10
THE HONGKONG
TELEGRAPH.
THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1937.
•
LIVING ON
BOOKS Edited by Roger Pippett
WHEELS Galactic
TWENTY years ago only gypsles
lived in curavans. To-day many thousands of people have chosen hames on wheels, and probably more of them are "thousand-a-year men" than gypalen.
They
do not simply use their caravans for holidays, but live in them all the year round, and if you that they suggest in conversation must find it hard to get a bath ar scratch ank if they do not get tired of meals, they will laugh, knowing that you are still thinking of caravans in terms of those old rickety vehicles
10 bed. where you went up steps
"re-discovered" The caravan was in Britain five or six years ago, and. estimated that between 50,000 and 75,000 people will spend their holidays on wheels this year.
permanent residence Caravans us
have not yet become so popular in Britain as they are in Amerlen, for the Although several reasons. hardened trailer enthusiast thinks nothing of winter week-ends in the open, he is not able, like the Ameri- to follow the sun,
can rein or Florida for the
going to
winter and to the North when the sun becomea hot.
Then again, British roads and re- gulations do not favour the large caravan. The average is probably about 14 feet long, ngainst the typi cal American caravan 20 feet long and weighing nearly 4,000 lbs. Per- hapa, also, the nomadic habit is more strongly developed in the Americans; It is not so long since the covered vagons rolled across the prairies.
With Telephone Complete
American visitors to the Corona- tion have shown how comfortable be Mr. con living in a caravan Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jun.. brought to London caravan his luxurious atter covering some 4,000 miles in the United States, parked in a near the centre garage conveniently of the Coronation
celebrations, the telephone connected, and was ble to pursue his work as an author probably in more comfort than if he
stayed at hotel.
had
There were a few shillings n week Upay the "ground landlord," but
that was all, and his tour all through Europe will cost the price of petrol and food and little more.
An ir reasing number of American authors-not all famous
ones-are
making their homes on wheels. Last winter 100.000 people in caravans are eximated to have visited Florida and amongst them were at least a score of writers.
fain
011
I now of only one writer in Bri- the year who tried the "all round" working
wheels. He found the movement from place to when he place stimulating, and appeared at dinners, luncheons, and other functions, he was not less well уже furned out than those who lived in houses made with stone or brick. The idea had to be abandoned in the ond owing to the difficulty of the children going to school.
Boon to Salesinen
90
that
But it is not only writers who and it convenient to work on wheels. In America it is reckoned that at least 100,000 people live permanently in their caravans, and few of them are men and women of leisure.
who have a Many are salesmen large territory to cover. Formerly thy had to leave their homes for weeks and even months at a time, their wives and children were almost strangers to them. Now they take their homes with them, parking the caravan at a convenient visits by paying their centre and car.
America has the great advantage for this type of worker on wheels that there are specially built caravan parking places. The town of Sara- sota has laid down a 60-acre caravan water and electricity park with "points" laid on to each berth.
The roads of the parks are con- so that lighted, creted and electrically they amount practically to model housing estates which differ little from normal ones except that the houses are always moving of to make room for new ones.
Artists have found, the permanent home on wheels has the advantage not only of bringing them cheaply to new scenes, but also of providing their market. A "one man show" costs next to in each large town nothitig and, of course, the novelty attracts of holding it in a caravan
On
the
pre craft workers constantly demand for the road.
The
articles they make in any one town is too limited to justify opening a op, but visiting a new town every three or four days, they are able to make steady sales,
shop.
Last amongst those who work on wheels may be mentioned the peoplo with a message. It may be propa- ganda for some brand of groceries.or an educative or religious campaign, Home-Made
cost of food, a Apart from the home on wheels costs lttle beyond "ground rent," which is a few shil- lingy
week. The most luxurious may have electric lighting generated from their own plants, but most use and compressed gas for heating
The cost would be about
lighting eek.
35. u
For
Le
rest you can have the de- gree of luxury you require. Some are equipped with telephone between caravan and towing car, refrigera tors, shower baths, air conditioning. every other luxury of modern service flat.
and
The
the
to
UTOPIA
STAR MAKER
By Olaf Stapledon
Methuen, Bu. Gd.)
N that most exciting and orig- inal prophecy. Last and First Men, Mr. Stapledón traced the future of mankind. Here, with equal imaginative drive and a still wider sweep, he outlines the future of the universe up to its final cur- tain. a Galactic Utopia or League of Milky Ways.
We meet the little teller of this super-story brooding one night upon all above his home Brooding over his wife and family, the letters plling up to be answered and the socks to be darned. Brooding niso on the world in particular and the nature of things in general.
Wanderings
..
Buddenly a fit of giddiness shakes bit. The glowing windows of his house dwindle. And he is souring through space at an incredible speed -off on his tour of the worlds in and beyond the Milky-Way, ...
At first his only thought is to get back to earth again. 'I hurried from Blur star, a lost dog looking for star 1 its master. Star after searched, but far more I passed im- patiently, recognising at once that they were too large and tenuous and young to be our luminary."
And then he finds himself slowly floating down towards the surface of a small planet inhabited by creatures with bird-like legs. green hair and apouting mout-lie Other Men. There he spends many years wander. ing from mind to mind and country to country, observing the similarities And the differences of these parody. satires of humanity to our own world of men.
In the company of an Other Man philosopher he watches the planet go down in war, while between the smoke clouds the Other Sun occasionally ap pears with even a daytime star,
Worlds Unknown
Then he is off again, visiting world after world-worlds of nautiloids or "chipmen," in which the starboard- born. become workers and the part- born masters, submarine worlds ot hugo fish-men with crab-like partners riding in hollows behind their skulls. worlds of plant-men trunks and leafy heads.
And each of these teeming workis is dying-mostly from greed or ignor- ance or sloth. As for the plant-men. an attractive race, they perished from "One by too much contemplation one the blissful' and no longer human Inhabitants of that world passed from ecstasy to sickness, despondency, un- comprehending bewilderment, and on to death."
But we must leave them, for our traveller, who is by now n disembodied inteligence mingling with other wan- derers through space, is flying forward to the Society of Worlds, which, after acons of interstellar struggle, merges Into the Galactic Utopla,
and
Before that could happen, "ficets of worlds, natural
artificial. manoeuvred among the stars to outwit one another and destroyed each other with long-range Jels of sub-atomic energy. Whole planetary systema were annihilated. Many a world-spirit found a sudden end. Many a lowly race that had no part in the strife waa Alaughtered in the celestial warfare that raged around it."
The story now nwings to its climax with a stammering-and inevitably un- satisfactory-account of the traveller's account of his meeting with the Star Maker or Lite Force or Spirit of the Universe. And then-he is waking up on the bill above his home, back to earth again...
After a superbly concentrated vision- ary panorama of the world our world -the book closes with the watcher seeing "the whole planet, the whole rock-grain, with its busy owns," as an arena where two antagonists werd preparing for a critical combat.
Brilliant Fantasy
"One antagonist appeared as the will to dure for the sake of the new, the longed for, the reasonable and Joyful world, in which every man and woman may have scope to live fully and live in the service of mankind.
"The other seemed essentially the myople fear of the unknown-ar wns it more sinister? Was the cunning
will for private mastery, which fo mented for its own ends the archale, reason-hating and vindictive passion of the tribe
That, in briefest outline, is Star Maker, in many ways the most bri Haut fantasy of a most brilliant fan-
asist. It has made me reach for my reviewing index and take out unhesi- tatugly that dustlest and most pre-
Master- claus card-the one marked with slender
piece."
R. P.
Knight of Nazidom
A
SWASTIKA NIGHT
By Murray Constantine (Gollancz, 75. Gd.)
FTER Mr. Stapledon's im- mensities, the seventh con- tury of the Hitlerian Era, in which this striking story is staged, seems pretty small beer. It is, too, for most of the men and all the women who are existing in it.
By then, I gather, the Nazi Empire sprawis over the whole of Europe Un- cluding, of course, Britain) and Africa, with the Japanese snurling at it from Asla and the Americas. And civilisa- tlon, as we know it, in to all intents and purposes extinct.
In churches built in the shape of Awastikas the worship of God the Thunderer and the Holy Adolf Hitler goes sonorously and endlessly on and on and on. A feudal world, with a characteristically Germanic Order of Knights and their ruthless aatellites in power.
As for the women, theirs is the un- ipplest lot of all. Penned up in little
Rapid
Reviews
I WAS A PROBATIONER, by Corinne Johnson Kern (Chapman and Hall, 10. 6d.). A record of the apprentice daya of an American hospital nurse. Written with a sense of reality which makes you forget that it happened as far away as San Francisco nearly forty years ago.
THE TONGUES OF MEN, by J. R. Firth (The Changing World Library. Watts, 28. 04.). In which you may learn the significance of languages,
on Adam. with chaptera
the Speaking Animal," Graven and The Expansion of Images Europe and the Discovery of Babel." THE ENGLISH HERITAGE, by Res Welldon Finn (Heinemann, 78. Gd.). An attempt to collate the concrete memurial of English history," and to explain their importance in the tradition of the country as a whole, from pre-Celtto times to the dawn of the Industrial Ago, MIDDLE MIST, by Netta Muskett (Hutchinson, 78, Gd.), Babine was a disappointed woman-baulkod in her career as a surgeon and dis- - Ulusioned in love. Then she lured her employer into marrying her. And that seemed a mistake, tog-a! Arst. Romantic.
Hundreds of Americans bulid their cost of super-caravans
own homes. I have before me plans order may be between £3,000 and 20,000. The standard ones range for a trailer 23 feet long and alx feet from less than £100 up to £650. wide.
wooden houses they mope and whimper and grovel and bear children for the Great Maio Ones of the Earth, the boys being taken from them when they are eighteen months old.
An intolerable state of affairs, And Alfred. that untidy, rebellious, middle- aged Englishman, made up his mind to end it. Starching through Germany for his old friend. Hermann, he stumbles accidentally on his oppor tunity.
Von Hess, a Knight and a member of a traditional ruling family, possesses a book written by one of his ancestors shortly after Hitler's fotime. It tolla the truth about the origins of the Nazi cult and domination-and it contains a faded photograph which means more to Alfred than all the great art of tho world means to you and me.
For he has been taught to belleve that the Pihrer was a blond, bearded giant who saved mankind from bar- barlım. And the photograph showe him a little man with a black tooth- brush maustache talking to an un- bellevably handsome young woman... How the Knight sends Alfred back to England with the book; how he hides it in a skeleton guarded dug-out at Stouchenge, how he starts his revolt in the cause of humanity-Mr. Con- stantine tells us all that and more in this most exciting, sensitive and sig- nificant story,
You may not agree with all the philosophising. But you'll find your- self cheering Alfred on long before you Which is just see the last of him. what Mr. Constantine wants you to do.
R. P.
Looking card the peak of Everest.
"A GOD'S VIEW
CAMP SIX 21
By F. S. Smythe (Hodder and Stoughton, 183.)
M
OUNTAINS have no man- ners-especially when they happen to be the Himai- Such Rendish winds and дуав. lashing blizzarda blow on Everest that the seasoned climber 13 almost inclined to agree with the Tibetans and believe that ice gods and devils mock them from the great peaks.
The weather defeated the 1933 attempt, as Mr. Smythe reminds us in this splendidly written (but never overwritten) personal ac- count of his adventures, which ends with the story of his final, anaccompanied assault on the inst few hundred feet.
he
Before he turned back, shovelled a space in the floury snow and looked round and down. "The earth was so far beneath, it seemed impossible I could ever res gola it.... Bomervell's descrip- tion of the scene is almpiest and best: A god's view.*"
Yes, Everest beat him. But there is no bitterness in this superbly straightforward and exciting book, which is full of generous sense of comradeship (Mr. Smythe nover forgets those wiry hillmen, the porters) and a quiet conviction that, sooner or later, the top will be won.
Meanwhile, there are memories. Listen to this description of a Himalayan dawn:
"The suri Wils 3 long time
Through arriving.
the gauze- covered window of the tent I could see it shining on the slopes above. It reached the ice pin- nacles and a reflected opalescent glow invested the camp. Then a brilliant light was suddenly spilled on the ridge of my tent.
"Quickly it spread downwards, and the frost-stiffened fabric gleamed as though encrusted with powdered Jewels. Soon the whole of one side of the tent was alight, and particles of rime began to feļi from the roof, pattering on my alcoping-bag, lodging in my beard, exploring my face like cold finger- tips.",
A fascinating story-whether the author is discussing. frostbite or frozen sardines or the ice axe dropped by Mallory or Irvine or
NINETEEN YEARS
OF
THE POST-WAR HISTORY
THE BRITISH WORKING-CLASS By Allen Hutt (Gollancz, 5s.)
W
AB the lack of success of the Labour Governments of 1924 and 1929 due to the fabt that Labour, although in office, was not in power-or was it due to inofetent leadership?
Allen Hult, in this latest book of his. vigorously advances the view that Labour even with a clear majority would have been no more successful, that it might well have been less so.
Ifo maintains that these two Gov- ernments had considerable adminis trative powers witich they could have used-and thaz Governments, like in dividuals, must expect their capacity
The home constructor is given the fullest instructions on making it and equipping it with electrle lighting and plumbing. It provides beds for
to be tested by how they behave in adversity rather than by how they bo have when all the advantages are on their alde,
No history is quite so exciting as recent history, and this book makes the most of its ability to hold the reader's attention. It sweeps through the past nineteen years and, besides setting out the events that took place. throws in a running statement of opinion on them as well.
the
Mr. Hutt accuses the Labour leader- ship of willingness to compromise with Capitalism, failure to be continually on offensive, chicken-heartedness during the National Strike, failure to moblike British opinion in defence of Spain and folly in relecting “unity." Bomeone who is not a Communist will now have to sit down and write another post-War working-class
W. Q. C. B
history,
three, shower bath, aink, running water,
and would cost to make at home about £200.
M. D. Hall,
that wicked band of yellow rock below the summit or the insidious lethargy that overcomes men at twenty-eight thousand feet.
to
Mr. Smythe has gone out to the Himalayas again-this time explore a hidden valley of rare flowers. And you may be sure that he is keeping a wary eye on Everest with the next attempt in mind.
THE BASQUE ARISTOCRAT
HAVE known only one Basque, and he was an aristocral. He told me all Basques are nobles.
He kept a small second-band shop In a South American port. I had come ashore to see the town while the ship lay in dock and foolishly my-camera on board. In a side streel I saw the little shop, and in the
was a used camera. I window
the old entered, hoping to buy camera for a few shillings.
The.
Interior of the shop rather dark, and it was a jumble of second-hand goods of every descrip-
Was
tion. Firearms and furniture, paint- were ings and plated silverware piled everywhere. From behind a great old-fashioned wardrobe a iltile old man appeared.
He was only about Ave feet in helght, and his thin, dark face was adorned with a straggling white moustache. He greeted me with a polite "Buenos dias." I asked him about the camera, and he took it from the window. As we discussed the article in terms of shillings and pesos I noticed that he spoke a pecu- llar Spanish quite different from any of the South American versions, and I asked him from what part of Spain he came. He told me he was a Bas-
que.
Having decided to take the camera at the reasonable cost of 238, I noticed a strange coat-of-arms on the wall. The arms were painted on on unusual shield, and a fantastic decoration. was the main
of the Intrigued by the curiosity
I asked the price. The old thing. Basque armiled as he pointed to the shield.
"Ah, this shield, senor, is not for sale. These are the arms of my family!" He went on to tell me how descent, every Basque is of noble and how every family has its cont of arms. He described his home with Its coat-of-arms painted above the door, and spoke of the greatness of the Basque people.
I was enchanted by the fire in the old man's speech. Suddenly he turn-:
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Pres, Tatt
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Midnight Aug. Noon Aug. Midnight Sept. Noon Sept. 8.00 a.m. Oct. Noon
Oct.
Pres. Hoover
Pres. Lincoln Pres. Coolidge Pres. Wilson
Pres. Hoover
EUROPE, NEW YORK AND BOSTON
Via Manila, Singapore, Penang, Colombo, Bombay, Suez Canal, Naples, Genoa and Alarsellten.
8.00 am. Aug. Pres. Harrison
8.00 a.m. Aug. 8.00 a.m. Aug. 8.00 a.m. Sept.
Pres. Polk
Pres. Plerce Pres. Van Buren Pres. Garfield Pres. Hayes
TO SEATTLE, VICTORIA THE EXPRESS-ROUTE”
Via Shanghai, Kobe and Yoko- bama,
:
10 Pres. Jackson 21 Pres. Jefferson
7 Pres. McKinley 18 Pres. Grant
G Pres. Jackson.... 10 Pres. Jefferson
30 13
Midnight July Midnight Aug. Midnight Aug. 27 Midnight Sept. 10 Midnight Sept. 24 Midnight Oct.
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1 Pres. Harrison 15 Pres. Taft 20 Pres. Jefferson 12] Pres. Hoover
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10 Pres. McKinley
8
0.00 nm. Aug. Midriight Aug. 0.00 p.m. Aug. 9.00 p.m. Aug. 19 0,00 am. Aug. 15 0.80 p.m. Aug. 21
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OUR BRITISH
ACROSS
1 A led tin mug (anog.).
Possibly not very pollte langu- age, but probably true.
10 Chinese craft starts this kind
of spree.
11 An open space one way, and an
enclosed space the other,
13 You couldn't buy a stopped
clock with this on the hire pur chase system. (Two words, 2,
15 Showing haw Bess won, though not unmoved, In the Lakes.
ed and drewn glittering object from 16 Two articles combine as a corner.
twirled
result of friction.
the
"See," he cried, "here is a good 17 Goes beyond free admission.
the 19 I'll give you "what for." Bilbao blade!" He rapier in his hand before he handed 20 If you don't want French meat, back and you'll get Abs send it
it to me, It certainly was a beauti-
ful piece of work. The slender blade, surprisingly flexible, was en-21 Pastel, (Anag.). graved from hill to point. It was 23 Always taken in good part, polished like fine silver,
•
24 You may obtain the vessel by weight in Switzerland, or in China.
The old man took the rapier "Look! Every Basque was a swords-27 Doormal material. man!" he cried,
asylum for an insane emperor.
and before my 28 Here is a succulent bivalve: call
In. astonished eyes he sprang into the only clear space in the floor and per- 29 This town affords a sultable formed all the passes of an accom- plished fencer.
Gone the old second-hand
WAS dealer, and I saw a Basque hero of old. I could never have believed the old man capable of such athletic movements
When
placed my 20s. on the counter and picked up my purchase the old Basque gave à parting shot.
"Take it for twenty!" he said. "And remember a Basque aristocrat."
I did and have,
Miller Watson
even,
32 Lounge-not oak-panelled. 33 This covering is generally pretty
but it could be evener. 34 Invalid.
a knave; un- It might be doubtedly gives pain with a glad ery. (Hyphen, 7, 4).
DOWN
35
2 We, having good sense, are in
France.
3 Though probably black, it can
enally turn to pink,
111
CROSSWORDS
4 Mean.
5 Pay more, till cash has been
collected for it.
0 Contre of learning on the out-
skirts of Easthampton.
7 Such wise sayings are deadly.
Lamb's tails, we hear, came from this...
8
12
tax for a king, perhaps, but
not one of the. King's Taxes.
14 A failing in duty.
15 In the belfry, perchance.
18 Useful lens.
22 Stay.
25 You'll have to get it into your
this before you write it down.
20 Though untidy, his heart is full
of love.
27 B.R.Y.
30 Oll-holding carili.
31 Look for an equal.
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