1933-04-05 — Page 5

Page

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1933.

"Government Offices And Things" Humour Of Whitehall Of Nineties

MR. CHAMPKIN'S REMINISCENCES

Speaking at the Rotary Clubjcharacter. It was accordingly ar- tiffin held at Gloucester Building|ranged that I should be transferred yesterday, Mr. C. Champkin gave to his Department in what is now

ment Offices and Things."

He said:--

Mr. Champkin said;

habit of minding their own bust-for another.

Art and Drama

"NOT A BOB OUT

OF MUSIC” CRYSTAL PALACE ACCOUNTS.

No Concert On Good Friday,

THE CHINA MAIL.

"We haven't made a bob out off music for at least five years,"" said Sir Henry Buckland, general manager, at the annual meeting of the Crystal Palace. Trustees at Guildhall recently.

#

Sir Henry was answering question by Mr. J. D. Gilbert. in

Romance Versus Realism

No Playwright Excels In Both

THE TWO SCHOOLS

(By Sydney W. Carroll.)

V

A Change In Sight? | Lately the realistic has reigned

From the earliest times the though it is perfectly true that an amusing address on "Govern-irreverently called the Battle connection with the appointment human material that has com- she shows us very little of the Shack. Unfortunately, somebody of an organist, and he went on: mended itself to playwrights of practical working of such an em else's uncle got in first on the "We cannot live upon air, or all nationalities and periods has porium, and we derive our main vacaney (laughter) and I found upon music. We have lost money been divisible into two distinct, impressions from what happens I have noticed latterly that myself off the pay-list of my late on each Handel Festival, and and more or less opposing, sec-in the offices of the concern people have developed a deplorable Department and on the waiting list heavily for the last five years on tions, the realistic and the ro-rather than the shop itself, the Good Friday concerts. There mantic. The only variation from fact remains that we are sensible neast I dare say society is all the] I hadn't to wait long. A serious will be no Good Friday concert these two definite types of play of the store atmosphere and Its better for it, but there can be no financial crisis developed in this year, and if we have a Han has ben the piece that combines truth. question that this insidious in Australia. It was a more serious del Festival we shall lose between to a lesser or a greater degree It is a regrettable thing to elination has dispossessed 118 In crisis than the usual serious crises £3,000 and £4,000.

the qualities of both realism and have to admit the opinion that if Hong Kong of many of the simple they usually have in Australia "Nothing can be done until the

romance. Fashions alternate. the authoress of "Service" had pleasures we formerly enjoyed (Laughter). South Africa was attitude of the public - changes, (Laughter). It is, probably also seething with excitement following and, at present, the appointment Every now and again a new writ- told the unadulterated truth and responsible for the fact that none the Jameson Raid. Something of an organist is not justified.er arises to put the chak, back pursued it to its logical conclu

from one phase to the other. sion, instead of indulging in rain- of you know, and few of you will fhappened in Barbadoes the The organist who is acting will care when I tell you, that I spent failure of the banana crop I think continue to do so."

Rarely do we find playwrights bows, her play might have beeni able to excel in both.

hailed as a masterpiece, but might, some active and interesting years and a Mad Mullah was waving Ready For Turn Of Tide.

have been a financial failure. in Her late Majesty's Civil Service. the green banner of the Prophet Sir Henry Buckland announced

The great majority of the in-in Somaliland. The strong silent that during 1932 the two towers for more than its usual length of

Realism At Its Best. One can only, of course, specu-| teresting characters I knew have men that pull the Empire together of the Palace had been repaired time. I think. that the turn of late upon such a result; adherenc long since gone, or, as a Civil Ser-in these times of difficulty had and painted. To have done this the romantic is somewhat over to veracity along with topicality viee poet in my days put it- need of help. Kitchener was still and repaired and painted the

have quit this earth in the Soudan and anyway he was four sides of the Palace within due, and I say so with a full ap- might have been such a surprise for regions brighter

not a Civil Servant, so I found my three years, and without an ac attended such passionate efforts even of the libraries.

preciation of the success that has as to bring about the approvalį Where the Board of Trade's self in harness again. (Laughter). cident, was a great achievement in realism as "Strange Orches The most striking play of rea- not needed and the Treasury's The Empire Reconstruction unknown

Omce, as I shall conveniently call their budget after carrying out "Children in Uniform," the

had balanced tra," "Party," "Musical Chairs," lism in town at the present mo And Cadets are on a level with It, was, and in fact still is, situated

rement, and the one that calls for a vast amount of work providing vival of Mr. Galsworthy's "Lo- the greatest respect is, of course, the writer."

in a quiet street opposite a quiet employment for a large number yalties," "White Parents Sleep," "Children" in Uniform." A few perhaps still linger on in public house in a quiet part of of men. Income, £65,573, was 5 Behold We Live," and last, but adaptation of the play from which

curious that there was a reassuring air of per cent. less last year than in not least, Miss Dodie Smith's the very successful film was tak ancient city, for some

1931. Expenditure was £65,345,"Service," the successful succes- en is so beautifully done and so reason, most Civil Servants repose and tranquillity about it, or gravitate on retirement,

perhaps I should say a delightful and their balance was now fo4rsor to that semi-romantic come-full of courage that it claims the Fortunately-though

first consideration of somewhat atmosphere of aimless apathy and 829, of which £52,150 was invest-dy, "Autumn Crocus."""

everyone unjustly have по government Tow-tensioned icthargy (Laughter), ed in War Loan.

The authors of nearly all these with a real love for the theatre. pension (laughter) and after ajof auch is the Kingdom of the Boy

pieces strive to produce the char-This is realism at its best. For lapse of some 35 years I suppose Clerk's heaven and I felt quite at one may justly be proud," Sir acters and the life of our times a similar and corresponding ex- Henry said, "as the expenses of with an almost depressing fidell- ample in the romantic field we maintaining this great national ty. The last-named, it is true, may search in vain, institution without a shilling in deviates unaesthetically into

retirement at Cheltenham, Lo which Westminster. It seemed to Me

I am beyond the reach of official home there.

reprisals. I feel therefore that. I I had a very agreeable time

known.

The trustees

"It is a performance of which

Sincere's To Stage 16-Day Display.

Various Examples. "Alison's House," at the Lit-

tle, is an American effort in real- of a grim and forbidding

ism

KING'S THEATRE

Samuel Goldwyn

STREET SCENE.

This

can safely tell you something about there. The Head of the Depart subsidy is a heavy burden, and the happy ending (rather ob the way you were governed from ment was closely related to the Whitehall in the very spacious peerage but had a profound con- the task does not grow lighter.viously manufactured), but as days when Queen Victoria was on tempt for the idle rich (Laughter) The Crystal Palace is now in the major part of the drama is Commencing SUNDAY, Sih ́ April the throne and Lord Salisbury and lie is now in the House of Lords wonderful state of repair, ready faithfully and accurately repro- myself were quite near neighbours where I am sure he spends most for big business when the tide duced from experience it may still in Westminster. (Laughter). of his time in the Smoking Room turns." " ***

Alderman Sir George Truscott of realistic tendency.

be catalogued amongst the plays: In my very junior capacity I had extolling the virtue of working for nothing to do with the Treasury living (Laughter). It was part was re-dected chairman and My affairs were regulated by the of my duties to make his after-Viscount Burnham vice-chairman. Civil Service Commissioners--a noon tea. In return he gave me rather nebulous body whose per-some Invaluable bints оп the CHINESE INDUSTRY sonnel was never very Intimately colouring of meerschaum pipes.

EXHIBITION kind, whilst "Evenson" is an in- (Laughter). He amoked a meers-

teresting and successful blend of briar The first office that I worked in chaumi in preference to a

both characteristics. It is a very was one of the biggest, and from because when he dropped it on the

odd thing that on 'the romantic The point of view of the taxpayer; marble floor he Was Baved the

side of the ledger we must con one of the most profitable of the effort of picking it up.

(Loud

tent ourselves either with mus!- Government Offices, for it was not laughter). one of the spending, but one of the

63 FACTORIES REPRESENTED cal playa or with farces. There! -1 find certain saving Departments. My Immedi-i All good things, however, come) An exhibition on an elaborate are few others. ate Chief was a very lugubrious to an end. The crisis-in Australia scale has been planned by the romantic elements in Miss Gladys! -Second Division Clerk. He seemed subsided into the usual and normal Sincere Co., and will be held on the Cooper's "Firebird," but these Australia. fifth floor of their premises. are treated so realistically as to to be wrapped about in a mantle critical conditions in of mental mournfulness and gloom. (Laughter). Dr. Jameson went to Twenty-three Shanghai and 40 make the play rather wobble be- He tried to be amiable sometimes, gaol and South Africa went to Hong Kong and Canton factories tween the two methods. but it was that ghastly kind of sleep. The bananas grew again in are amalgamating for this big event "Road House," at the White- amiability that may be found at an Barbadees and the Mad Mullah which promises to interest Hong hall, is definitely on, the roman- Old Boys Dinner at Lane Craw-turned out to be merely an un-Kong for the next few weeks.tic side. The attention the play- fords (laughter) or a ten-and-bun usually sane Somali who had pick- The chief aim of the Exhibition wright has given to the current gathering at a diocesan conference ed up some crazy ideas from Ber-is to promote sales of Chinese pro-realistic details of his story serves -things that remind one shudder-nard Shaw about the ownership of ducts, and display to the public to show up its imaginative ingly of cold boiled potatoes on a his own property, (Loud laugh- genuine Chinese craftsmanship. So nature. The pure romance of foggy night (Laughter). After I ter).

much advertising propaganda and our childhood'a theatre seems to-

Back To Normal

left the Department-as a matter The Empire Reconstruction publicity have been given to many tally to have disappeared.

Where are the "Prisoners of of fact it was mainly because I Office therefore regretfully gave foreign products during the past left-he developed rather a sunny me the sack. I think they felt very few years that the excellent work Zenda," "The Scarlet Pimper- disposition (laughter) and years keenly that it was their loss rather and materials which can be pro-nels, and the Two Little Vaga later became, and I am glad to say than mine (Laughter), They put duced locally are apt to be overlook bonds" of bygone days? The "Sil- he still is, one of England's the blame on the Treasury and cer-ed.

ver Kings" and the "Under the greatest humourists-Mr. W. Wtainly I have never been sacked by The Exhibition will be first of Its Red Robes?" The romantic cos- Jacobs, creator of that delightful the son of an earl in a more grace-kind in Hong Kong and will be tume play seems to have been trio of waterside rascala, Ginger ful and gentlemanilke manner. opened on April 6 by His Excellency, consigned to perdition, for it has Dick, Peter Russet and Sam Small I was transferred to Somerset Mr. Lau Ki-wen, the Mayor of Cannot even found its way; perman- (applause),

House and when I heard the dread-ton, whe has graciously consented to ently upon the screen. Occasion Dominion Crisis,

ful news. I prudently took to my perform this ceremony, ally the talkies take us back ro- At that time I had an uncle who bed with a severe cold or something During the first six days from mantically to a bygone period, was something or other in the War and let somebody else have the job. April 7 to 12, goods from Shanghai but very rarely Office. Ho viewed with grave mis-] (Laughter). Contrary to general will be featured and for the remain- Reverting to Miss Smith's giving my growing interest in the belief Somerset House is, or was, ing days until the April 21, Hong "Service," this is surely one of intricacies of backing one-two- the most efficient up-to-date and Kong and Canton manufactured the most remarkable examples of three anything to-come-on' the best managed Department in the products will be given prominency, the composite piece. It is a com favourite-for-the-next and similar Service. complicated ventures of a sporting

(Continued on Page 10.)

For a nice

AFTERNOON TEA

or a delicious ICE CREAM Come to the

EXCELSIOR RESTAURANT

Russ

DES VOEUX ROAD C (Opposite cument, Radio Office),

Curries

Prior to the opening ceremony, sedy in which the author balances large banquet will be given in neatly upon a double threadTM of honour of His Excellency,the wire, jumping from real life to Mayor, to which the Chamber of fairy story and back again with Commerce, various guilds, promin a Dickensian charm that quite ent Chinese and foreign friends and disarms criticism. Her princf the press will be invited

nal characters change their moods The public may recall the small in the same manner as does her exhibitions of Chinese silks which theme. The Head of the big have previously, been held, also the business is duly commercial one Mannequin Parade' early last sea

ba divertingly, then-

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