S
10
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST
"I.T.T"
ATURDAY night- half-past seven-street noines-flower girls chat- tering-a band playing Eric Conics® Knights- bridge" march-then the announcer shouting: "STOP!**
+1
The B.B.C. knows this pro- gramme as "I.TT." Listeners all over the Empire recognise it as "In Town To-night,"
Recently this very remarkable feature went into its 150th editiaza,
Only a hundred and fifty? But surely
Yes, an unpretentious, weekly half-hour feature has grown into a national Institution.
Since I was first heard On November 18, 1933, "In Town To- night hun been hurlesqued by comedians, the title has passed Into the language; gossip writer: úso it as a heading for Marka columns; advertisern tuve taken up to sell their products
The volera you hear la “ In Town To-night are the voices of prople you know the butcher, the baker the mids next door. And you star Just as much change of appearing In In Town To-night" as they do That is the great secret of UTT It knows 10 class distinctions Duck, dustmen
film stars and
= -Of-Work tragediana ure ! bundled lo the nutne prograin Kiven two rumiens and expenis015 for their trouble
B
UT in Town Tonight" wasn't always like that When Eric Maschwitz frat became Director of Variety and thought of the Idea the se it on a postcard from the Bouth of France, the feature wan lo- tended to a weekly Celebrity Corner It gave the job of pro- during it to the late Bil Hanson.
Gradually #1
found that
Wax
Story behind the B.B.C.'s
biggest triumph
celebrities had
-by-
SPIKE HUGHES
tiresome habit of not batur in Town on Saturday nights, so Hanson had to extend The Idea to make it lateresting.
Thun the first 1,TT, of all bore le resemblance to the present feature Edition One consisted of one or twn radio personalities and
hand directed by Christopher Stone
i
Certainly the band bad that
Twelve money-rant hay quality
fatious band leaders got together and made suelt ur appalling noise That latenting pooble decided I was a band unbruly would take us
RIFE
But for 13 that
Wan Celebstry Corner tha firat To: Town
Toit had 11 at the germ of what is to lay the len- Dures treatral reset spontaneity
When Bil Henson first sensed a slmontage of redebrities he looked amand for people wita "stories " odd verapatkans, abrange adven- Tures to tell
At first these turns" were pro- vided by BBC coliengues Some- body would hear of an unormal craftsman, bring him up to Brond- ensing House, hear his story, have
a seri mnde and put him on the nir.
Nothing was fixed longer that it werk hend. Nu seripts were re- hearsed any outlier than the mora - 1 or the breadcand
That rule still holds herwise "In Town To-ught" would lose its topfeality
TOWADAYS the pible Belps t much as any- budy in providing items for the programme, People wifi write in or call with suggestions and personal experiences.
The BBC will always see any- body who comes up and wants to be In Town To-night." Naturally bera une sormething good might be missed if they weren't seen
Football fans are the most per- sistent visitors. Whenever EL Northern team plays in Lamden there is regularly a handful al pa supporters doing the sights of the etty on Saturday morning
Broadcasting itouse is included In the tour. Suddenly half a dozen young men with caloured paper. huts and posetien realise that 10
WHY BLAME ENGLAND?
to
To return 10
train ways,
the general
fur
TN this article & propose du comtunt restinctively
- intly does not tend to advance the a deadly sin. I propose to ert- burich after a visit to London is like health or happiness of the nation. Scotland, and to make mume going back thirty years in time. The One wonders how soon those who ticise compariso between Seuts and capital of Scotland has recently been believe in national fitness are going English, which will not be as is the referred to as a "museum and a to notice that in Scotland, more than
She usual hob in Scotland all to the mausoleum.
is certainly, in in any other country, decent healthy her retusul to advantage of the former
rapidly games are tabooed on the one day progress, qunlifying as a museum.
of the week when inosi workers ore Before doing at, it is perhaps to The Minister of Transport recently free to enjoy them. me to explain the rement for stel referred. with mild surensin, to the temerity Admittedly it is ungracious fact that, while every up-to-date elly The Way to Betterment
attack anyone without pruvoen, in the world is strapping ton, and, also admittedly, it would there are two cities which appeland would be much enhanced by the The pleasantness of life in Scot- ben pity to foster any bad feeling consider themselves insuited if such
Imentioned. between sister nations of the Brileste a possibility f
general prevalence They ore Empire.
Edinburgh
followingt and on
things:...More courtesy and inconvenience autu
consideration to motorists with
others;
self-mailsfaction less amug by this with things Scottish as they are; habit among Scottish people, when
when particular piece of unprapressiveness thore
to alter and im- to find they du bring themselves
It would be difficult to calculate prove; less grim austerity and sour
Puritanism. loved Then, there are Edinburgh road sur-mouthed anything to criticise in their beloved
And these land, to blame England for il This faces-most Londoners under forty things affect not only the pleasant-
to me a very weak and un-
have never seen such cobbled roads. 1 of life, but the prosperity of I find also--but this Then there is Edinburgh street light- Scotland. If Ife in England is, in more genial and pleasant, educated circles- tendency to dis- Victorian London; and Edinburgh e pervaded by courtesy and hap
piness, and less shadowed by a sort parage England, and to use the word housing and town-planultig.
uf Party Victorian "English" with a slightly contemptu-
duliness and uus intonation which strikes me as the height of stupid impertinence,
Jor.
Glagow.
COUINE,
How much than
lo
My provention and excuse be in and discomfort in more willingness
the fart that find an increasing st the publ
publie
o chletly in ignorant and un- ing, anost of which reminda ons; of Reneral,
I think it is honestly true that life in Scotland is, in many ways, if one compares comparable things, poorer and inferior to life in England. And I think the Scots themselves are en- tirely to blame for the fort.
Here are some of the reasons.
The Value of Courtesy
I wonder what comparison can be gloom, you cannot wonder that the made between the beauty and best brains of Scotland are tempted
menity of many of the municipal southward, housing schemes around London and Scottish patriotism, insteud the dismul tenements beloved of weakly blaming England for Scol- Edinburgh.
lands froubles, should attack Scottish
Life is pourer and meaner in Seot-
land than in England because of all these thing--and you enanot blame England for any of them. Why is it that, while Scots tend to lead the world when they are abroad, in their own country they are so backward in making life generally pleasant is and unprogressive? courtesy. It has been written that
One of the most important factors
"Manners maketh man." It is cer- A Stern Rellyton tainly true that general good man-
ners make for pleasantness of life. It is unpleasant to attack things The manners of many Scots are which are revered by large numbers deplorable. Politeness actually seems of worthy people, but I cannot help to be considered "soft" Scotland. thinking that life in Scotland is made Bruscqueness and rudeness appear less happy than it might be by the to be mistaken for strength of char- Influence of a stern and Puritanteni acter. One of the first things one religion. This form of religion has
of
Kill-joys, prudes and haters of pro-
ress. For these are the people who are harming Scotland.
Brilon
is In-town-To-night-day and ask to see the producer,
The producer sees them. Usually their "turn" consists of no more tlinn wanting to say "Can you hear me, Mother?" but they are never refused an interview,
The prospect of appearing in "In Town
own To-night" hns 11 curious psychological effect on people. High-and-mighty celebri- ties who would never dream of roadcasting in the ordinary way Jump at the idea. And the higher- and-mightier they are the more they like meeting their fellow broadcasters.
URING the whole career for ITT these studio
the atmosphere of comradeship that you And 11: English railway carriages. Or anong passengers on R sinking alıp,
Perhaps Ordeni by Microphone
makes the whole world kin.
There 144 only one excep- tion.
A famous British nlm Atar complained of feeling uncomfort- able among all these common people."
But then, as Mike Mechan, the present producer of
Town To-night told me the other day: The only people who make bud citizens of London's Saturday nights are the "near celebrities " who aren't all that good.
To be the producer of "In Town T-
you have to be some.. thing of a nursaald as well,
Those who are most nervous of broadrast are usually men whe have had the most hair-ralinu: mafvetture: Women, as a rule. take it all quite calmly.
1998.
By Paul E
HOW IT BEGAN Berdanier
MAKE THE DIRT FLY
MOST IRISH IMMIGRANTS WHO FLOCKED TO THE U,S, BETWEEN 1850 AND 1880 WENT TO WORK ON RAILROAD OR BUILDING CON- STRUCTION. IT WAS THEIR CHAR- ACTERISTIC FAST WORK WITH PICK AND SHOVEL. THAT LED TO THE ABOVE. PHRASE, WHICH MEANS "TO DO THINGS WITH SPEED AND FINESSE.”
IN all Mike Mechin's Ex-CONSIGNEES' NOTICES.
SERVICES CONTRACTUELS DES
MESSAGERIES MARITIMES
perterer, however, the man who got mike-fright worst was a profesorul parchute-jumper Then) when it was all over the follow turned round and askest when he could broadest again, bermast he'd The Steamship enjoyed it ser trach,
Nearly Afteen hundred people have appeared in "In Town To- night. Their names, and the sub- Jeets they talked about, are listed In a folder at Broadcasting House.
They are grouped alphabetically under headings Tran Amateur Biagers" lo Unusual Occup- tions." The group called simply Miscellaneous" makes the best
reading.
Here, after the names, you find such gems aя: aventor of elec- trical flycatcher, three Guy Fawkes urchins, office boy with big ideas. modern Robinson Crusoe who lives on beach with his family, witty window elen ner, Mademoiselle fron Armentieres, triplets, Queen of Hastings and eight attendants, boy with largest earn, traveller in steam-rollers, " claims to have seen ghost."
LTHOUGH "In Town To-night" hasn't been exactly AL matrimoulai bureau, it nevertheless has its romantic side. Old friends have
been reunited as the result of A. hearing B. broadcast after all these years. This happens quite uften.
But the most characteristic in- eldent of all was never broadcast. was characteristic because it secins to me to express the feel- ings of nearly everybody who has been in In Town To-night,"
After One broadcast Mike Mechan accompanied one of his Interviewees-an old man-to the Mechan thanked him and said good-bye.
door.
"Thank you." replied the old man, and pressed sixpence into the producer's hand.
CANADIAN PACIFIC
STEAMSHIPS - HOTELS--
RAILWAYS
BERTHING PLANS FOR 1939 ARE OPEN
notices on visiting the South from deprived the Scottish nation of most MAKE BOOKINGS EARLY to secure accommodation desired Scotland is the generally superior of the happy and beautiful associa
great festivals of the courtesy of such people as shop as- tions of the sistants, bus conductors, and such- Christian Church. like. Those people do not seem to
think it necessary to "stand up for to discover that Christmas and Eas- It is astonishing for English people themselves" by being brusque or ter are hardly observed at all in surly in manner; and life runs more Scotland. Apart altogether from smoothly accordingly.
the religious significance of Easter, The contrast
consider what the working popula- particularly noticeable in children. The average tion of Scotland lose in happiness at English small boy is a perfect gen this time of the year.
V HO
to
is
tleman compared with the Scottish Of the luck of the Christmas spirit boy of a almilar class, but no doubt it is even harder to speak in mea- the latter would refer to the former sured terms. Christmas is, in Eng- "sissy"--because he knows how land, the happiest time of the year, nabe polite.
It is certainly a pecu- and even the most irreligious per- Har national characterisile, and one son must be affected by the univer wonders whether, even apart from sal spirit of kindliness it evokes. I its unpleasantness, it is really com- fail to see the associations of the monsense. For in many ways poll- Scottish New Year in any way take teness pays.
its place.
Scottish religion, while removing Tho cultivation of more general habits of courtesy would do much such happy festivals and holidays as to make life run more smoothly in these from the national life, provides Scotland. You cannot blame Eng- what it calls the "Scottish Sabbath," And its chief object seems to make land for the fact that Scotland legs that day as dull and diamal no possi- fn. this matter. And you cannot
blo. The Astonishing blame England If English shop the
thing is that which objects keepers, with their up-to-date ideas the very Church
of courtesy and public service, tend vides the lenst opportunities for
to any Sabbath la the
fa the one which pro-
to oust the old Scottish traders even
in the capital of Scotland.
Dislike of Change
ligious observance, English churches
are open, and used, for worship both
i
on Sundays and week-days far more than are Scottish churches, so that
The Scots at least those who stay it would hardly appear that the aur-
Scotland-must be one of the terity of the "Scottish
In
most
Sabbath"
unprogressive races in the advances the cousc of religion In world. Change seems to be disliked Scotland, And such austerity cer-
TO CANADA, UNITED STATES and EUROPE via Shanghai, Kobe & Yokohama EMPRESS OF ASIA
$7.00 a.m., Fri, Aug. 5, EMPRESS OF CANADA via Honolulu ....Noon, Thurs., Auz. 18. EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
7,00 a.m., Fri., Bept. 2. EMPRESS OF JAPAN via Honolulu ...... Noon. Frl.. Sept. 10.
Air-conditioned equipment on C.P.R. Trans-Continental Trains. Frequent Canadian Pacio Allantic sailings to European Ports.
TO MANILA
EMPRESS OF CANADA
Union
Building
Thurs. Aug.. 11.
Canadian Pacific
COUNT THE "TELEGRAPH C
EVERYWHERE
11
Telephone
20752
+
"PRESIDENT DOUMER" No. 19 A/38
froam
Bringing Cargo
Marselles vai Saigon, ele arrived Hongkong | on Tuesday, 2nd August. 1938.
Consignees are hereby
informed that their goods with the exception of Oplum, Treasure and Valuables are being landed und stored into the Godowns of the Hongkong Kowloon Whert and Godown Co., Ltd., Kow- loon, whence delivery may Cabluuned immediately after landing. All claims must be sent lự lo me on or before 12th August, 1938, or they will not be recognized.
Damages Packages will be examun- cd by the Company's Surveyor Mears-Goddard and Douglas in the presence of the Consignees at 10.00 am, ou Monday, 8th August, 1938.
Consignees must have a Revenue Officer in attendance when any duti- able goods are examined by Compony's Surveyors.
the
No Fire Insurance will be effected by us in any ense whatever.
R. ONL Agent.
Hongkong, 2nd August, 19248
N. Y. K. LINE
(NIPPON YUSEN KAISYA,)
Frum EUROPE and STRAITS, The Steamship
"HARUNA MARU." having arrived from the above ports, Consignees of Cargo
are hereby Informed that their Goods ore being lauded and placed at their risk in the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company's Godowns at
Kon, whence delivery may be
Goods not cleared by the 5th August, 1938, will be subject to rent. Damaged packages must be left in the Godowns for examination by the Consignec's and the Co.'s represen tatives on any Tuesdays and Fridays at 2.30 p.m. within the free storage. period. For the examination of damaged dutiable goods, the con- signees must arrange for a Revenue Offcer to be present.
All claims must be presented within ten days of the steamer's i arrival here, after which date they cannot be recognized.
No claims will be admitted after the gouds have left the Godowns.
No re Insurance has been effected. NIPPON YUSEN KAISYA. Hongkong, August 2, 1930,
“TELEGRAPH "
WAR MAP
A specially prepared
map of the Northern
War Zone in China,
152 by 11 inches,
printed on art paper.
Price 20 cents Postage cxtra.
BERDANIEL
RAILROAD SAFETY RULES
FIRST SAFETY RULES FOR RAIL- ROADS WERE ADOPTED BY THE UTICA AND SCHENECTADY LINE IN 1837. AMONG THE REGULATIONS WERE THOSE OF DISPLAYING A WHITE LIGHT FOR "ALL RIGHT” AND A RED LIGHT FOR “STOP— DANGER AHEAD.” MOST OF THESE RULES ARE STILL OBSERVED
Swan, Culbertson
Frith ста
Investment Bankers and Brokers in Securities and Commodities Daily New York and London Stock Exchange Service Commodity Futures on the principal American markets Members of
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Ofices: Shanghet, Manila and Singapore
OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS
16
116
27
29
43
ACROSS
+
120
gut, too
1 Obscured from fishi
(three words-3, 2, 5). 6 Foud for Rules or birds (4).
10 The warrior should easily make
it clean (5).
11 No epithet for the dreamer (D). 12 The argumentative all want it
two words, 4).
13 A source
ment (5),
of sound entertain-
10 This time is unknown to Big
Ben (7).
17 Sounding harsh (7).
10 Sultable garment for a slave- driving employer to wear (7). 21 Put 1 across (7). 22 Trophies with which many a
toss has been won (5). 24 Part of a bicycle but not always
(0).
27 Hurd-hearted, and fish-hearted
(9).
28 An elephant posibly (5). 20 Fed about this is fed in stylo
(4), 30 Yes capital sport In Borneo
(10).
DOWN
1 Look like a bit of a dog lead
(4).
2 "Snit in tes" (anag.) (0).
3 Jack will tell you his will never
this curtalled (0),
4 Movo in better direction (7).
6 If this mean fellow loses noth-
Ing he becomes harder (7).
7 After the Derby the winner has
this, of course (5),
#17
199
126
8 This may help a creditor la re- cover some of his money (three words 4, 2, 4).
9 Set off a
vessel for the chief Item (two words-4, 4).
14 Wherein growing affairs are
forced to yield (10).
10 Could one say the Australian cricketers were this before they met England? (8).
18 This omission is open about a
sign of regret (0).
20 The old-clothes man's favourite
music? (7).
21 The gun, or the gunman may
be this (7).
23 One of the Williams (D).
26 Mediterranean island (5). 26 Lookt enough to upset the dance
(4)..
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION DMJO DB ATM DEVONPORT BALL
L8 UASAN"JUJ CATHOLIC MADAME
YUE
EARN MANAGING
DELOLAWEIN FORESEE AT 18SUB
"WA SKYE M INCREASE NIP B
RNYDAAPC
VIEILE PECULIAB
GNS EI_IE* THIGH BRITANNIA
: