BOOKS OF THE WEEK Edited by Roger Pippett
A TOUGH
Goodbye,
Old
a lock of Max Eaer's hair, a spoon that once belonged to Texas Gulnan, scaling lists from big dinners, autographs of Babo Ruth and Walter Winchell, cloth from Colonel Lindbergh's' nero- plane, the silk stockings of Mra,
Ruth Snyder and the teetli of a
Timers
CYNICAL New Yorker once said, "If the United States had never existed, someone or other sooner or later would have Invented them," Even so, I fancy we should have missed a great deal. No inventor could have given us the atmosphere of rich,
Inimitable irony that
Mac West bids farewell to the Warden after serving a short term for her part In a New York stage- show a few years ago. From "Mrs. Astor's Horse," reviewed here.
SLICE of LIFE
LITTLE While ago an un- 'known author, Mabel Leth- bridge,' wrote a book about herself which become a best-seller in a night-because it was an honest cry from the heart rather than a conscious effort to wring the heart-strings.
If you read. Fortune Grass, you will insist on getting is sequel, Against the Tide, which is now published by Geoffrey Bles at 8. Cd. If you did not, you should certainly not miss the opportunity of reading one of the frankest autoblographics, which 18
cver likely to come your way.
Ms Lethbridge appeals to you be caise, although she has had n'tough fight against circumstances which would have 'downed ' most women forever, she never seems to realise fl. She does not revit your sympathy or your pity-but the earns 11.
Wellten with a sense of humour an in simple langunge which gets home to you much more effectively than would
conscious attempt at style, Against he Tide is a worthy successor to Fortune Grass.
Her maving description of the smell estate agenta business in Chelsea which comes to a voluntary stop when, ursel by mounting rents and overhead harges, she flea ber-petition la bark-
ruptcy, will make you smilie, And that boarding-house chapter is really funny the prospective resi- dents are kept talking while the faithful mald changes the furni- ture from one flat to another, as they have.only one suite unul they get more boarders.
The episode of the mastold opera- tion, the death of the writer's mother, the funeral of Gangster. Jack, tu masterly plece of writing), the heroic tness of Billy all these are told in ample lungunge without a hint of the heroism which Miss Lethbridge shows against overwhelming adds.
bathes the teeming trans- ailantic scene.
Yes, I feel surc of it, for I have just been read- ing Stanley Walker'a Mrs. Astor's Horse. (John Lane, 125. which the author has "al- tempted to bring together some of tho more attractive examples of curiosn Americana, particularly in the field of the ornate and overstuffed."
od.),
Negro who has been
lynched (top price
for last item, 1)."
The Hauptmana trial. the Dunger family, Rudy Vallee, the crooner, Ben.
ral Johnson, Mac West, Sally Rand the fan-dancing restlete, and a dozen others strut into the author's spot- light in this overwhelming social saidre. Mr. Walker makes you believe the unbellevable. And no hard feelings.
PHAT superb horseman, A. F.
Tschiffely, who once rode two horses over the sweltering en thousand miles that He between Buenos Aires and Washington. set out one summer morning a
year ago to ride through England. He has recorded his experiences in on unpretentious and enjoyable volume,
Bridle Patlis (Heine-
mann, 65.).
•
IIe dedicates it "To the memory of iny friend.. Doa Roberin' (R. D. Čun- who-rince I ninghame Oraham), In
Elfe over here, as he gally reminds u, has been made, vasily more amusing by those who have thumbed their noser at the bogus decreca of the dull experis on taste, by those who have tried to wriggle loose from the And strait-jackets of convention."
he adds, characteristically, "For these people have a great affection, and probably a sort of spiritual kinship. fur I like to wear tattersall waistcoats and ride in big red taxicabs. No hard feelings.
In three hundred witty and well- documented pages, Mr. Walker puta America on parade-though there is a Lacit understanding that this is the Amerien of the headlines, sensational. cccentele and exotic, not the workaday America of the masses
There is a gloriously irreverent nalde -on gangsters' funerals. "Frankle. Uale Kot his wish, He was buried in a allver colin reputed to have cost £3,000, although undertakers and the friends of slain mugs are notorious lare about figures. ile
The flowers cast £7,400. A twelve-foot tower of roses carried the words, Good-bye, Old Timer.'"
A feature of the book is the kindness which, as the author demonstrates, is shown by victims of the social system to fellow sufferers. Bho goes bank- rupt, and a representative of the re- criver is installed in the house to see that nothing is taken away. points to her gramophone, which is her favourite possession.
That's a portable, isn't it, Miles? ** he asks, meaningly, and Miss Leth- bridge takes the hint and removes it within few other things.
One could only with that all auto- biographies were as readable and as frer from affectation.
CARR JONES.
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Hongkong Telegraph. KHASANA
WM. FARMER & Co.
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Tel. 13501.
Sole Agents:
KRUSE & CO. Chang Tin Bid.
Tel. 23196.
HARDWARE
One of the bitterest passages in the book, Bomething to Remember You describes the mania of the By," memento-hunters.
"They like to collect such things as
have written la story-lar set out on his last ride." Indeed, his Journey was really a pilgrimage of homage to the Don lending him from the New Forest along the Welsh Border and past the Lakes to Graham's Lowinnd home.
In the revealing list of riding equip. ment at the end of the book, I found "awl and waxed string (for mending leather) and “shoes or bouts or con- vas leggings (never mind appenT- ances)." And he closes with a plea for the setting up of an Equestriania Tour- ing Club, whose members would "See England from the Saddle."
The folk he met on his wayfaringa seem to have misled Mr. Thchiffely on one or two paints. But there is a freshness, almost an innocence, about Bridle Paths that sets it apart.
DON ROBERTO is also celebrated in Rodeo (Heinemann, 0s, éd.), collection
Cunninghame of Graham's tales and sketches, selected by Mr. Tschiffely and running-or, rather, galloping-to over four hundred pages.
They range from glimpses of Parnell to memories of the pampas, from the deck of a German tramp steamer to the sultry euurtyards of Seville. A magnliicent volume from the fallen pes of a romantic realist upon whose like we shall not look again.
R. P.
Private Prophets.
OMETIME or
Exposed
another
mosi
Smen and more women belleve
Providence has singled them out for some special inission or exalted them to some special glory.
Waking or dreaming, a fond belief in our own magnifcence dazzles all our eyes in flashes.
To some this faith grows to be the They overweening reality of life. nourish their secret pride that bursts the limits of reason. They would make themselves immortal omnipotent.
without ski.
The stories of six Englisli Messiahs, as told by Ronald Mattliews (Methnen. 10. Gd.), make the best book on rell- glous eccentricity published fur a long time. It is good eitough to rank as a case book alongside Willin' James celebrated Varieties of Religious Ex- perience.
James Nayler.
The author tells us about James Nayter, Commonwealth Quaker, who had his Christhood thrust on hum by a group of hysterical, infatuated. women. It is the first story of the book,
remains the best.
Pertapa he is the rare attractive be- cay alone of Mr. Matthewk Meginha-he begra a ghastly resem blance to the Christ of the Christian mpel. True, it is only the resemblance
of a bad waxwork to its prototype. But the likeness is there, and it rings out again and again,
The remaining five Messiahs are nol
"DO YOU KNOW?"
IT'S THE LATEST LONDON CRAZE
London, June 20. Left at home while the trains draw out of every London terminus londed with their neighbours on vacation,' some
Londonera stay-at-home playing a game with those holi- (daymakers who are arriving to visit the capital of the British Empire.
are
THE HONGKONG 'Telegrapit, THURSDAY, JULY, 2, 1936.
'EVERYBODY'S FAVOURITES ON REX RECORDS.
8773-Gloomy Sunday. Maurice Elwin,
Solitude,
8704-Salut D'Amour,
Barcarollo "Tales of Hoffman."
Musical Dawson's Famous CHOIR OF CANARIESTM
8711-Sunset Trail.
Maid of Brazil. · 8719-Music Goca Round & Around,
There's a Song they Sing in Sing Song.
Primo Scala's Accordeon Band. 8715-Animal Crackers in My Soup.
When I Grow Up.
Baby Durclic Alexander,
This game in enlled "Do you 8636-Trees.
know?" The chief merit claimed for it is that it enables the Lon- donors themselves to see quite n lot of their town without making a formal round of the "places of interest."
Smiling Through,
Gracio Fields. 8604-Confessions of a Cheeky Chappy. Max Miller.
8041-Sandy the Film Star,
The idea behind the game is to find out old things about the history of 8362---What the Stars Foretell, London or its buildings and decora-8578-Sandy The Dentist. tions, and then ask friends if they know about these things. The answer being in the negative the place must be visited to add point to the facts discovered.
SMALLEST HOUSE
One of the most unusual questions, it is snid, is, "Where is the smallest house in London?" This house is No. 10, Hyde Park Terrace, Bayswater Road It is a little white house, just barely more than
one thin window wide, crushed between two of the tall gray and brown buildings of the rond. It was erected to conform with the conditions of an eccentrie will.
If one is around the Temple district nt half-past six in the evening, one can hear an ancient horn being blown. The man who blows it is dressed in uniform and a top hat. This horn has been blown every weekday of the law form for many years, to summon barristers at the Inns of Court to dinner,
Another "Do you know 1" which will keep visitors guessing is, "What is on top of the entrance to the Weat India Import Dock?" The answer is an exact model of an old West Indin- scale man in miniature, true to Expert scamen were employed in the building and riggly of this beautiful ship model.
SHIP'S CABIN VESTRY
The most unique feature of any London church building, it is claimed, is the vestry of St. Nicholas Church nt Deptford. This vestry is an imita- tion of a ship's cabin, with lockers and bunk. St. Nicholas was orier, it is said, a "sallors' church."
There is still in London a large picer of the old Loulon Bridge, which was covered with houses and shops and even had a chapel in the centre of it. This "Do you know?" is in the grounds of Guy's Hospital. It is one of the stone, alcoves belonging to the bridge, where voyagers would sit and rest.
The first shelter for cab drivers was the one in St. James's Street. Londoners will tell you that cabs, although not then so called, first plied for hire in 1025. They wore origi- inated by a retired seaman, à Captain
Bailey, who did not see the canon. so sympathetle-Jonnna Southeott, why those who did not own carriages Richard Brothers (who entertainingly should have to walk honie. called Himself Got Almighty's Nephew, John Nichols Tom over whose gruve In 1838 entries were posted to make sure that his followers did not make him rise agahi the third day"), James Henry Prince and John Hugh' Smyth-Plgott.
Scandal
to
8387-Sandy Joins The Nudists. 8024—Sandy Tho Burglar. 8114 Sandy on a South Sea Isle,
11
23
23
Sandy Powell (Famous Humourist).
TSANG FOOK PIANO COMPANY. Marina House, 19, Queen's Road, Central, Tel. 24648.
OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS
ACROSS
...
120
1 Uncase for sins is much what
one_might_expect_to_get_from wickedness.
7 It's wrong to put a dish out-
Inhumanly so,
8 and there's something wrong in
a flick, like this, too."
To feel impatient is tempting, perhaps, but to mislign a true China becomes one (hidden). 12 Just once more, please.
19 renseless
13
Bowl that
sound.
STANDARD MEASURES
visitors
perished.
ig.
Another question which may be put 16 Probably a branch establish
ment "What unexpected can be found in the granité 17 A Units effgar Square? The 10 Gathering which everyone answer is: Standard measures of participates, and aff risc, per- length. These include a foot, two
haps. feet and the imperial yard. The 21 Might be a snub-from Chelson,
perhaps.
The last two, of course, were succes plaque beneath them states that the sive Messialis -in churge the
"Agapemone." or
110.
26 What, as Pierre would say, 28 Longs.
29 Straying as fish,
30 Not a solid coin this though certainly making for solidity.
DOWN
lengths were placed at this site in 23 Trees. Abode Cove,"Queen Victoria's reign by the Stand-24 This cock won't fight: my hat! down at Paxton, in Somerset Greatards Department of the Board of sandals and rumours of olymy. Trade, "by the permission of the concubines and untridied nightiess
Commissioner of Her Majesty's are connected with this place!
Works and Public Buildings." debunks Mr. Matthews
then, Four legitimate children afd u ser lain mumber of trregular gefa seureely binding) erremonies of marriage reem to have been the sum of sexual de pravity which can really be belleved about this dull Httle community.
At the end of us mix biographical abrics, dir. Matthews adds his "Con clucious "-an explanation of the ** Mensizh Complex
terms of modern paychology. This is us excel- lently done as the Rves themselves-
though I me not be quite so credible to everybody.
MALONEY'S
BALONEY
BAZAAR
3 Silver Cups,
•
A "Filmo" Straight-8 Movie Camera, $250 in Cash Prizes
to be won in the
Hongkong Telegraph's 6th ANNUAL AMATEUR. PHOTOGRAPHIC
COMPETITION.
SALESMAN SAM
OK, WOW-WoW! I'M A LUCKY DUCKY! A DIME! MEBBE I EAT!
PHINEAS PANN
HARDWARE-
ALGO
NOTARY PUBLIC WITH ZEAL
BIPP
.D.
Trafalgar Sqanre also includes an- other question, "Which statue has something wrong with it and what is wrong? This statue is the exques- trian George IV in bronze. It is quite a fine statue and was considered " very great work when it was finished in 18-15 by the sculptor
Chantrey. It cost 1,000 guinens.
But, although the King is shown on a fine horse with a fine bridle, he has no stirrups.
He Can Get A Peck Or Two
A MEAL FER FINE, TEN CENTS? COPPO ONLY THING (WHERE YA KIN GIT. FER THAT IS A CHICKEN DINNER!
AT FARMER'S OKAY! PLACE ROUND YA. TH' CORNER! DON'T
GIT A CHICKEN DINNER EV'RY
DAY FER A DIME!
2 Strive in the end to become looked on with a grudging eye. 3 fore than one spoke about this
you'll find,
4 Acumen is wanted: Here is a
elur, "A hotel will shortly be erected on this plot." 5Hidden in Cluo 11.
0 Plęked out as containing the
FARMER'S
chosen,
127
7 Le., dry Scouts (anag.). 9 Close neighbourhood, but
necessarily stifling-
10 Hidden in Clue 11.
not:
14 I expect ho rings hell's belly a
lot.
In Alter this and it might be mid-·
day.
18 Lend used to sound once.
20 The family takes part in this
though it's outside.
21 Why is the letter A in this word like an ear!? You may consider this to be a bit late, perhaps.
22 Describes a book in which art
igures prominently.
20 Eleven bas hwo.
27 Hidden in Clue 11,
Yesterday's Solution
ABNORMALITIES] CWAHAMOMIAP 1
HASTING PENSION
ROOFFIEND CULT TNOM ANFMG CARE I ERNESTEESL ATENT R OOK PEBERO LEKSV ITASTENZEEF LIGE Tİ
6
UNITECABAUUNDO LASERRYRAQ IR N ENTICES INSURES LEONODTENDI DAER KNOWLEDGEABLE «
By Small
COUNTRY STORE
SPECIAL TODAY
POULTRY FEED -ONLY 10 PER LB.
HEY HEY! WE SELL STRAW -ALSO HOATS & GRAIN!
(I SAME BY HEA SERVICE, NG, T, M. REG, U. 3. PAY, OFT.