....
CTION FOR HONGKONGS
THE MYSTERY OF
A MIDNIGHT CARILLON
By Robert
Bau
It was a decade ago when the residents of a small English hamlet were awakened at two in the the carillon morning by the sound of bells
of St. Mark's Church ringing out in a strange melody.
Next morning, parishioners demanded to know who had been playing at that unearthly hour, and why. But officials nobody could tell them. In fact, church denied that the bells had rung at all.
But the carillon of St Mark's me courage. But perhaps she did ring that night. And the felt sad."
an old
reason was
Mr Zeller, mao with rapidly failing eye- sight, and a passion for chess, and 1 friend named Vincent McIntyre.
Mr Zeller would not reply to Vincent Mcintyre's cheery com- ments when he first began coming in to Vincent's dry cleaning shop. So Vincent let
him alone.
One day, however, in a near- by park, he saw Mr Zeller sitting with his head bent very close to a chess board as he worked out a problem.
"Things times, eh?"
bad Vere
some-
Mr Zeller's face shadowed. "Yes," he said, simply.
There were many chess
and games,
Mir bit by bit Zeller's background was re- vealed. He was alone in the world. He'd
come to Britain from Rumania during the last war, and worked as a common labourer. Because of language difficulties and poor vision, op- portunity had eluded him.
He
rest-"
"And now I am old," said Mr Possibly no other thing could Zeller in a too-quiet tone. "Old, have
won Vincent admittance alone and going blind." into Mr Zeller's confidence. shook his head wearily. “And Vincent, too, loved chess and I am so tired."
"All soon they were lost in a game.
you
need is Vincent began gently.
"It is my soul that is tired," said Mr Zeller, and suddenly he stood up. "I don't feel like playing any more. Forgive me."
A hymn
They played often after that and it was during these games that Mr Zeller hummed an odd little tune under his breath.
Always he hummed the same fune until one day Vincent asked what it was.
"It's a hymn, a religious song," Mr Zeller said, a far- away look in his eyes. "My mother used to sing it to me when I was a child.” "It's beautiful," said Vincent. "So sad."
a
Mr Zeller peered at Vincent through his thick eyeglasses for long moment. "It depends which end you are en," he said slowly.
"My mother
it when things were very bad, to give
sang
The 17-21
Club's five rules
A legacy
Vincent watched him go with a chill sense of foreboding.
vas
Shortly before two o'clock in the morning Vincent awakened by the telephone. It was Mr Zeller.
Mlad
"Vincent," he said. "I leaving everything to You are my only friend. You'll be getting £29 from me by mail, so don't be surprised. Goodbye."
"What are you talking about?" shouted Vincert.
"I'l soon be blind," said Zeller. "I'm old and tired. I no longer wish to keep cn liv- ing." And he hung up.
Vincent stood transfixed with dreadful realisation. He knew Mr Zeller lived in a small
Credit card to Edmund Chan for his drawing of two Sabre-jets
from aircraft carrier HMS 'Hermes'
Attention!
Last week on the front page of the 17/21 Club section, there was a story entitled "Equality and a Dutch Treat."
We printed it in good faith believing that it had been written by Joia Özorio, as the contribution was signed by that name.
Our
But now Joia has written to the club saying that she had nothing at all to do with the article. apologies go to you Joia.
This isn't the first time this has happened-but we certainly hope it will be the last.
If it happens again we shall have to take some line of action.
But what an amazing thing! That people should go to the trouble of writing articles and then contribute them under somebody else's name!
Now, if you want to see a story or drawing of yours published, join the club-the rules are in this BUT USE YOUR section and send in your entries. OWN NAME.
Take a bright,
Brain teaser
new
copper
Lincola 6-Does
have
7-Is there a flag B the building?
furnished room in the neigh-penny. Now study both sides beard?
then see if you bourhood. But he didn't know for a minute, the address.
can answer the following ques- There was no way to find him,tions about the permy: except "God," whispered Vincent, "what shall
I do?" And the answer came to him.
Courage
O Membership in the 17. 21 Club is open to all within that age group.
Vincent dressed and rushed Contributions cad all ac-out into the hushed streets. He tivities of the Club will knew most of the people in the
personally, area
And of the be limited to members four people living near the only.
church who were trained in the surely
a
O Contributions may con-art of carillon playing, had
sist of cnything that is one would do what be
thought of.... pukodishable articles, Within ten minutes it began; Letters, stories, photo-carillon bells ringing out graphs, drawings, verses. hymn at two in the morning. But only the best will Again and again the hymn was
played. to printed.
Then it suddenly stopped, be- cause Vincent saw Mr Zeller walking toward the church, his 0: Written contributions face lifted up in awe.
should not consist of As Vincent went out to meet Mr asero then 350 words, him and grasped his arm,
Zeller said, "It was as if my
O All contrations MUST
La original.
photographs and draw-mother were singing to me Ings will caly accept again, giving me courage to go ́ed in black-and-white. on living. And so I shall.”
1-In whom we do trust? 2-What is behind Abraham
Lincoln-something be stood
for?
3 What Is the "Cradle Liberty"?
4-Find a number. 5--What cther language
on the penny?
8 Are the states separated?
petjun ers
NEW MEMBERS
PETER WONG, 20, of 1 Fat Kwong-street, flat 152, Hung Hom, Kowloon. A student of Hongkong Uni- versity.
MAY MARTINEZ, 17, • student of 98 Parkes-street, second floor, Hongkong.
#
NORMAN LIANG, 21, o clark of 189 Des Voeux- road West, 1st floor, Hong- kong.
KINGSLEY LINCOLN NG, 17, a student of 11 Chan- cery-lane, 3rd floor, Hong- kong.
I
•
D. B. DOLLY, 13, a ma- chant of 33 ́ Hollywood-
- 2 sy road, Hongkong.
- Pepa - jo opony of sing{ maag #KO, SULJU
WOLNA SABAT
*(*pp 04 JO)
राम- उपाय
is eco-
"POD - I SHRMSNV
PETER KIANG, 20, student of 112 Queen's- cord Central, Hongkong.
EXAMINATION JOKES
The conclusion made by the Ly who works too hard a few days before the examinations:-
His concentration had not been put on studies but on trying to stay awake during the night.
In the lower forms in our school there goes on a constant strug gle between the teachers who try to finish the syllabus before the end of the year, and the students, who slow them down as much as pos- sible.
:
Credit card to Prom Khemanej,
1