1931-11-17 — Page 7

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1931.

TOCK TOCK! TOCK TOCK!

- Are You A Tock Tocker?

THEN DO SOME TOCK TOCKING.

By Arthur Ransome.

THE

CHINA MAIL.

they wore able, but that he did it AUTOMATIC BEACON forbidden to exceed. There was

much better. Those who ancored were merely envious.

And, of course, there is real sense in "tock tocking" if you have some- thing to any and want to collect your audience. The grand crier who goen "bentin' him drum and bangin' him bell, but saying nut'n, nuth at all, because him hab nut'n to say is the type of the "tock toker" for "tock tock's" sake. But let him have a declaration to make and the louder he beats his drum and bange his bell the better, lest we who are inattentive should not hear him, To-day, unhappily, this distinction is seldom made. "Tock tock" in heard at a great distance and from all directions, but usually when we listen to it "tock tock" is ail we hear, for what is important to the noise-producer is not the

Robot Airway Lights.

Ja daily bout to and from Gravesend. at twopence each passanger, pro- vided that there was a load of. twenty-four persons; to Erith for a ponny; to Greenwich and Woolwich'

A special display of the methods for a farthing; to all places be and apparatus employed in the tween Lamboth and St. Mary

lumination of aerodromes for Ovaries, a farthing night flying ia now being staged at

Not many years after the end of the West-end offices of Imperial the 'sixteenth century coaches Airways in Charles Street, Lower began to be seen in the streets of Regent Street, London, and is at London, and were viewed with The popular magazines that are Bradman's bat echoes from the Oval

tracting considerable attention, no friendly eye by the boatman, chiefly bought on railway journeys to the Antipodes. A politician

The display includes models of the who were quick to see that the new are, in Britain, made up as sand- stumbles on a silly slogan, and it is

most modern serial lighthouses and convoyances might seriously inter- wiches, a thin stratum of atorics us if the whole aky were a vast

flashing beacons, many of these fere with their river business. and articles between two fat slabs sounding-board above his head.

Intest airway lights being fitted For not only was the Thames of advertisement. In Amerien their And he likes it. In this

over

with automatic controls, operated by largely used for transport of all construction is a little different. whelming world to be heard and

light rays from the aun. They kinds boween places at a distance There the stories and articles start echoed over grent distances is al

light themselves up automatically at from one another, but the small in a bunch among the early pages. most enough to persuade a man that

dusk, and extinguish themselves portion thereof which washed the Each one sets itself to get an an- there must be something in what

again with the advent of daylight wharves and landing-stairs and cient mariner's grip on the atten- he says. For everybody to know quality of the noise but the distance the following morning. These robot terraced gardens of the city itself tion of wedding guest or commer- what he is doing prevents a ninnut which it can be heard. To some lamp-lighters have, indeed, now was always thronged by wherrles cini traveller or other rattway pas- from feeling small, as otherwise he extent. I suppose, we are all alike been brought to such a state of conveying passengers from cno senger and to get it in a page or might. Yet, when you come to in this, "Tock tock! Tock tock! perfection that they even light up part of the town to the other, from a page and a half, when it breaks think of it, most of the people who TOCK TOCK! I hope you can off abruptly, "to be continued" 60 get into the newspapers-criminals, hear me. or 100 pages farther on, among the lawn tennis players, footballers, advertisements. The object seems cricketers, betrothed couples, entch-a to be to make sure that the aders of the biggest eels, golfers who vertisements get read. This shows hole out in one, film-sturs-do not

This company le on that American шivertisers are at themselves meet all those who have

hear their "tock to Manila this afternoon, having! heart much more modest than one had perforce to would suppose. British advertisers | tock." The effect of the pub-completed a successful season at

They Ket do not even pretend that they need licity.

(eliminating the Star Theatre in Kowloon. The commercial values) must farewell performance, last night, the stories and the articles to draw mere

altering to some as has been the case at every one attention to themselves." They are be indirect

the attitude adopted of their performances, attracted a very well aware that what human degree beings like is human nature, and towards them by their friends. Yet large and enthusiastic house, which was brought down time and again, especially by Rex Story, who did more than one way. The it in

that there is much more human na-

are to be found in the advertise- ment pages of a magazine then in the merely literary flavouring mat- ter sandwiched in somewhere in the middle. I could give dozens of ex- in particular de- 'amples, but one

lights me by its simple, direct appeal and its frank recognition of

We have changed all that. They are living up to their elders. The toy la model speedboat, very in- genious and effective. But I am concerned not with the thy, clever though it is but with the advertise-

their friends would be the first to

HOLLYWOOD HI-LIGHTS.

ita

the aerial beacons on the approach Eaat to West, from City to West- of a heavy cloud, extinguishing minster, from Westminster to the them again as soon as the cloud has Temple, from the Temple to the passed over. Such automatically. Tower, as well as from many points controlled aerial lighthouses will on the Middlesex shore to other continue in operation for six month points on the opposite bank from way without attention.

Lambeth down to Rotherhithe.

Another marvel in the science of The watermen, like the workmen of illumination is the lighting of the Ephesus, saw that their craft was landing areas at air-ports with in danger, and many a bitter at- floodlights of over 1,000,000 candle-tack was made on the new-fangled power, which produce an illumina-coaches.... It was a great deal of tion equivalent to 75 per cent of pather, however, about nothing |In particular, for the watermen's day-light. routes and air-ports," said an off-growing use of carriages for many "The scientific lighting of air trade was little affected by the

clol of Imperial Airways, "has now years after this date-From their many floral tributes, ere the cur- made it as easy, and as safe, to "Bygone, London Life," by G. L.

Was finally rung down, alight by night as by day.” tain tangibly expressed appreciation. of the artiste'a good work. That ap-) preciation was well said in flowers. It wan a long programme to

know of their performances. With that, in the past, they would have had to be content.. Are friends a little more obsequious be- has been Cause the "tock tock"

I should heard beyond their circle. doubt it. I should suspect that it might work just the other way, so

without

certainly broad and

LONDON WATERMEN OF OLD.

'.

Apperson.

A GERMAN.

Our Grey Flannel

Bags."

London is the most moral capital A In the whole world.

20

The cry of "Ours," or "Bont, BRITONS AS SEEN BY one of the characteristic instincts of that for the sake of their "tock which the last night audience was! bost," no longer resounds from the this age. It is an advertirement of lock" being heard at a distance the entertained, the curtain not being | river bank. now faced with massive a loy. Children in the past were seekers of publicity put up with a reached until the midnight hour granite, where, formerly, flights of supposed to be seen and not heard new element that affects their per-struck. The programme presented, stairs leading from riverside lanos

soul relations and turns their and followed through

Ac-hitch, was good-distinctly good in were to be found in goodly num- and streels to the flowing Thames friends into acquaintances. quaintances, at least, are readier to parts, moat

bers. We speak of the Thames And a man latter.

really busy spicy in others.

little The Misses Betty Benn and Patsy "ellent highway"; but from

with more or less accuracy as the "tock tocking" might feel

at meeting his Shannon, and the Misses Peggy period little more than a century uncomfortable ment. In thick black letters the friends who know him as he is, un- Chaun and Isabel O'Brien deserve ago, back to the days of the Tudors every circumstance of life, sponds;

The Briton, in any and advertiser announces, not, as per-enhanced by reverberation.

especial praise; the first two men- and their predecessors, the river nons behind the times might expect, I wonder if the instinct for pub-tioned for their Violin harmony was much

little or a sovereign with as more emphatically а that his toy is silent, but, on the city has been with us always, and number, and the others for their highway-above bridge, that is to

much heartache 19 the German contrary, that it makes a noise: if the only reason why we are more dance numbers.

that Juggling Jester, and the Mantell's was hardly the adjective that could than in Germany, and the standard

Dr. Foster, the say than it is now, and "silent" spends five marks (5s,) "Continuous 'tock lock' heard for conscious of it to-day in

There is more money in England mechanical contrivances have New Manikine

were other turns have been applied to the conduct of living is a trifle higher, but if great distance."

that everybody's above the ordinary. Rex Story and of the waterited and lightermen, brought it about

We Germans had tho Briton's house in rare good humour.

turesque "language" was prover. bial.

as he does. The London waterman of old

These are some of the opinions : were a very numerous body; and expressed by Dr. Karl Silex, a well- the constant coming and going of

known German journalist who has of the boats with their wares, the

lived in London for six years, in ap-competing cries of the oarsmen for an interesting book published call-

custom, and their

exchange

ed "John Bull at Home" (Harrap,) salutations on the landing stairs, 88. Gd.)

his age and knows its "tock tock". is heard at a greater Rose Lee raised laughs and kept the whose capacity for varied and plc-money we should live twies as well!

doubted his own

The man who wrote that is the child of children. He knows that if speed-distance, Or was it, perhaps, true boats were invisible and silent most that in uges of faith, when no one survival beyond of their attraction would be gone.

IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS. It is not enough to go fast. Every- the grave, there seemed to be leas body's attention must be called to point in making a noise in the pre- the speed at which you are going. sent? To-day it must be admitted

Perfect is an anecdote Heem Bureat of a Clemenceau, when he was The farm-boy on the motor-bicycle that those who takes pleasure in its noise, "a con- lasting share of eternity do not pointed Minister of the Interior tinuous "tock tock' heard for a great neglect such publicity as is within in 1911, going to make acquaint distance," so that Annie In one val- their reach. The hot-gospeller re-ance with the department, and ley knows that Billy is whirling up turning from a crusade during being conducted over it by the the hill out of another. That, of which, we were told, he had been chief. Everybody of the first course, is romance, and no one would "kidnapped in a coffin" meets her two rooms was out having an grudge it her any more than on

son not in private but on a stage be aperitif or dejeuner, and in the winter evenings he would grudge her fore a vast audience. The Dean of third room there was only one the pleasure of seeing the glow of St. Paul's is not content with his clerk at his desk, and he was the searchlight flashing nearer over pulpit but "tock tocka" as loudly as fast asleep:

the woods as her lover comes to anyone outside it. It used to be meet her, riding his noisy comet. the fashion to sneer at the clever But, alas! it is not for Annie's ears "tock tocking" of Mr. Bernard alone that Billy makes a noise in Shaw, but it is clear enough to-day the world. His opinion of himself that the only difference between him goes up in proportion to the num- and his competitors was not that ber of those who cannot get out of they did not "tock tock" as well as earshot of his "tock tock." And why blame him? At least he geta somewhere with his din, which is more than can be said for the rich young men who rush noisily about on a one-time quiet lake destroying its pleasures for everybody except their competitors in oar and speed.

And, after all, they too illustrate crudely and physically a spiritualį Instinct, and one that is perhaps older than it seems, though it has never before been so encouraged or had such chances of expression. The young gentlemen of coaching days who used to drive four-in-hand through quiet villages on the great roads did not insist that the coach horn should be silent while the rib bons were wearing out their gloves. No, no. The noise and bustle, geese and market-folk saving their lives by fight, were part of the fun. I remember the deafening noise of the narrow, cobbled Parls streets In the days before thero motors, when the coachmen of the four- omnibuses driving their abreast kept up a ceaseless

Can nonade of whip-cracking, to, which the horses were indifferent, for they understood that it was not meant for them. It was a means of secur- ing publfelly, of telling the world that here was a corchman and that he did not care who knew it.

were

Telegraphs, and particularly the exploitation of the desire for pub- licity in the columns of newspapers, have but made possible whip-crack- Ing and horn-blowing on a larger. scale. We manage to get heard farther afield. The "tock tock of

of

or as they passed one another on Discussing what he calls "pro- the bosom of the river, were allyincialism in the metropolis," this very marked features of the city observer says that the regulation life of long ago.

of traffic in London is based on Regulation of the boat passenger methods dating from the time of traffic was found to be necessary at the hansom cab, and that conges- a very early date. Every boat tion is partly due to our domestic was numbered and tables of the habits.

The Chef de Bureau, discom- fares which might be charged were British household economy, for fitted and indignant, was about issued by the city authorities, or instance, is not concerned with to give the slumberer an Im-were even embodied. In Acts of storing provisions. No one dreams patient nudge when the new Parliament. "Thus, in 1515, of buying potatoes in large Minister restrained him. "No, statute Was passed concerning quantities, and conls are hardly no" he laughed. "Don't wake watermen on the Thames," which ever stored for more than a for- him! He might be off, too!" shows the low fares the men were night. The preparation for a

Dental Services to Northern Outposts

D csigned for use in Northern Ontario and cops-

structed at the Angus Shops of the Canadian Pacific Railway and remodelled and equipped at the expense of the Rosedale Chapter of the Imperial Order. Daughters of the Empire, this railway dental car will be maintained by the Ontario Department of Health and will have running rights over all lines in Northern Ontario. The car was handed over by the railway at the North Toronto station recently to a representative gathering including Hon. G. 8. Henry, Premier of Ontario; Hon. Dr. J. M. Robb, Minister of Health; Dr. W. J. Ball, deputy Minister of Healthy. DE F.. Conboy, director of dental services for the Ontario Health department; and delegates from the GG chapters of the LO.D.E. in Toronto.

The car is complete in every way as a dental con«. sulting office, fully equipped, with dentist and numme attached, having their own quarters, with walting- -room, dental chair and sit accessoriee as in the most

modern dental consulting rooms. Electric light, hot, and cold running water, electrie accossories are all contained in the car which will furnish dental service: to children and adults throughout Northern Ontario.

simple lunch sees five delivery cans in motion, all of which deliver the needs for the day in minute quantities."...

When We Are Happy.

On the subject of men's clothes the author has words of deep wis- dom, Не has perceived phenomenon of contemporary Eng lish fe which has gone uncele

21

brated for too long our grey flannel "baga.”.

We may look at our best, he says, in full evening, dreas and other ceremonial creations of English fashions for men, but we only feel really happy and comfortable in grey flannel trousers! Hear him on the "national garb of the Eng Ishman":

"They are worn by millions, from the Prime Minister to the working man, generally in Summer, [but also in Winter, They hang round a man's legs like sacks, and may even be a little gruhby, The folder they are the better.

They fare the national garb,” ng ",

About our "lost" spirit of aù- venture, this appreciative critic is (very sad-and very ingenious. A Įvarióty of reasons have been ad-

vanzed lately, bat who would have: suspected that the hire-purchane system is the true menace to our country's powers of expansion? **AB a result of tho instalment ! [systém of payment; by meank of which he can acquire a little" car. and his furniture, the young man | Is obliged to remain chained to one spół." Thus one of the main props of the British Empire, the spirit: Jof adventure, is undermined,"

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