1940-07-17 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 17, 1940

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

GREATER THAN GUNS

"The British spirit speaks," wrote the "New York Times" dealing with Mr. Churchill's recent broadcast to the British| nation. The "Herald Tri- bune" comments "There was never a sign of weak- ening or of possible defeat -men of lesser faith can- not but take strength from his (Churchill's) strength."

Mr. W. Lawther, Pre- sident of the Minework- ers' Federation of Britain urged that the word "de- leat" be expunged from our language. "We must| either conquer the force of Fascism or go down to the level of abject sla- very." he declared.

ALL BEHIND YOU, WINSTON

Do You Believe

of

Curses?

In

Mr. Churchill's speech was indeed a clarion call to the nation and a fur- ther blow to any expecta-| tion the German people might still entertain that Britain must succumb and that soon. It is on that one word "soon" that the German people are relying. The long years of

Belief in curses is apparently

Meyerling when the Crown Prince preparation for and the associated with the aristocracy

Rudolph committed suicide, Be- long months of a ruthless and royalty of all nations. People who have no family history ap-

fore the assasination of the Arch- duke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo war, seem to have brought pear to be ignorant of any male-

in 1914, and at the death of the them to a state of mind dictions that bring them bad luck;

ex-Emperor Karl, the dread but all sorts and conditions which, in the midst of its men and women believe in omens lies in the fact that these are ac- you dream of a

Herald of tragedy. hppeared on Jew it signifies the scene. turmoil, clings desperate-

Is there a bride of the present

of a In 1898,

she an hour before day who, on seeing a crow or a copted, not in a half-hearted way. losses and bad luck; or if ly to one word of hope ravon Ay into the church while but as dead certainties.

Jewess it is a sign of anger and was murdered by a demented as-- she stands at the altar with her If two tribes the word 'soon.'

go to war, the vexation. But it is good luck to sassin, the Empress Elizabeth sat.. lover, would not receive a shock? priest begins to forecast the issue dream of a dog; and loss of eating a peach in the garden of her hotel. A Black Rayen swooped No matter how the war will there be one of to-morrow by invocation of Tu, the God of friends to dream of a cat!

Then, again, certain people down and Hovered over her hand! ends, they can pray for who, on seeing white doves at her Battle who ate his brothers. If,

window, will not be pleased? in this invocation, his memory pride themselves that particular Everyone has heard of Napoleon's one thing only-that it be

If we could answer "Yes" to fails or his tongue trips, it is all dreams have peculiar interpreta-pet superstition, "The Sun of Aus- the tribe. He advises tions for themselves. If they terlitz, his omen of victory. All over soon. But then what? those questions, we might dismiss up with

omens as things that do not inter them to put away their weapons dream of a horseshoe they know his great battles were won

will meet a new So far as this they dare est. us; but, as the answer in each and hand over the cabbage-patch they

lover; sunny days. Leipzig and Water-

I loo were lost in drizzles. His har not go. Their Fuehrer has case is "No," it means that those for which they were about to fight. whereas, if I dream of one,

binger of disaster was Little

"A strange happenings are not If, however, he gets through the know T shail fall off a bus.

The Black Ravan of the House Red Man" whom he saw gaz- dragged them to this without effect upon our daily lives. Invocation safely, he tries a more of Hapsburg appears before any ing contemptuously at him before disappeared as pass, they look to him to who are careful to get out of bed set a presenza in which he tragic event in the history of that he mysteriously take them qut. In the on the right side; and even more sees the battle-fleld and all the unfortunate family. It appeared the Emperor crossed the Nieman meantime British planes careful to set the right foot down spirits of the slain hovering above. to the Archduke Maximilian the at the head of his troops when

first upon the floor?

If he counts more friends than night before he left Vienna for he are pouring devastation We are not superstitious any enemies, he does his best to post-death at the hands of the Mexi-phantom appeared to him on the on their preparations for longer; but when we see a ladder pone the fight; it, on the other can revolutionaries. It was seen at ove of Waterloo,

against the wall, we go round.it: hand, the spirits of the enemy the great Day. British "Not because we are afraid, but outnumber those of his friends he ships are keeping watch simply because we want to! and in Britain itself, down thirteen to a table, and back, and the forecast is un-

Are there not some among us elaborate process. He works him-

Any practical people will sit urges them on to battle with fury. Should it be too late to draw

omen of defeat.

сл

Invaded Russia. The same

Barang Man

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妳

glory in it; but, when they hear favourable, he weeds out the He finds his way all over. Ma-jrow palm. There are also bags, which German propagan-hat the members of the Thirteen spirits of his tribe seen over the lay, this ubiquitous Chinese ped-gay silken affairs emboidered with da feebly describes as "a Club die one a year mysteriously, battle-ground and advises them dler. And of all the visitations one trailing sprays of blossom, and at home with. him is likely to receive there, his is lacquered buttons and slippers- veritable military camp" they still feel a creepy feeling in to remain

their back hair.

Needless to state, his own disem surely one of the most welcome. whose makers, however, would the people are awaiting In one way nobody believes in bodied spirit is always the first Invariably up-to-date, he rides appear to have had a Chinese foot

omens; but at the same time we that he sees! "undismayed the impend-accept them with a smile when

along the dusty rubber-fringed in mind-and a great pile of tea- Again; if up to the moment of roads on an old motor bicycle cloths indulging in a perfect fan- ing assault."

they are pleasing, and feel some battle the portents are even, the with a faded homburg clapped to tasy of decoration: lanterns, pago- But, when these have das, dragons, bridges, and a Mr. Churchill's speech slight sinking at the heart when war-dance decides it. Victory is his head.

they, are not!

certain when all the warriors leap been left outside and on noiseless variety of quaint little figures. was a welcome challenge For instance; a manager puts from their sitting-position in per- feet ho comes up onto the ver- to any uneasiness that, in youth is heard whistling, in the but should this

on a play. On the first night some fect time and with one movement; anda, he is once again the true The Barang man, still crouch- first movement descendant of all those itinerant in patiently on the floor, 'smiles face of German propa-auditorium. The manager begins show any irregularity, it is an vendors who, from time im-even more brilliantly. "Fifteen

to feel that the play, is doomed; ganda, may have been consequently he does not push it

memorial, have journeyed up and dollar velly cheap," he observes. It may be said that such an down the roads of Asia.

But one shakes one's head and felt abroad. He did not as he otherwise would. On the

One pictures him in his most at this he retrieves the coats and other hand if a black cat walks omen would be true on any battler

flold; for if the preliminarios are famillar attitude, squatting amid spreads them out carefully, hoping try to convince the people majestically across the boards, he wanting in concerted action, it is the outspread merchandise, a little no doubt that their continued pro- that all was well. He warn-knows for a certainty that the fairly certain the battle will be, man in a limp white suit, with a ximity will prove in the end to ed them that "all goes to he pushes and advertises it with

piece will be a great success, also.

merry smile, a husky voice and be too much of a temptation. Then, Among the natives of Raror sallow, angular hands that smooth with perfect good humour, he show that the war will be all his might. The omen is justi-tonga the divination of the issue and spread and fold with a gentle settles down to await one's final of battle is decided by means of ness of movement that is more choice: and when this-usually long and hard," but he as- Quaint and picturesque omens two sets of sticks. These are stuck than feminine.

after considerable indecision-is made, one gets down to busi- sured the world and those come from all parts of the world; up in the ground; and the priest

but perhaps the most interesting throws a stone at such in turn; Only in the East, perhaps, caniness. Nothing will exchange nations now writhing un-are those which are found among and if the number of sticks one really enjoy shopping: for hands without a certain amount' der German rule, that the Maoris of New Zealand. This knocked down in the enemy's only there is it possible to linger of bargaining, but the procedure never would Britain sur- easily devour an entire camp is larger than in that of his over it, to sift and turn, examine is a familiar one and invariably, own tribe victory is undoubted. and admire, undeterred by any arrives at the same satisfactory render. "Should the in-hostile army, and we In Hawail a very strange omen need for haste. There is time and conclusion. vader come to Britain," he should rather see London of war exists. In the dead of night to spare; and particularly is this

In large ghostly bird is believed to so when, in the peacefulness of However much-or little-los

fled in each case.

said, "there will be no pas-laid in ashes and ruins come down from the heavens and one's own home, the Barang man heen bought, the Burang man still sive lying down of the than that it should be y shrieking over the forest. If its unpacks his heavily-laden bas- continues smiling; but, if it has

shrick is harsh, it is because its kets.

beon a particularly good day, the Ho produces a fascinating col-measure of his approval does not people, no submission be-tamely and abjectly en-voice is choked by a throat full of

hairs plucked from the Heads of lection, full of that fine, delicately go unmarked. When he has re- fore him as we have seen, slaved."

many slain. It is a terrible omen imaginative work so typical of packed his baskets, which he does alas, in other countries. Further answer to Hit-to the tribe that hears it.

the Chinese. There are cases of with quiet, unhurried precision, If one were to write a full his- Jade: rings, clips and brooches not he gets up and treads softly to- We shall defend every ler's boast that July 27 tory of the omens of dreams alone, particularly valuable but charm- ward one. "I give you there," he village, every town and will see the triumphal en-especially as they obtain among ingly decorated with, small sym-remarks and lays on the table six every city. The vast mass try into Berlin after the savage races, a considerable libra-bolic designs. Then comes a mis-carved ivory buttons.

ry would not contain, It. Even cellaneous of London itself, fought occupation of London, is our own civilisation has thousands ornaments; and, selecting a pair of but it gives immense satisfaction of people who take dreams into diminutive carved figures, he all round.-B. B. in the "Chris- for street by street, could not needed.

account. Everybody knows that it holds them out, one in-each nar- tian Science. Monitor."

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collection `of... Ivory

It is a politic gesture, no doubt,