. I remember one shop windows it was usually Women's Royal Army butcher who was either so short furniture shops displaying Corps offering grinning of the stuff, or kept so much three-plece multas mado for girl motilor Vetspooniu wider the counter, that he dis- midgets or double beds played bowls of flowers in his for dwarfs at so much of raw Christmas pudding window to discourage those who and so much a month. has been published.

thought he might have anything Since then I have become ne- customed to dead animals hang- ing by their hind legs in ghastly rews, but I doubt if I shall ever become accustomed to dead pigs, the made to look gay for Christmas with red meeties in their cara and their mouths wrenched into unnatural, Christmassy smiles #fuckt by a couple of lemons between their teeth

cooks

nea

Krow

It will soon bo followed to spare. by even larger women cooks offering the indigestible mixture to even more girls serving with the Navy, Army, and Air Force

draws As Christmas

will the women bigger and bigger until, so far as I am concerned, they become one (!

many pre-Christmun nightmares,

Lout year followed the for- of one woman Service tutes cook who seemed to be a favour- Ite model for the photographers She appeared

month atent before Christmas Day doing her stuff with a Ladle. At first she

But these two, their hands clasped and their eyes shining under the lights, were gazing at with love and admiration the dead big. I felt sure that

butcher had hung a sprig of,mistletoe over its head, and there had been no window in between. they would have kissed 11.

ita

It was after that in a night- mare that I saw the pig with three rows of pearls round its neck go to their wedding. Every time a lemon fell out of mouth they stuffed it with raw Christmas pudding and sald. "Smile, damu you, smile." The pig smiled and looked more and more like the woman Army coolt. Then it passed out and Young lovers looked like a dead duchess. at almost any When the ceremony was over Corner saying their they cooked the duchess for the or huddled wedding breakfast and lived

It was while I was staring in horror at one of there-illumin- ated at night. and with silver paper streamers round its neck, reminding me of a duchess who had passed out at a party stili wearing her three rows of pearls thot { mylled the young lovers.

At one tune seemed just a jolly, fat girl who could be seen was not going short of rations The next week she appeared street again looking bigger and joille ternal good-nights, but DEN thme

sho went on

us:wed gigantle proportions, Alling half a page of one 1 the picture papers

It was only natural for me to sume that she ΗΠΑ trunking many pikkdings and having

It doorways muttering life-long happily ever after, I hope.

PEOPLE

victumllers

Wild Wild Women

the licensed the high-heeled

hooked Ahoes business arely for the evening to the worried about the steady de legs of the stools. cline in bar receipts.

On the bar counter are hand- For ome time trade papers bags, shopping lists, sometimes

over gesture have blamed high taxation and little dogs heking

the TV for keeping regular custom- suneks. and glasses red and

greasy with lipstick,

Over all there 13 D hideous squawitings, din of squeaking,

Rood goal them herself; and as her smile seemed rather forced In her later appearances it ce- curred to me that it น: N

than more

* xulintst intended to conceal agonies of

by the dyspepsia caud stamption of portanda of arkeri tuet.

N

third

at home. But 1 could Kive reason. It's the women again.

21

Then, Just when she etis When the first respectable and maniac laughter becoming a fascinating study in wonan Invaded a bar she camer At first you think this land- modern female behaviour. shes the quest of a

inan. Both lard isn't doing too badly with disappeared and

the man for so many customers until you

was replaced were unpopular.

by another woman rook offering bringing the woman in, and the remember that most women can raw pudding to Wren

What happened to her?

I think she had mad more pudding photographers,

please 1 who didn't turn

ip. Unable to resist the rich mixture she ate one spoonful. Then she ufe another, and then another until she had consumed the entire rations of a regiment —and burst

woman for daring to come in at 11. Free-and-casy conversa- tion dried up and ຕ miserable evening was bad by all.

in

Later on wornen arrived. pules. They were mid at first. dgling, fumbling in handbags, and whispering

together: "No.

<>

"No, no.

Let nie It's my treat

It's mine," Men in the bar coughed, look- ed at their boots, and tugged at The latest funny

squeak on one drink.

squawk

on two, and laugh le lunatics O three.

Moreover they drink

slowly

in ile sips, never move from the bar unless driven away by AS hanger, and spend money.

the saying goes, with no arms."

"Like a man

Pig At A Wedding story ended in the middle, and heard above the din, and if he

AM aiso haunted Jual before Christmas.

grisly exhibitions shops.

مودا

the

the landlord spent the next lew minutes unhappily saying good- night to his best customers.

today I you go into a bar

In bulchers' the first thing you see is a row of large behinds on stools. They tioning all belong to women. So do the

be, fat calves dangling below

Before the end of butchers' shops

could

Miniature

Masterpieces

for Milady.

and

Therefore it is not an un- common sight to see a nervous Itle man creep in, buy himself one drink if his order can be

can got it past the burricade of behinds, and creep quietly out.. He was probably the land- he But lord's best customer.

01 has not gone home to look

TV, He has gone to have a drink in peace by his reside.

(World Copyright)

ROLEX

Superbly elegant-Precisely accurate Rolex offer a miniature watch superb elegance, yet with a large enough accuraes

I

The Archbishop

CHENWAI

OILSTOVES-BRUSH

"I see your Old Man's doing his Christmas shopping early this year, Luv.”

I SEE A

may

"that the

reveal,"

he said,

mother of a British

soldier recently

killed wrote

to me carnestly regretting the

death of her son.

"I participate

in her

grief

Govern-

but she should forward her griet to the British ment, not only to me."

The archbishop smiled,

NS-HA

Ironmonger

London Express Bervice

NEW HOPE

FOR CYPRUS

MAKARIOS

and HARDING

talk to

William Hickey

riers I met a Governor whom I think we can all be proud of. HARDING was in his study. The armed Bentries pscert up and down outside the windows as we sat drinking China tea.

The flowers are still bloom- Ing in the garden between the barriers.

After all, the bombs at the ball at my hotel Inst Saturday evening were intended for him.

The field - marshai fa small, neat man, but he has all the British phlegm

I was annoyed. I asted an- other question about Greek Cypriot children throwing stones, shooting catapults, even Nicosia. Aring bows and arrows at the

British. MET the two top men of

"It is a fact," said the arch- Cyprus last week-Field-

bishop,

"that schoolchildren

to riska Marshal Sir John Harding, are exposed

although hopes for a settlement: "I am

pessimistic, although the Governor, and Arch- responsible schoolmasters make not

serious attempts

check would not say I am optimistic, bishop Makarios, leader of this, But they and difficulty in It all depends on what instruc- chair and sipped his tea, the Enosis (union with confining schoolchildren."

lons the Greece) movement.

ما

Governor hos

I

from

I could not help thinking of London. poor misguided boys who may had a quick look at the re- And I am hopeful. For the and thamacives whipped for ligious pictures on the walls as fleld-marshal is u Christion, their terrorimp under the new

I waited for the interpreter le And I think the archbishop is

translate. emergency regulations. getting tired of trying to be ť

But the roses on the arch- feld-marshal.

bishop's desk smelled sweet.

A sweet as his smile.

I think

and British justice decency-even under the strain of murder-will win.

NEVER-

"My hopes," said the arch- bishop, "are quile moderate; That a solution will be found." And that, coming from a man

has like Makarios who viously been utterly determined on "Enosis or nothing" makes me think a solution is near.

But, as the full moon shines on the expresses and pain trees, ASKED him about Eoka, the let me tell you what happened. terrorist organisation. I asked

MAKARIOS, a a young, hand him how he could as a man of I asked Makarios what he

with a charming religion support such an organi- thought of Harding. in his office. He, sation

behind a wooden

some

T

man smile, was

He xopiled: "Personally, "I have never admired them," was sitting

have appreciation and esteem desk. There weŋe angel heads replied the archbishop, "and for him. I think he is a strong have never given advice to personality with an open mind." them."

With that I can agree. When Then he spoke of his esteem I went to Government House for the British. He spoke of his through the security police bar-

carved out of the wood.

I told him that in Britain we were roused at the murder

of our soldiers,

HARTNELL'S ROYAL

ROAD TO SUCCESS

-By Anne Edwards—

а

"I had intended to go to that ball," he said, "but there had been murders of soldiers. They were being buried. I didn't think it was in keeping with the situation to go."

He sat back In his leather

He talked of the flamingos he had been to see with his wife. He infked of his visits to where the Grock villages Cypriots had been more than friendly. He talked of his efforts to learn the language.

But he also said quielly: intend to stamp out Eoka,"

TERROR

The General

"You cannot solve this prob- lem by military means alone," he said. "Once law and order are restored the new develop- "Iment plans can go ahead

"We have got to restore dis-

En cipling in schools and to make gure that

win-

tion

not

education is educa- politient indoctring- THE entry passed the

dow "Eoln,” sald the tion. You mustn't let school- Governor, "is an organisation boys run a country."

which aims at achieving politi- cal effects through terror and intimidation and that cannot be permitted."

I think Eoka and its sup porters will soon feel sorry for themselves,

But Harding

is no ruthless On milltary mah.

the trary,

J

£n-

Of course Harding 10 absolutely right about education. We have for some fantastic reason allowed the Greek Cypriot education to be ritn from Athens.

The teachers are even given. pensions by the Greek Govern- ment, providing they have a certificate from the archbishop that they have behaved well.... from a Grock point of view.

This is a classical island, tho island of Aphrodite, and it is #6111 rosy pink and lovely. Harding, small as he la in stature, has taken on a 4 classical task- Herculean task.

And

the

particular taxic: he bar taken on is cleaning, out Augeon stables. The way w have run this island-or rather not run its enough to make, you despair.

-

" felt it my duty to take this Job on," said · Hafling. wasn't a job I would have chosen. Whether I can produce an answer or not I don't know."

NEW MEN:

mistakes,

His

HARTHELL‹ AND THE QUEEN MOTHER -

THE most beautiful I was successful, he used to mo. Lockwood floating white There was the Dress that was

Neagle in Illne Never Worn .. of my muslin, Ahna dress I ever saw was a around with, handfuls

pearl-grey Bilic...

satin embroidered with Kray shimmer of light like press cuttings in his pocket,

prepared

collection #

ND unfortunately, ho la hay- all the pearls can remember

made for the Queen a soap bubble, sometimes of sketches for Paquin," he important dresses I have ever mother. A detalled description Ing to produce an

answer was published the day sho was in an atmosphere of armed palest pink, sometimes blue, told me at lunch. "Across the made," he explained.

I wrote fulsome cóptions But, as in all successful to wear it. Harinell was sent guards, sandbags, and bomba. sometimes green, yet the Hartnell paints for Paquin careers, everything that he did for. The King lectured him Like the troops here, he is pay all-over effect was white." these sinuous silhouettes in trained him for the one job sternly. The dress was returned, Ing for past

I didn't know then as I sapphire satin.

Hartnell which he now does better than unwORT,

Harding le gathering around in Britain could I have watched the scene on him now men and infusing now watched it gleaming in the prepares for Paquin this gamin anyone else

but I got no the royal dresses."

so many splendid royal ocen-life into those already here,

Coronation dress) that 30 entrance, so I stormed out, I book to me is that it gives the of a pageant.

brigadier highly intelligent Each star turns

more whose years of hard work, anube; have come here to siiscuss art, drat authentic information

attitude, la "We Will I said, "not trade."

the technique of royal dressing, breathtaking than the last slump this out."!

His name is debts, shrewdness, talent, "I realise now," Hartnoll told

Gloria Swanson all white fox Georgo Baker. and timing lay behind this, me, "how wrong I was.. The

DIPLOMACY

and pearls $ Claudette Cof- But his job in not: one shining dress.

Unut .samo, business sense must.

beri covered in brown lace and these past few days: Greek The

then bingel the whole Cypriots have had more respect man who made it actuate a dress shop as a fisk THE style that the Queen mink Norman Hartnell has published and chips shop."

Mother made famous wows the Royal Family dressed in black for Eola than for British the glory of what it takes to Hartnell has a gift for dramas late King's, idea: "His Majesty and shimmering with diamonds government. got to the top of the fashion to dresses that hold their own made it clear in his quiet way Business, arid stay there."

that I should attempt, to capture: on any stage.

remonstrated the picturesque grace of the "Norman dear,

“ly imow that a Victorian period in the his slater once, -band of magents

Abbey (it was the Queen's gaberdine gown,

further than the tradesmen's One of the fascinations of this 'sions building up like the finale chief od shaft la i A young

on

AND LUCK WATCHED 'it at the, CorONAL - tion, beginning quietly with the

muted pink, alender whitq satin, drem

Feock feathers I was do desam for the Wel

It was dark, as I ORITMO RTYRY from the goverpor'a residence. ↓ RESILIENCE '

The entries paced up and down

their

and sub- machine-guns, E Hamous dress designer

was turned down by every stitched across the stomach of an The Queen Mother chore elegant Duchess of Kent, in a The air was warm and

in apple groen, satin strom a moet gentle colours

· wouldn't original but

London.

scented, The

© Cypriotar : "went

1. So he started on his own and simple little black dress in wished to convey the most lovelines Princess Margaret about their work. They wore

lived for years on the edge of wool be nice?!? debt, rescued time after time by AD TALENT the kind of father who share? M

the worst: "It's not Torecast

a blue, and lilac, because "she building up to a crescendo of

comfortingencouraging and like a sowirdy: adeles sympathetic nota: pomibla." ; ·

unsuspected problems. Involves other intricate" and

hap dressed most of the if you go broke head Hum Gertie Lawrence

grimly

It. Js

nide of time, AR

whơn,"),(but

falways sending a cheque, in (the) Cra perfect zeigther prop"!),

He was disapp

wanted to ba ́ ́n drei

gald Normari “Hártá

douniri." But I the

Nepazargaret Leighton 2

"hot"-15 designer's: dream"

t friendly an over:

But everyone Brillah

There

from B. But ;” designing 2 Low rovat "its stem" the Queen Mother enve that 'bomb mày l be' Aralling gold A and then thp Queen, in the loveller dress of thrown at him, or her at and Because we havá viêglected to There was the

comes, lifts, the dangerous, of cour

Course near-diplomatic incident of the success story, lop, In Norman rule we have this, shutt

to this case it li @ilkwords, Kurtour""

that Hartnell the Royal Family found

·Princess', Elifabeth's

Ing exactly the right drewFarm too late. Already? exactly changing their min drom bad bemi Woymi by Alikworman-Kallan, ori

cally!

men

Bou

:

Share This Page