Parë 8
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1958.
With their naked hands.
For me one of the most fantastic spectacles on a long road of travel
from
FREDERICK
ELLIS
TODAY I turned the
clock back thousands of years, and I saw the Pyramids o f Egypt being built, aye, even the very Great Wall of China itself, created 2,000 years ago to keep out the Mongolian in- vader.
These great wonders of the Old World are yet again being carved out of the arid earth of China, with the same prehistoric tools of man- hands and human energy.
Forty miles from Peking, the walled city that is once more the capital of China. they are bulking n reservoir in the shadows of the Ming tombs.
They
the people.
60,000 of them at any one time. From Government offices, the professions, the
students, factories,
and people of all walks volunteer to do a stint..
ANT HILL
VEN the army volun-
E tears to go out on the
job. I suspected that for them a, soldiers and civi lians alike, It was the old army method of volunteer- ing "You, you, and you."
This, however, is genujue volunteering, and there is even a waiting list.
Gatting the volunteers to the reservoir is chicken feud to a nation that can or ganier 500,000 into a split- second May Day parade.
Today I stood on the perimeter of the great roservoir, ringed by a chuin of Box Hills:
It was like slicing the top
off an ant hill, but here it
PICTURE BY FREDERICK ELLIS
Tearing away with their bare hands at the hillside... their method the one that built the Pyramids
was humanity that Was man women, down to teenage scurrying about like ants.
boys and girls-take away the 16 brace of baskets suspended on a pole similar to the one used by the traditional mikemaid.
This huge reservoir in Tubble, really being made by hand, for the primitive tools they use have come down through Chim's agus,
A million tons of earth and rock are being moved in baskets British house- no bigger than wives take shopping along High Staret.
FERVOUR
the vest valley I watched an ever-
What machinery there is looks pathetically landequtne for this cnormous civil engineering, undertaking,
It was a terrifying spectacle. and as i alood I remembered the forced labour battalions of
Iller's Germany.
the edge of moving chala of human ants other than by the University crews on the trip from Putney to Martlake,
FFriell's
WHIT ROUND-UP
-"My boy friend concelled our Paris trip because he
thinks anything might happen there-and
thought that was why we were going!"
SHOTS 26
"You'll put the Bank rate up again with all this speculative pressure on the exchequer.”
להפנו
HONGKONG SHORT STORY:
End Of A
all.
Long, Long
"There Was Certainly Something About Her .1 Flashed A,
Warm Welcome To Emily.
"
The Scottie Cindy Saved Makes History
NICKY
London,
an 11-year-old Boottle Hven months to live, has zsade Danihe medical history by recovering.
Nicky, owned by M Maureen Cromley, of Daliy, Bank Cottage, Wartaak, Hants, kad a deadly blond
dipcase.
A ves thought a Blood tentafusion was the
only
hepe to save him. Up want a public notion asking dog owners to give their pela" blood, to
Out of hundreds of volunteers, Clady, à six- month-old mongrel stray.. was chose
Nicky was given nearly s quarter of a pint of now blood. That
WAI Fix
months ago.
And last week Miss Crossley said: “He le fant like a pupky gain. I heard him bark for the irst imo over in March. And he can walk normally
as fast
Balą the vet at Farehams "I have been staggered by Nicky's recovery. He is how a remarkably ft and. happy little dog. We can hepà 'that his span of Bito may even exceed the normal. The blood trans-
the buslaraO fusion began
of putting him од his foot."
And, because of Nicky, it has also been distovered that
the drug cortisone "appears to work with the disease."
The Royal College of Veterinary ‚ Surgeons and 16 Bight vela have fellowed Nicky's case. Because of its importance to other dogs. Milsa
Crossley
not been Asked 10 pay for Nicky's treatment,
Trail
motestor
crooned. "There's Mrl Peters" COME people say I'm not very right. But they're
I groaned, but the continued little too gullible, that's wrong. I'm a
remorselessly. "I've vetted tim,- and he's eligible physically and Whenever I've been in trouble It's always been due to
montelly
for. and financially You two things-women and my natural credulity.
Susie," 1 amiled bravely. This notice those high-class words: "gullible" and "credulity?"
was Destiny. Through the misty Well, doesn't it prove something, uh? It shows I know
as it were, I heard the World President, Lonely. Hearts Club Here there was a difference. how to kick a dictionary around, doesn't it?
enying, "And No. 2 is for you, I' These Chinese were working
think." "For me?" I squeaked. Let me put you in the picture-I'm 28, weight 198 with a fervour and enthusiasm. I have seldom equalled lbs., height 82 ins. feet size 10, hat G, chest 36, and
away, holding a straight and sympathy which far outweighed She smiled, and, like a confuror,
produced from her walat 44. I'm what you might call unusual. And I'm a steady course.
merc physical charm. 501 handbag a pale pink fling van fussy dresser with a gift for mixing the bright colours. Now a cruder type" might smiled quietly to myself as be with a defected-looking "heart
have gone into an all-out action set to work on Burie. So, it didn't surprise me in the dress moulded out of about a on Susie as from then, but I callow youngstore they never least when with just three days yard of Shantung silk, and as decided not to rush things, to learn. Susle seemed to respond 10 go
Hongkong this George stopped me at the door use a little finesse. So, although alright, but I unattached, salubrious, fairly to hand me his book I thanked I agreed to take her to the ship's merely being polite. young redhead began hovering him vaguely and furthered his rail to watch the phosphores- when she bounded to her feel This is the woman for you,” around me as I selected a book education with a bit of home- cence, etccters. I really meant with a laughing "Why, I'd love she annelinced t her no-
philosophy. "George." 7 to show her that my mind was to from the ship's library. I'd just spau
sports trophies, nonsense volce, "Emily Phipps, the said. "reading isn't everything," on higher things, George
I'd recited Mork," I thought this was a bit --I've vetted her, too." I'd only complained
The Pied Piper of Hamelin' much, but by the time I'd time to read, "Occupation. steward that there was a dearth and pecelerated after the girl,"
literature on the
(with gestures), and was just worked up an: acid stomach Spinster. Peculiarities: N{" of high-class- shelves and he'd gone off to get
about to pull out all the slops they'd gone.
when Mother Lacy grubbed my and give her Tiger, tiger, burn-
arm and hissed, “You're in luck, hero she is!"
A EXAMPLE
THEY work
the
in three eight round hour shifts clock, round the week, a never- ending, seven-day phyalen; alog, foiling under floodlights night.
al
to
ዘነ his latest Mickey Spillane
your
These crest,
knew she was
However,
►
I looked up, starilód, and saw
when she came and practically We made our way, leisurely, ing bright when she took her In the blazing sunshine, with leaned on my Trople, of Cancer to the Sports Deck, and found head off my shoulder and moan- There ed, "Oh, Johwy, 1 do admire the temperature nearing 80 deg., and said, with a certain je-ne- it absolutely deserted,
The old crone put down her a mast horrible sight absolutely they tolled the enclent sais-quel, "I don't speak to was a smart night breeze blow, intelleet so. but there is a time
rule, but you ing, so I took off my Saville and a place." She looked so knitting and cackled with de- Alling the wide entrance to the Egpytians buliding the Pyramids strangers, as a
and light, "You're a little slow, lounge. This woman--it. I may. liko the
mysterious understanding Row drape and hung it round lovely must have. tolled. Yet it is look
This was 1 ruminated her shoulders.
big treat you?" I just looked of coin a word-was-qulle pears. happening now,
My regimental #ppealing, framed in that you type."
her, bit the lip, shrugged the shaped pin-sized head, con Change from the subtle duettered its purple and gold cheese of a moon, and she was read this.
twkkiled the existent brush-off.
pectorala, Normally they say against my
polka-dotted shirt, so right about the time and the shoulders, and
This was no time for atupendous girth, Her statistic quite definitely, "I don't speak Which regiment? It's kind of place that I didn't hesitate for thumbs.
I lavered myself out of were nol, so much vital on to strangers." And leave it at slipped my mind, but the moment but took her straight words.
down to Mother. I thought aho the chair, but before I could get gigantic She was, to put it back she growled, mildly, grotesque, I must have
The
IT
even as
LEAPING
that. But this was different, so colours do something for me.
is an ever-changing riverinbles
☆
*
However,
She looked a le esgle eye of Mather who knitted
ها
proud. And there, too, to make
It was a nulne enthusiasm of the people for Communism. Make no mistake about that
I switched on the charm, and let Suslo-we'd exchanged names looked 1 me a little strangely my breath It was a living example of
the intimate tamplight bounce on the way up turned to me as I fixed up a game of shume s too late. young fellow. glanced down the fling card. the way the regimo bos cap-
the next And I'd say from my experience, full-sail forward," because Mme. apologised. "I'm
sorry, beard with her for tured the imagination of the off my two gold teeth, and said, and
you're not really her type" 1 Spink gowled, Read Section 13, removing my choroot beople, harnessed and mobilised well, that's so
Brst, Johnny, she doesn't seem to be morning, but I was too reckles What can I do here." I smiled, because you to worry whether I was getting was naturally annoyed. "What you fool!" and automatkulty
do you meen, the nation's mind,
from
your glanced down the ling card. for you?" Thit with half- couldn't expect the old dear to too hot a pace.
experience, you old bundle?" Section 12 stated, with heavenly be running around in shorts at volunteers pour out of laugh to show I was a sport.
She ignored my
outburst. brevity, "Income and/or that hour of the night, So I the eily of Peking for a fort-
"I've made a technical study of Prospects: £1,000 p.. pitm suggested we tried the Verandah
affinity," the nid night at a time, and the work-
airly. £20,000 at 35.". My eyebrows Bar a little later, after we'd hnd
"Porshaps you don't realize that raised themselves. era cagerly scan the lists to see
"Only six Fote and the true happiness for man if their turn has come.
She smiled, and after I'd come time to exchange a few child-
was weather-man had other ideas, woman
and months to go, young fellow back to reality I couldn't help hood memories, and IL
stardusty It was pouring down the next of careful selection
all 4 question said Mother, and greetod Emily noticing how favourably, she therefore some forty
based on warmly in the next breath. Y compared with Lo rather minutes before we reached the morning, to we sat and played metabolim, environment, pay- falt, a sudden firing of a heavy clapped-out old she-dragons V. B. and I met Mother for the chess u the lounge under the chological complexes, income weight of years and fearn, I who'd been kicking their first time.
and prospects, artistic and was no longer chained and partners to death at the bridge- like Pater Lorre with a Harpo away ferocluusly at a bright red gastronomie tastes, and I bowed.
And a purple stole. No man could have been waved a feeble paw at her and tameless
I was let's be portio.... ever ince we'd left Marx wig on.
and swift and And because I'm us wig at that, set at a rakish angle happier than lie Joe She groaned, "That is just a lot of of humanity that tears Tilbury. down the rocky range of hills. sharp as. a tack-calculated over her left ear. It says much smiled warmly at me, Mother, words Jolso forms part of the. Gov. she was around 00 inches high, for Suzie's spell that, shaleen as in her ebony black daytime wig,
remembered to ruitlod her needles like a I was, I even ernment's "corrective" policy, which was pleasurable, and, a thai
should spot estimate this, about 122 lbs, order a round of drinks, a lemon gun salute; and I, with elty dwellers relcam that the soil is the rent dried out. I looked her up and and barley for me, a White Lady Ertist's appreciation, revelled in down approvingly and took my for Susie, and a double Scotch the splash of colour we made
"And to prove I know what Emily, and studied her as Im-
23 passionately heart of China.
time about it, then deciding that straight for the dear old thing, there-Susle with her red hair, a talking about," she droned allow. She looked sturdy something original was called Then I prepared to make small green eyes, royal blue stacks and bn, not noticing my interruptins, They do not get paid for the for, I gulped ami
and responsible. me in my "here's my card" murmured, talk. I needn't have bothered. canary sweater:
on the visiting card
and capable.
kood With fortnight's "holiday" with work, "Can I help you find a book?" Mother discussed in intimate emerald green shirt and tarian carefully but they draw their normal could tell immediately by the detail sex, infidelity. and the shorts; and Mother in a purple she thrust into my putetretenes privis and eather sirliting est
"Mme. Lucretia Spink, brows. In frot, I mused, there wages in Peking.
quick jerk of her eyeballs, that white slave tremo, all with eart with the scarlet wole like a hand.
was certainly something about we were meant for each other, earthy authority. It was one of pool of blood. It was a moment World President, Lonely Hearts ever. I. eiled affectionately e*·
Club" read aloud. She added the young lovers, winked aprov Split inte groups, they live in she looked sort of pathelle and those evenings are one for to remember Beeting.
A fleeting moment, because, her head approvingly at each that my Lady Freddent, and a canvas elty which looks like whispered," I've given up read- mo-when I mimed a couple of
word. "You can call me Lugs, natred a warm welcome to the army bivouacking on Salising I knew just what she hundred "Yes, indeeds", and let, just as I was about to begin a
movement un if you Wichas, a special bury Plain. Food is supplied, meant there are such moments the wurda bounce around my subtle pincer but they cook it themselves,
I was 1 Life.
admit, cary, bewitched, Because of the unpold, labour
*Just as I was racking my brains force the cost of the project for something really titanic to say a fifth of the sho beat me to it, by exclaiming, will now bo original estimate.
in
*
L
41-
1 focused
the menent supreme, was that glowing poir, Surio and・・ Mark” bless them. Strikingly, perfecily' matched. I switched to dear
my
emotiona
Affectionate
Surie's culeem, I felt & prosenco. favour," she croakód, and egled Emily. This, I was, sure, wea It was Mister Poters the Purser. me with all the indecency of her the end of the jong, long trail:'. Sounds like Happy Families, thousand years. "This mating don't it? well, so it was in a professions with me," "Tho "I'm opening up, a
Then around about midnight until he stood there, a shade too conâded. "Oh, dear, I must be off. 1 and well into her second boille handsome, too broad-abouldered, new branch of the Lonely promised to meet Mother on the of Scotch, Mother bekched with foo alim-waisted, too sleek, too Hearts in Hongkong. Dont you "The Sports Dock at eight. So I studied refinement, looked at me finned, too fall, boo at looking, think there dope there?). Oreat Leap Forward," At the offered to go along and followed sternly, and growled, "Past my In tuck too-too. But I wasn't jerked my bewildered head In Ming Reservoir they are hot out, She was wearing a besume. I'm eft. Don't keep distorted from it. I had a agreement. I've already got "quiet" two cliente on Vowed here,” the rather loky evrininly leaping forward.
cocktail" her up too late," and stamped quiet dignity and ... a
China's slogan now is
By George Ramage
tr