THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
GILES and CO. STOP OFF AT THE SALOON
"A pot of tea for three, please,"
THE STORY OF
SCOTCH
EVENTY years ago whisky.
was so little known out- Hide uf the Scottish Highlands that London Society was paid, it is said, 25 a week to drink it.
This year 8,000,000 gallons of It will be exported.
of
Three men took whisky out Scotland. They made it the world's drink, and it made them immensely "wealthy.
They were.........
THOMAS DEWAR, of Perth.
JAMES BUCHANAN, of Glasgow,"
- tamil
JOHN WALKER, of Kilmarnock.
Thomas Dewar worked with his brother John in a licensed grocery Business his father owned,
were wealthy
A few batties of whisky despatched every week to English sportsmen who had acquired a taste for it while shooting in Scot- land.
SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1948.
SIEGE LIFE' FOR 7,000
Anf wiedersehen to
gaiety and
and play.
By RICHARD MCMILLAN
BERLIN.
HIS is the saga of the siege of the British in Berlin. The chief difference from an ordinary slege is that there is no shoot-
ing; nor, we hope, is there likely to be any.
But that apart, the 7,000-odd British citi-
ILK.
1000 CLOTHING CHELTEN CHILDRENTE
EDUCATION
Which of You Would Pay the Bills?
zens here have to work and live and struggle Providing for your wife and family. They will never lack
DERHAPS the privilege you value most in life is that of
and scheme as if they wore holding out at Lucknow,
When I say this is different from an ordinary siege, I mean it. For example, when I went down to the "frontier" air the Soviet- British sectors I found that our adyance guard was a solitary British soldier altting in his armoured car reading a newspaper, while some British MPs (military polleemen) were crack- ing jokes with some Soviet redcaps-all very calm and pally.
Things they talk about
* The social life goes .on as usual. The British In Berlin in the past have been slightly spoilt. The married couples lived in luxury servants viling, with their bathing pools and and green lawns Afternoon tea and the cocktail party were the chief social diversions, followed by dinner at the club and some dancing and a few drinks.
WHISKY
And of the three men who poured it across the world
Lord Dawar
So I would go on until one day Dewar himself "would walk in and ask if they were interested in buy-
Other-merchants-had-similar-cou--ing-some-of-his-whisky-
necilons in the south.
"Certainly, Mr. Dewar," the All of them sent the liquor in manager would say. "Where have unlabelled bottles. The recipients you been all this time? My did not know whose whisky they customers are crying out for your were drinking.
whisky,"
Why not put a label on it?
One day Thomas Dewar had an Idea.
"Why not," he said, "put a label on the whisky we send out? If people like it they will be able to order more of the same kind."
Thomas and John had a few cheap while labels printed. They did not dream then that Dewar's White Label would one day be famous,
Thomas decided to exploit the English market while John stayed at home to develop trade in Scot- land.
Although London now drinks more whisky than any other city in the world, few people at that time knew Anything of the drink.
Those who did know the club- men, the retired colonels and sea captains-were all centred in the square mile of London's West End.
Dewar decided that these
were
the men he would have to cleal with.
To drink only his whisky
He contrived to get beyond the doormen and into the clubs. He ap proached members and told them who he waL
...
John Dewar and Sons, Ltd., be- came a great concern.
In 1002 Mr. Thomas Dewar be- enme Sir Thomas; in 1010 Lord Dewar.
In 1930 he died, at the pgc of 68, leaving £5,000,000.
Brother John become Lord Ferteviol, and he left £4,400,000.
While
young Thomas Dowar ho was dreaming of the money could make by putting a label on his father's whisky, another young
James Buchanan, weighing out grain for horses in a shop іл Parliamentary-rond. Glasgow.
man,
side
On the opposite streel there was a haulage tracting firm.
was
JOHNNIE WALKER, a picture of the famous trade label. The only pisture of the original John Walker in existence is a black silhouette.
by • QUIGLEY
JOHN
vell until one Everything went day he was thrown from-his horse und hind his arm broken.
Ho
Lord Woolavington
Today that is all changed. This is austerlly for the British in Berlin, and they don't mind in the slightest. because they realise that this is a test; and like other tests which the nation has faced they are prepared to do their share.
The wives still meet for afternoon tea and exchange current gossip- how the
the latest baby is behaving, how Mrs So-and-So has been taken to hospital because the young one s arriving sooner than expected, and maybe a little bit of scandal about So-and-So and his blonde German secretary. These are the chief topics of conversation among the British women of Berlin.
Bor:
Austerity "the British under siege in Berlin means fewer cocktails
soon almost every club will be drinkless-fewer afternoon teas-for there is big cut 14 domestic as well as industrial electricity-no dancing, and a blockout and a curfew. Early
to bed for everybody. Parties have been almost eliminated because of lack of petrol for cars to carry the guests.
..
I went to one cocktail party the other evening and the spirit of the guests was summed up by one ole gant little Scottish Control ""Com- mission girl, who declared: "Well, this is the last Invite I am likely to have for a long time, so I'm going to enjoy myself.**
Don't imagine that there is any such thing as "Apres moi la deluge" in the atmosphere. Nothing of the That is why a parcel containing kind. The British are not even con- a gold-headed walking stick arrived templating in the most remote way early this month at the office of Mt. the idea of having to pack their bags of the and begin, an exodus, either by bir ör Charles Hepburn, hend Glasgow firm of Hepburn and Ross," down the 120 miles of International- autobahn in Russon hands, which is whisky blenders.
the real source of the trouble.
It marked settling day in-a woger nade five months ago.
That day a visitor from London and walked into Mr. Hepburn's office. was taken to hospital told he would be there for a con- would
Hs was a stranger. He wore a siderable time. The doctor
padded-shouldered suit of the spiv- Lot allow him to read or write.
had visions Buchanan
of his type cut. hard-earned business vanishing.
Ife put his black Anthony Edon he was resourceful. He
hat on one chair ond bla night nurac to the correspondence from his hended stick on another. office.
He sat down at the far end of Every night while other patients
lelters. Mr. Hepburn's desk, and pulled out were asleep he dlctated
And a cheque book
fountain posted a She wrote them out and them.
Used nurse as secretary
pen.
his
gold-
"Mr. Hepburn," he said, "I am going to give you a surprise.
Halt! Trouble ahead General E. O. Herbert, the British commander in the city, is handling the problem of organising life behind the siego. In a kind of Tobruk slylo. General Herbert is one of those types of modern British soldier who give you confidence from the moment you begin to talk to him.
He knows all the answers. It does not matter whether it is Anance or coal, civic government or the number airliners of mill bottles or York avaliable-ho can tell you right off.
To ensure that there will be no prodigal use of petrol, General Her- bert has put petrol checks on all the "I am going to buy one thousand roads, so if your journey is not really in for trouble you are coses of whisky from you." he said.necessary
without a doubt. lle was in hospital so long that
Don't say "Now don't say It. shorthand so learned of the the nurse
You think I am going General Herbert hus put into force
Other austerity restrictions whitel anything. job more that she could do the
to offer you the wholesale, price. emelently.
are the closing down of all except You are wrong. Business expanded instead
one British hotel, and the partial or. complete closing of the officers" country club.
con-
of
The owner was a man named dwindling, and when Buchanan Wordle. Whenever any of his left hospital he married the nurse. horses died Mr. Wordin went to England to buy more,
Buchanan eventually
Ile
Jamos was a good mixer
"You Usink I am going to offer bought the you the retall price. You are wrong. Lowrie firm, and in 1922 he became I am going to give you 45s. a bottle." Lord Woolavington, dying in 1935 at the age of 85 worth £7,000,000.
Wallier. The third man, John was the first to send Scotch whisky to Australia.
Mr
"I am not
going to sell'
Hepburn tried to speak, But he said.
The stranger held
..
JESTS AND JEERS
up a well- There isn't much to see in a small manicured hand. "It is not enough? town, but what you hear makes up
All right. I feared that.
I am for it. going to give you 35s, a bottle." "But" suid Mr. Hepbum. "I see," said the stranger. that case 658,"
;
"In
Some people will believe anything long as it is the worst. about you
Adolescence is the period in which children begin to question the
answers.
was a reserved man, in-
He started as a small licensed capable of mixing well with others.
He was never
able to conduct grocer in Kilmarnock. Ambition set business amiably at the horse sales, his feet on the path to wealth. He that, ship soiling for He always
returned to Glasgow heard. feeling that he had been charged Botany Bay was asking for what too much.
was then known as "adventuro cargo." He saw that James Buchanan,
Here was a risk-an adventure. the
young man who sold him Walker took the chance.. grain," was always
Mr. Hepburn rose. It seemed the on the best of
He sent some of his whisky and terma with his customers.
only way to get his word in. wus rewarded by orders for more.
A foenl carpet
"Sir," he sold. "I am about to manufacturer
He paused.
The boss was urging his secretary decided it would be a nice business give you a surprise."
not going to sell you a
to postpone her marriage because of Keature to send a present to London."I am
'I'am not going to pressure of, work at the office. So Mr Wordle arranged that buyers-something typically Scottish, thousand cases. the next time he was going to an Walker suggested
"Can't you tell the young man to' a bottle of sell you a hundred cases. Dewar then outlined, his scheme. English horse sale Buchanan would whisky.
not going to sell you a single walt a few weeks?" he queried. To earn the. £5 they would each come along and entertain the far-
"No," bottle." have to take a certain aren, go into mére.
"Come, come,
that well" Mr.Hepburn," him he said she, "I don't feel I know. every public-house and hotel, and
said the stranger.
"Furthermore," said Mr. Hepburn, "I can tell you that you will get no whisky in Glasgow."
"Gentlemen," he said, "I will give each one of you £5 a week if you --will drink only, my whisky of De-
war's."
In those days £5 was an attrae- sum, and the entonals and cap- talna said: "Delighted, old boy; that's our hobby,"
live
ask for a Dewar's whisky." -
Ife could laugh, sing, and fell a story.
2
K
Carpets went to London after. that That with bottle rolled `inaldo. Buchanan went, but when he brought in more orders, and by the The plan worked in this manner. tried to buy the farmers a glass time the licensed grocer died at 52, An elderly colonel would walk of whisky at Mr. Wordle's exhis name was Armly established.. into an hotel and ask for a Dawar's pense he found it was
whisky,
"Nover heard of it, sir," the barman would Bay. The colonel would, nak for the manager.
And now they
unobtain-
able.
110 returned to Glasgow and
the whisky approached
scramble for it finn of
"What's this about never having. W. P. Lowrie and Co., Ltd.
I am
The sailor was relating his hair- raising experiences aboard a tor- pedoed ship. The dear little lady was listening wide-eyed."
"An there I sees a torpedo, lady, |headin" straight for us".
dear, she gasped.
ours!
Hollywood kids were talking
"I bet I do," said the stranger.
You bat?" said Mr. Hepburn. "Right. I will bet you now Anthony Eden hut to the fancy hope it was one of our Today the work of these three atlok you have there that you heard of Dewar's?" he would say, He told thom he would soll men stil stands White Label, don't *T can get. 11_In. So-and-so's round their whisky in England. Later he Black and White, and Johnnleged The stranger rose, smoothed hi as they walked home from school. the corner. - Finest⠀ whisky- that put on a label, which said: Walker are universally, famous suit, picked up his hat and stick WHI've got two" illile brotifers; and comes over the Border, pl
Buchanan's Whisky "It was at The whisky, they had to fight to "it's a wager") Mr. Hepburn," he one little sister boasted one. "How "Never drink anything else. It black-and-white label, and his well at 24. Od a bottle is now being said, and left, y m
many do you have?! I can't have Dewar won't drink whisky later became
mo... famous by zrought farkat black market; prices, my
brothers and One day, early this July. Me page don't have any that pame Hawkszerk days later a son captain JAMA Night clubs, If they are to con- Hepburt, holding the walking-slick, sleters, answered the second lad, ald, You know, no man who "but I have three papas by my first would walk into the same hotel When he had saved sumclent tinue in existence, must have
#KOK through: the same perior money, he bought life whisky direct whiky, so they are prepared to wo doesn't forget bet is probably mama and tour mamas by my last
¿from theźdiet!!
to any languissto mát It
hulle a good fellow at heart (-;-
anything that is within your power to give.
Have you faced the possibility that your life's partner may some day be left without you?
Have you provided so that you-and not she-would meet the costs of living for those who are loft?
You can make such provision through. life insurance. You can use it to provide à guaranteed monthly income that: will come in with cloeklike regularity,
Life Insurance arranged in this way is the most con-. venient and practical financial protection for your loved ones it is possible to provide.
THE
MANUFACTURERS LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY. (Established 1887)
HEAD OFFICE**
HONG KONG BRANCH
Tel. 34166, 34157
A
'TORONTO, CANADA
WINDSOR HOUSE E. J. R. MITCHELL, Manager for South China.
IT'S LIGHTER.....IT'S SMOOTHER...IT'S FASTER
SYNCHROMATIC THE NEW FINGER-TIP GEAR CHANGE, NOW FEATURED ON THE
HUMBER HAWK
PRODUCT OF THE ROOTES GROUP Synchromatic fingertip gearchange is the final touch of refinement to the performance, elegance and comfort for which the Hawk is justly famous.
Sole Distributors
GILMAN & COMPANY LTD.
MOTOR DEPARTMENT Telephones 56789 & 58800.
THE BEST OF TUBORG BREWERY
TUBORG LAGER
(GOLD LABEL)
THE BEER WITHOUT
Sole Agents
PEER
GANDE, PRICE & CO., LTD.
Bldg George HONG KONG