Don't call it a brain
{ THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1957.
IT'S A MORON
by EVELYN IRONS
have to use my time she will produce a shent of matles, always Interested
Aanizers to perform oven foolscap
the simplest arithmetical calculation, I looked up with great respect at a pretty 19- year-old girl in a red dress, Jean Lethbridge.
We met in the office of a company which, for £40,000 and upwards (often up to £140,000 or so), suppiles British-designed electronic machine which at the rate
thees i
ng the automatle
to
Big Brother how he must act in order preduce the dizzy "compulations that are required of him.
Her crders will be tapped out on streams of punched Sape and fed into the machine. There may be 40 or 50 sheets for one job, Big Brother then gets to work to four hours and in carries out the serting of maybe 4 milion llems- task which has taken perhaps a month to orgonise.
thren
of one-thousandth of 11 The other girl programmer in second per item, will work the team is Barbara Howicy, an graduate who read out complex payroll calcula- Oxford
that she tions, costing, production Greats, which means
studied philosophy and legic as planning, billing, budget comparisons and analyses, and a variety of other busi ness chores.
A MARVEL
Said the boss man,
Lion manager
Whitehead, 21 balding
"A
RCC-
from
well as Latin and Greek. Jean Lethbridge went straight school at Portsmouth, where her parents live, to work IS
at agelstant
the scientific Admiralty's radar establishment there.
Lean, intellectual looking Arthur Beaven, 20 years old, deputy chief of the team, is a and others Clifford B.Sc. of London, cheerful, working under him have mathe- degrees, too. citizen of Sear mailes or selence
Some are qualified accountants. More gil programmers are wanted. But while a university degree is often on asset, it is not demanded.
Green, Bucks. nical murvel?
tech-
Of course. But don't call it an eleg tronic brain. It has brain; it is a moron.
No
The brain is here" and he the indicated the girl in red dress sitting demurely by.
Jean is one of two girls- the rest
men-in, a
art
team of 20 "programmers," and she is in on the ground floor of a new career. Her job is to tell the technically Brilliant but brainless elec tronic machine what to do.
STEP BY STEP
that is
"It's a logical mind wanted," said Mr Whitehead, "A programmer must be able to carry through a reasoning pro- cess step by step. No cut-and- dried qualifications can be lald down."
In her quiet, uncesuming voice an old how she got round to being the brain behind the machine.
i
Brown-haired, blue-eyed Jeun "I was never at the top of the spends hours, daya 01 maybe cluas-just sat comfortably
"But I In weeks engrossed
abstract the middle," shu said, thought. At the end of thet
was always crazy about mathe-
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I was 10 had made up my mind to try for the radar extab- 1shment. At 18 I got the GCE advanced level in pure mathe- mulics, and started in radar."
At that point remance stepped in. The young man who gave her the three-diamond ring she wears on the third-finger of her left hand went to Landon as a research student at the Imperial College of Science,
"So I came to London, too, nnt started here last March,'* Jeun said.
a
First came
three week course of instruction in the in- ner workings of Big. Brother,
with his complicated control panel surrounded by the rows of streamlined steel cabinets that house his myst-lous mechanism,
HER FIRST JOB
"But I don't actually operate the thing." Jean sald, "It's all a question of planning and plot- ting."
Was
The first job the did on her "ensy." own was described as She was told to work out in- structions that would extend an existing programme to a bigger being Big Brother that installed by a client, Now she 13 on a more compileated project of setting Big Brother the tack of sorting out thousands of costing numbers.
What is the pay for girls bursting into this line of work? The boss wouldn't specify. " 19 comparable to the falury top ranking sterelary," he said. "But there are great prospects It's all so now: our instruction course starled only last Septem- ber."
Logleafly--and they are all necessarily logicians-they may proceed to such Orwellian chores as ordering By Brother to write "Dear Sir, Unless..." letters in
a dozen languages,
CLAIMS FOR Medical Hypnosis
London.
B suggested that hypno RITISH medical journal
sis could be used pro- fitably in treating an array of conditions ranging from excessive childbirth to drinking.
A journal editorial accom- panying a report on the use of
by hypnosis
three
British practice specialists endorsed a
heen customarily has which frowned on by physicians more than 4,000 years.
for
The hypomojics reported that they had achieved 23 ccm- pleto cures
partial and sever cures in 41 casts of asthma, ekin aliments and mental disorders.
"We cannot afford to ignore [any methods if in practice they give.promise of benefit," the Journal said. "More use should
of (hypnosis) be made actually 15,"
than
It sald hypnollem has proved successful against:
Unhealthy habits, such as
'smoking
Excessive alcoholism.
and
-Discants caused or compl cated by emotional tension, in- cluding gastric ulcers and $9.50 hysteria.
18.00 -- Discases of unknown origin, 18.00 such as warts on "skin deforma. 25.00 Bloxs."
8.50
Į
'Of course, you realise that if my Dad gives it up we shall have to start buying our own."
MARILYN
Terence Rattigan begins today a tale that tells of three famous actors, a West End play, and a film that is called "the most discussed comedy of the decade.”
$IR LAURENCE
Marilyn, Sir Laurence
and I...
by
TERENCE RATTIGAN
S my mother and I battled our way through the Marilyn-Larry-worship- ping crowds at the Warner Theatre, and made our unobtrusive way to our obtrusive seats, we were both, I feel surc, struck by the same rather terrifying thought terrifying thought: in our separate ways the two of us were responsible for the
It all began when I decided that I wanted to write something for the
last Coronation.
Other creative talents, 1 knew, were busy churning out triumphal oles, stirring chorales, balletic homages, and patriotic extravaganzas for the occasion. I thought I'd like to join the party.
a hed just wrilien "The Deep Blue Sco," a study in obsessive (and suicidal) leve, and I was "Separate preparing to write Tabits, dealing with the tregle effects of loneliness. I felt that if I was to do anything for the great occasion it had to be scrc- thing light and happy, and even
elsewhere until I knew that the Oliviers were definitely out.
My patience was rewarded.
THE
A miss
Oliviers'
Alas-or, as it now turns out, not alas at all-there was an- other slip 'twixt cup and lip.
RATTICAN
read the notices or-It she did chance of winning (in fact, they
Just
failed), and I only desperately, wanted a chance of and seeing the struggle. I agreed
paid no attention to them what cver. The play did capacity business for nine months,
tough and potentially hostile
newspapermen.
She gave me a cocktail--I had rlready had three while waiting for her and proceeded, after formalities made difficult by the fact that she didn't understand a word I said, and I understood only every third one of hers, to tell me that she was prepared to buy the rights of "The Sleeping Prince for her own company-... Wyler's company should not -make a definité offer-and did I think that there was a chance that "Sir Larry" would do it with her?
Gazing into
those beautiful and childishly knowing eyes. she had removed her dark glasses-what could I reply. but yes? I was sure
“Sir Larry" -would leap at the chance, I said, I would leave no stone unturn-
ed to see that he did
Perfect
WENT on to Hollywood, saw
bid have run a year longer to Ay the following Thursday. Iyer, caw the Ryder Cup,
if the Oliviers had not had other projects to carry out.
And so had I.
I
I had a 10-hour stop over in saw Wyler's producers, awaited New York, and was greeted at a definite offer, found there was Idlewild Airport with the infor- none, returned to New York, Coronation
mation thet Marilyn Monroe telephoned to Marilyn to tell her season fell through-I can't
went to work on them, would be pleased to give me a that the rights were hers, and
the knowledge that cocktail in the now remember why, but cer- happy à
Berberry Rocm flew back to London. fairly through no machinations my lighthearted little contribu- at 4.30 that afternoon, of mine and they agreed to do tion to the Coronation seasom
"Sir Larry" said yes at once. the play for three months, open- though perforce mistimed, had Now I imagine that to mesi Unlike myself, he had seen ing in London In the week been a succese. More, perhaps, people that nows would hava Marilyn several times, ivand following the Coronation. by others doing than by mine; been electrifying. I'm afraid it agreed with my perceptive wasn't to me. It was erly a friend's about her talents." Ho but still a success,
neme efter all, the name of a would rather. naturally, have We now dissolve-as they say pin-up girl-and, in my career playra the picture with Vivien, in films-to three years later. I have met many pin-up giria, but she had never been willing was In the country worlding and almost always found them to repeat her exquisite perform→ Vivien Leigh fell seriously when a peremptory telephone devastatingly disappointing ances on Mm and was now most In Hellywood, and we had
10 en frem Hollywood Invited me
armly on the side of those of un postpone our production until thither for 48 hours--all In fact, now I come to think for I was now an ardent con- November. By then the Coronas expenses paid-in order to of it, the single exception is vert who felt that Merilyn was lon had become 鑫 rather confer with William Wyler re- Marilyn Monroe.
perfect casting. misty memory. The edes, the
garding a possible film produc- chorales, the homages, and the ion of "The Sleeping Prince"*
She walked into the Barberry Well, that's how it all heps, extravaganzas had all been per with
Eto-wearing pened. Olivier end
A lot of fuss about Marilyn Room-an my remem formed and loyally applauded Monroe.
dark glasses, and greeted må nothing? Possibly. But also, a brance of the fact that my many months before, My
with that dellelously shy gelt- lot of fun. arrival into this world pre-occisional fairy tale" had Now I have to confess that, confidence that has over vented my mother from attend- missed its occasión. It had now. at this moment, I had never whelmed zo many thousands of WORLD COPYRIGHT ing the Coronatien or 1911 simply becomeo 1 new. play, seen a Marilyn Monroe Mim. I
a little ironie. I was in no mood for portentousness,
Hopes
was probably r
was born 10 days before i—that written by me, starring the had heard of her, of course, end decided me on my choice of Oliviers, and opening in the Indeed some of my most percep- perkod, What she had lost by West End at the height of on dive friends had told me often my oportunity I would try to ordinary London theatrical that he was an infinitely more. restore for her in make-belleve. secson,
I
Wad
So in early February 1053 my. At the first night I think Professor Alexander Kennedy,
and comedy was begun,
was by for the happiest person 25.00
one of the three doctors who re-inished in early March. It was. present, Both my stars 35.00 ported the results obtained by labelled "An" cecasions) feiry cacharting performances, the
7.50 hypnotising patients, said "the tale" rather shrewd device, production (by Olivier) 7.50 pregnant woman usually is an I thought, for telling the crities delightful the supporting cast
excellent subject."
that they mustn't take it too excellent, and anyway I always
In enjoy my own jokes. seriously, and that it was, fact, a "plece d'occasion" and nothing more. My intention was.. The critics felt differently. to have it. produced for a limit.
Not by any means that they ed season during the Coronation were violently against
5.00 "(Hypnosis) leaves the woman 10.00 free to enjoy the ecstatic ex- 4.50 perience of labour woll done anti child," 1.00 the arrivol of a new 3.00 Kennedy said,
1.50
"If some means can be found 1.50 ylimately for training in
talented comedienne than her
notices and her publicity bad made her seem. But the profeet seemed ludicrous,
Bizarre
hour
Is this story crazy
tragic
or JUST WONDERFUL ?
Japan. the Navy and Adm. Arleigh THE US. Navy borrowed Burke, Chief of Navoy Opera- tions in Washington, approved gab and gave
1 the boy to Boston
Tactress Jane Russell's hilary, transportutteri sto
OLIVIER, I knew, had not birthday.
even been approached, and to a 9-year-old Chinese boy would surely never content to who may not live to cole dorm so extraordinary a partnebrate his own.. ship the most bizarro, com- bination, as Joshua Logan was They gave great credit to ter Although, strictly speaking, I.Vivien Leigh for her brilliant white. can't claim to have written
playing-though not enough to
summer.
they were already committed 10. comle characterisation
commander of Naval Forces in Vice-Adan: Riscos F. Good,
'the Far East, wanted to give the youngsters à !hinihings, party of when The boy, William', Liao
Bo harrived. to say, since black and Formosa, is resting of the US messaged Callford and Br Naval Hosptial here before, fly ranges to borrow Jane Rumell'e
aurually.
Navy Public Relationa officerý
De Robert E. Gross heart movie star's birthday."on Town
30 hypnosis someone who has to be for the Oliviers, for I knew Ollivier for his masterpiece of However, all expenses paid, ing to Boston where he will birthday, June 27.
therd, anyway, it would be an ...30
and and the Anglo-Americon Ryder undergo murgery for ideal way of having children." .30
a season of plays that summer, I agrood that the play powered Cup golf inaich, by a most lucky fatal heart defect.. Ho suggested also that
continued, during the writing of a certain amiable charm. But chance-was being played the
made the arrangements to get 2.00 hypnosis may be used to relieve the comedy, to nurture high in the main they were disaps following week-end at Palm 12.00
of surgeon of · Boston's children's for William's party. Hollywood curo
psycho-neurotic hopes of thelp doing it. A long pointed that the Oliviers had Springs, within easy reach Aympious in cares where the experience had taught me that chosen to aimsy a vehicle for Hollywood, I am a golf devetes, hopital, board of the boy's con proms, agents happily obliged patient cannot afford påychó̟- | the distance. betwedfi og
and their
roturn to the Lordon I believed that England had adition and offered to perform with Miss Russila
the operations, ƑU.8, Ambassador akad meghalaya komentuar dë analysis.
le rather longer in the age.
A Voda Karl Rankin, in Taipei, learned. The boy is now is the Eristes There remains the question theatre than in other "could hypocris our drug addictions, and refuted, at 4. However, as sometimes hap-The im veren har now shean the boy's parente could not whore doctors have decided Pape foot!!
certain riam, to commit mysel pens, Aunt Edna sither, dit "The Prince and 'the show afford the trige. He talked with to uparate
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