T
DAB
AND FLOUNDER
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1947.
by Walter
BEWARE
DOG
or thi
Thinking Aloud PAUL HOLT
writes from a city with a hang-over
EDINBURGH. HIS God-fearing,
deep thinking city is fast asleep. Shops and pubs are shut and the loveliest mile in Europe, Princes-street, still prettled with flowers and tartan banners, is
left to a cat and an empty tram.
This city has a hang-over. For the three past weeks, while the world stirred and fid- geted at the thought of the pains of winter to come, like a matron ín a dentist's waiting room, Edinburgh has been hilarious and self-important and faintly hysterical in contemplation of her own affairs,
For Edinburgh has had a festival, and a festival means culture, and culture is a drag.
to
The crowds that used to flock Edinburgh came to see a Calcutta Cup game at Murray- field. They were happy and simple and bone-headed, and their tribute to Scots culture was to drink a half-and-half, which is a small whisky with a half-a- bitter chaser.
The New Crowds BUT the crowds that are leav
ing now came to hear Wal- ter's Vienna Orchestra, and Louis Jouvet's company play in French.
Up on the hill that leads to the Casile the ghostly voice of John Knox thunders his con-
of such goings on, demnation but the citizens of Edinburgh do- not hear this ancient, being just now drowsy in the arms of the Muses,
where
vast and
To the Georgian Assembly Rooms, customary scene of hunt balls, regimental and clan gatherings, heiresses, fartan-sashed gently prespiring, danced eight- nome reels until the dáwn, have, come fiddlers and poets, actors and impresarios,
The
worde
DAYDREAMS BY 5,000
By James
Bartlett
HEN people start day- dreaming they think of friends they knew, places they lived in, and how
how would you like to spend an ideal day? Read what others say
Mrs Dangerflold, from London with husband home to midday meals S.W. says: As a busy housewife nice it would be for a big car and a year-old daughter to look to drive up at the front door after, should like to feel glamorous and take them for a trip (1) just for one day, to know that my round London, (2) through the did five years ago, when I had more Inoks, hair, hands, looked as they countryside.
a day in a lighthouse.
011
time to think about them,"
Absent friends
Now, who are the friends you
day in Walca "because I've never seen a mountain, and my husband back from India keeps talking of the Himalayas."
would like to see on an ident day's outing? These postcards speak
Down in Surrey Mr. Holt is aching mainly of daughters who have mar. to spend a day at Llanfairfechan.
1,800
What About the London-boünd trippers? They would tour all the usual alghts (including a tour of Broadcasting House, and a look inside Buckingham Palace), see the
my son is getting on."....
thele fainly into luxurious cushioned seats and set off for This particular batch
somewhere Claridge'a, then see one of Norman of "day's without bothering about bus queues, Hartnell's mannequin parades. outings makes nearly one-third of folding push-carts or rallway station the postcards. It is a stranger's jus.lings. guide to the British.
Nothing else? There are some wishes. Some people, like Mr Mitchell, of Sidcup, can think of no better day's outing than a trip on the footplate of any British railway engine. Some people would like to spend ried and gone abroad, sons stationer Whenever his wife sees a sunset in shops, cat in the best places, and end
verseas, wartime acquaintances who Surrey she sighs and says: That with a show. They mention "Okla There are lone dreamers about made life cheerful in lonely places. Would look lovely in Llanfairfechan," homa!" most.. rare pleasures.
... Naw Zealanil
He has never been there. She has. visitor who would love to start his A day with "the wonderful people
A fair sample of their Ideal day's day talking with authority on
of Nova Scotia, where I spent two
Now we come to the big car at outing is summed up by Mrs. Chinese
North Lon: happy Spramics most popular member
during R.AF. train the front door. There is no argu- Northern, of Kettering Northants. The track led mysteriously downdon's Air Hougham, who dreams of
years
about it. More than the Government today
A day in Stornoway ment Sir through La
browning bracken Into a meeting Sir Stafford Cripps for "with my old mine-laying shipmate." readers dream of a day when they while my husband was shown round "I would go to a beauty parlour Stafford Cripps, because he came wood glen that nursed a shallow, hat about
Bing Crosby... the ...A day in Gibraltar to see how could walk out of the house bundle geotland Yard. We would hunch at and sald what he meant in plain brown trout stream, and there, in reader in Kent who would asend the
with Ogures.
the sheer rock face, 10 feet above, whole day in Somerset House look- the stream, was hole.
Perilously
ing up his ancestry. alambered down and in, and there met Mr Jolus Gray Kitchle, owner and custodian of the precious relic. The cave is just u
round euve,
and empty. But caressed by Mr Ritchie's ready tongue It rapidly became
me a pre- historie stronghold, a dungeolf prison No, Noel, you cannot be of luckless Border elter
i
elieftains. shop steward.
The ... 1 propose that no
chains clanked, the wind West End ran
longer soughed shall last
Boise of distant than a month, m we can all go to horamen became a
re first nights. ... And fest-
Here Bruce brocathy army. night telegrams be sent only to fully Through that spyhole he peered pard up members.
for the approach of his enemies, Mr Ritchie soared to his peroration.
"This cave," he cried is borb- pool, gas-proof, alom-proof--it is I said shyly, "has it got
A worried look carne into Mr Ritchie's eyes. He got down on all
No, no, no! AT Sport our
new masters, the T. U. C., regarded favourably the idea of a working party for the theatre. 1 woull love tu allend
une....
No. Noel, you cannot be frater delegate to the New York Theatre Guild.... I propose
Mist Stini 6848.
that Maggie Lockwood be elected
ww
No
cannot buy Godfrey a Tarle a new chor for his yacht out of public funds.... 1 propose a capital lety on Jack Hylton... No, Noel, you cannot be curator the stately homes of England.
of
I propose that all erities be screened before they are allowed to onter the theatre.
No, Hermione, you cannot be a governor of the B. B. C. I propose we have a Theatrical Garden Party Southport next
year.
1
(n
Sir
Sir
fours.
and
For five minutes he
around the
crawled
cave, silent, breathing rather hard. Frogs jumped out at Us, dead leaves made ghostly rus.les behind us.
The
light began to fail. Suddenly Mr Ritchie gave out a hoarse cry. He shalding nger pointed. There, there, silhouetted in the spyhale, there hung... a spider.
In the margin
I prpose we send - Ivor good will
mission to that Man Who could doubt now that it was Shinwell-why, I took four curtains Robert the Bruce's cave? Certainly positively without one spotlight kist mot I
we send niste propose
Flash as our next ambassador Hurry to the Argentine he could handle Eva beautifully.... Why, hello Sir VERHEARD at the hotel break- Stafford, yes, we're getting along
fast-tuble: splendidly.... But would you speak talking severely to his wife.
An old eraman (o Brasil! ENSA....!
"We know, of course, dear,
that God works miracles, you think you
He wants
to
revivo
Bruce's cave WANDERING innocently along the up a notice which invited me to genuine
road near the Border. I came
visit one-- und -only- zaraque and authentic cave of Robert the Bauce. I accepted.
MOST
Cinderella, 1947
PUT the general pattern through 5.000 postcards from readers of daydreaming covers old Friends, familiar places, and car trips. In that order.
They are not ambitious. Why
"Dinner at the Ritz, a firstnight - Where to? That starts the argu- show-perhaps with Leonard Mosley How we do spread! Family links ment, Out of London into The or Paul Holi- night club supper,
even when lay strong
they are country say 100 postcards, Out of then hene...with a jug of water strolelled say from 83-year-old Mrs. The country into London, say the and some aspirins." Pharail's home in Billericay, Essex, rest. to her daughter's home in Vancouver. British Columbia, where Mrs. Pha- ral's Ave grandchildren Ind
should they be? Cinderella never great-grandchildren sill
dreamed that
might be a "home." she All princess.
she wanted was to get away from the housework for a few hours and have a gay time" at the local ball.
This old daydream is just as new for 1947 when Cinderella is tied up with the children to look after in own remi-detached castle. And sistera sit behind the the wicked typewriter or serve in sine of the shops.
Mrs, Collins
Stars to meet would step out of door three her front
Marlborough, Wits, and say: "Straight to Land's XIOM would you hear about
End, please." Somebody else could
because,
she adds: don't want to come back."
Places
revisited
like to meet?
Fields, Stewart McPherson, David Niven...this really leads into the THE places people dream about are across England from Essex to Wes- dream of spending
Mr. Berridge would drive right wishes of about 300 readers who not strange, fantastic regions, ton-super-Mare. That
their day in a Look through the next largest group perfect, he thinks, particuarly if the
Dim studio, meeting stars and pro-. of postcards...A day in Canterbury could have brown bread, "where we spent our honeymoon 12 and elder during
crayfish ducers, the day, and a years ngo because my husband pot of tea and a haddock when he wanted to watch the cricket."...A got home,
have a lift on the return journey, Winstan Churchill, Gracie
This might provoke
a holy war ... by
Dewitt Mackenzie
would
Many want to spend the day out- doors with Bernau Wicksteed and Chapman Pincher,
•
Many readers dream about a day' at the races, though it in left to Mrs. Stafford, of Oxford, to dream that she will get a winning tip for every race of the afternoon.
In the daydreams of these 5,000 postcards a reasonably good, magi-. clan would need" little abracadabra to make them real. They are sim- ple pleasantries.
lost that brooch
But not alone. If
But though my invitation ruled out advanced stuff like "trips to the moon," a few of the daydreams THE United Nations is That tragic fact becomes in- The position thus is that the UNO
might keep a magician awake at essaying a tough role
in creasingly adjudicating the
clear as the world because the British will not carry
must arrive at some definite decision nights. Jewish-Arab
organisation
Scores Cautiously on
of readers otherwise. And the decision controversy over Palestine.
must be backed by sufficient force from Southampton
want to sail in the Queen
behind the chair on the promizzade Its decision, no matter what manoeuvres through hearings to maintain peace imit the establish- Mary or Queen Elizabeth, then be Jast night, then ru must go right fit may be, must be backed by a on the highly-controversial re- ment of the new regime or regimes lifted off at the end of the day by out and help God find it." protective armed force if fur- port of the Special Committee in the Holy Land. It is a dangerous hoverplane. new drink dry martials overlooking ther bloodshed is to be prevent on Palestine, which recommends has beca rendered all but impotent-Seures want becile-air trips so that
problem, especially since the UNO the fell at Troutbeck where once
The that the country be divided into by the fight between the of a day John Peel's horn sounded
any separate states-one Arab and bloc and the Western democracies.
Depressing travel-note: You TIKAY
so early in the morning.
ed in the Holy Land United Nations has not larmed force is yet.
MODERN ROBIN HOODS
By JOHN SHIPTON
There's also that Etotle bus driver
the other Jewish.
Russian
Che
they can eat breakfusts lunches, din- ners, suppers in places hundreds of niles apart.
Enough to eat
Indications are the Jews
It is doubly dangerous because would accept this as a mini- Palestine is strategically situated, mum requirement. The Arabs, not only militarily, but in its rela-FOOD keeps coming into these And the Exlinburgh folk have
5,000 daydreams. Mind you, come, too, to talk counterpoint
however, insist there must be tlons to vast oll regions-and and decor, to gossip and squai-
only one state, and that one is great powers are vitally interested. nothing greedy!
It is trebly dangerous in that 21 ble and tattle-tale just like the
for Arabs. In support of this conflict involving Palestine Araba rey, sums it up: "Just for one day Mrs Maunder, of Coulsión, Sur-
Bohemians do.
Μα English speaking done or a good turn with no hope of
claim they advance the argu- might draw in surrounding Moslem I would like to eat my own rations And to drink, for art is a peoples have followed
Remember the magnificent who loves children, goes out of his ment that they outnumber the eventually involve many countries in Michael needs the butter, Laurle
states-as has been threatened and without at reward?
the awful feeling that great toper.
one time or other the quixotic exploits which won Victoria Grosses, way to put them off at the right stop, Jews about two to one. They the terrors of a holy war. It was to be expected that as adventures of Robin Hood and and then think of ordinary everyday is youngsters to sitfety on the pave have the backing of the neigh world would have had its all of war, as I was pre-war, a tiny fillet steak.
George Medals and other
father the the egg
bacon. And and even the extent of carry- as these decent, douce his merry men. True it is that kindnesses or actions which do
One might have thought that the could I have, please, a glass of milk people noticed that the eyes of of all England's folk heroes make the headlines. These are apt reward is the gratitude of parents
not ment-even if his bus is late. His bouring Arab staten.
but apparently it has not yet had a large cream ice, and a Alice of the world were upon them, pride none has held popular imaging to escape general notice, and for this who entrust their children to
chocolate cake?" enough, Associated Press. Both sides have made it un- in their lovely capital city, too tion so firmly ns this beloved the starting of a new organisation hands.
reason # encouraging to learn of care knowing they are in the right comfortably clear that they are long taken for granted, would bandit, be he legendary or not termed "The League of Good People grow, and with it some stirring
medieval
prepared to defend their claims outlaw who modern Robin Hoods." I'll just
No, the Robin Hood spirit is not with arms.. of Scottish, nationalities.
sought refuge in the woods, quot two cases to show what r dead. It comes to the surface again lived off the King's door and mean robbed the rich to help the
80011
But this latter surprisingly never grew beyond civic bounds, and showed itself only in slight peepings that more Scots com- posers were not put up to rank with Haydn and Mozart.
out.
It has all been a grand success and Salzburg had better watch
The Lard Provost Slr John Faker, who looks on though he tad just been painted by Raeburn, went on his loer overy night and prayed for good weather and got
IL
pour.
THE TAXI DRIVER
awards
hailed a taxi and was recommised by practically nothing. the driver as a former fare.
his
of
m the way two 13-year-old boys from a Council school have been ac- cepted into the playing felda Elon. They are two Dorset xx- In dealing with some other situa What are popularly regarded Taxi drivers are much-maligned primary schoolboys, Colin to be the facts of his life are to A clergyman was leaving a London entered Elon
Adlam men, but what do you think of this. und David Read. They have
tlon, the UNO might take such dc- just clarations as bluff. But neither the be found in the "Little Geste of bospital after visiting his vote.
under મ bursary Arabs nor the Jews are, bluffing Robin Hoodprinted about 1495
Ht scheme which
cost their
parents when they say they will fight. We by one of the first English prin-
have proof of their determination in "Got someone ill in there, sir?"" the
the innumerable outbreaks of racial ters, Wynkom de Worde. It is
When the Eton Headmaster, Mr
Jast strife in Palestine during the driver asited. a book of folk ballads thought
CA. Elett, inquired about their "Yes; my wife."*/
quarter of a century. progress, he was told by his masters: to be about the outlaw. As,
"Hope she's or the mend soon,
They'r settling down splendidly, The situation has been Tendered however, the historical air,"
Just like any other boy." The more tense as a result of the recent chronicles of the Middle Ages. On arrival at his destination, the headmaster is a great bellever in broadcast appeal by, the Irgun Zvai
and Up, but..
the two boys should be treated just nation, to all. Palestine Jews to cori- now points to the fact that
"Only what's on the clock, sir. like any other boys at Eton.
vene a consiřtutional assembly and Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Maid said the driver firmly. "You'll need
form a previsional government fer Marian and the gang and their every penny If your misses is ill
SETTLED DOWN
the whole country. adventurous tilts with the
the same; good luck, sin" Sheriff of Nottingham were all cabman drove off smiling.
And slipping in the clutch, the been placed in the "house" of Mr our blood, why do it for a partition- Read, of the Middle Fourth, has "It we must 'wage war and shx mythical.
Then there's that, North
Country A. Brocklebanks, who stroked the ed Palestine and not the whole of deed. Wearily pushing his Cambridge boat and, attempted to it?" the broadcast asked, punctured bicycle, a youn!!
climb Mount Everest. Both man
now The Irgun openly declared that
In days like these of "Don't care do not mention him, everything stergymen prepared to pay the fare the bursary scheme and insists that Lum!, Jewith underground organi-
and
"What's the use?" and
Isn't our fault," the sturdy Festival enterprise has all my pralce..
On their minds
Проп
S fortnight I have beeri wandering vaguely through the loveliest part of England Ustoning
to pub-talk and table talk and train talk.
MYTHICAL AND REAL
Thanks all
Good
T
The British have 05 estimated
wasn't feeling too good. He'd boys, on arrival at Eton were shown it was resuming its campaign of Yes, Robin Hood was an elusive already walked seven miles as for to their rooms by the matron. They violence against the British. occupa- personally, for it is not the charac- as Chadderton, Lancashire, and had found cach had his own combined tion--a warfare which has resulfed So far as I could hear, people fer of any single man. It is some- another 30 miles to go to Nelson. And bedroom study. Read found that in much bloodshed and destrua lon have only two subjects on their thing bulit up during an age which there was to lamp on his machine, his tutor was the Rev. D. Wild, who
did not care to distinguish between minds.
But good fortune was with him. won the MM at Dunkirk. Reed and Cancellation of the baste petrol Hood in fact, represents the
the mythical and the rol. Robin He felt m with Mr and Mrs Robert Adiam, like the other boys, discurs- rallon: This they consider to character of the common Englishman troubles. Result: He was taken to they already have a good know- Ideal Cooper. They inquired about his ed what subjects they would take be a thoroughly dirty trick. It in the Middle Ages. There was his their home. While was necessary they feel they might tecting of independence, his disgust mended his puncture and found him geometry and were shown the ins- the moment, but
Mr Copper lige of French, Latin, algebra and 10,000 troops in the Holy Land at London has on- have had ample warning. They
at corruption, his sentiment for ad- a think they have been tricked.
a lamp, Mrs Cooper got him a good and-outs of the college, its customs, nounced definitely that it
bellores venture, and his resolve
a mandate over Paltaine Conscription of labour:
to resist supper AND sandwiches for the rest and its lay-out, This is
should not unpopular, 'na you might weli Byranny-all. characteristics which of his journey and this despite all They have just started fagging. A will be withdrawn if the United be terminated and that Its troops zomain in the common man of our rationing difficulties. imagine, because it takes away the Britala today and his neighbour. Then they noticed that they lad and Read among the mass of boys arrive at a
senior boy tried to point out Adlam Nailons General Assembly does not free-born Englishman's liberty. It
What proof have I for this bold was wearing only a thin shirt and passing through the cloisters. is hated because in it is seen, a statement? There is evidence of it it was getting chilly after the heat awfully difficult to point them out," Jews and Arabs.
solution satisfactory to "It's Machiavellian plot by the T. U. C. un all sides in the crisis-airieken of the day. So a suitable Jacket, ho confessed, "because they are just to press-gong- Workers into unions, Britain of ours these days. Who was found, and at about 11 pm. We like any other chap here." Thin agaha is regarded as a dirty has not felt that pleasant glow of set off again in an altogether happier soima that-Dion's two new chapa So it satisfaction at a day's work well frame of mind.
trick.
have settled down,
The British declared that they undertake the taste of imposing a were not themselves prepared to policy in Palcaling by force of arms, 1.
SIDE
GLANCES
By Galbraith
COPE, 1997 BY NIA BERVICE, ING. T. AL RED, U. B. PAY. OFK
"All right, I'll lend them the monoy-hore, you'd better give it to thom because the job is all yours of gotting it back!"