1954-01-23 — Page 8

I'

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1954.

NO, Mrs. MANN

This is NOT your bedtime story

T la question time in the House of Com- mons. At the despatch box, the Minister, already hurd pressed, APPR with alarm an elderly woman rise to her feet from (LI) op- position back bench.

He is not decefved by her apparent frailty. He knows that toughness, determina- tion. the love of verbal battle, are concealed in that slight figure. Jenn Mann is on the warpath.

Her

valce,

slow, measured with its strong Scola accent. Is batter known in all parts of the country than that of many member tif

Governinent. the ean Mane's name on the

a public meeting is announcing a enough to All the hall.

This stynamie

211

grandmother

having rearra a large family, consider cikl not sit back and

herself old or nished. She was 56 when she entered the House of Commons, That was eight years ago.

11

Sleep is not easy

E

com-

HOW TO

LIVE TO

BE 100

To-day,

Joon Mann.

Age 64.

SONI,

Profession : Mỹ for Coatbridge. Family: Married, three

two daughters, seven grond: children.

Activities: House of CommDAS,

political work,

Smoking

18-20 cigarettas a day, would like to cut it down to 10.

Drinks: No spirits, on occasional

sherry.

Health rating: 22.

month she

At least once spends Sunday in her Coat.

but bridgy constituency,

sho counts herself lucky if she can spend the whole week-end at home, Alvided between

her Glasgow house and her cottage at Kilereggan, 30 miles away.

To do so, sho takes the mid- night train to Glasgow on Friday, filles back to London on Monday morning.

But pre

How many women half her = full life age could tend such and show so little strain? Is the tempo of her life Juicing her chance of longevi- ty?

The answer of the medical board is, No. It is partly to her

and absorbing interests fro wide that she owes her continued youth

Indeed, if she had not been a

Member of Parliament, the best

women

advice wo could have given her would have been to become one. not been And, if that had possible, we should have said, take up some other occupation, if even if it's not politics, even It's only for a few hours a day,

So many

of Mrs

family and seen them marry and bring up families of their own, feel that they have played

They their port.

And nothing to fill the vold in their lives,

ening to debates, speaking in Mann's age, having brought up

inchi

If she is lucky, away by 11 o'clock-und bod. And to sleep?

Kets

L

That is not always so easy. Every day she reaches West- minster at 10.38, and plunges The debate she has been listen with zest into the MP's daily

ing to still goes on in her head. round.

What about She norves

relaxation For week-ends?

polllician mittees in the morning, attends

Mrs Mann her huge correspondence. there is very tile. interviews any visiting

be addressing public inay oling on Friday night, open- turtils, Pes officials, serves on depulations.

ing a sale of work on Saturday, and speaking again on Sunday, And these engagements may be anywhere in the country.

on

VOJINI) -

I

The work gues acorner and evening (with a brief interval for dinner), list-

Simon-the

can

They look ahead

If Mrs Mann had not already been deeply involved in publie affairs, she could have taken up social work for which there is still a great need, and still too few helpers. Even a hobby like Hardening would have supplied

baffling man

who split the Liberal Party

He talked with Hitler

but

he was the wrong man for the job

T

HE death of Viscount

Simon marks the.

passing of a man who By

BEVERLEY

MP

attained brilliance without BAXTER,

greatness,

11 man

who

achieved eminence in polítics and the law,

yet

never captured the im agination or the affection of the public.

his

The cold perfection of mind dominated his character rul made him distrust emotionalism any kind. It was said of him that he was the only John who was never called Jack. It would have taken a brave man to have done it.

Pet he had two thusinams which do not At into this picture at all. He was so fond of cricket. Inat he could give the scores and names of players in county matches that had place twenty years back.

en-

taken

His other enthusiasm was golf, which he played meti- culously, almost legalistic- ally. If a putt just failed to drop into the hole he would look at the ball as if it were trying to deceive the jury. When he hit a good drive he would walk to- wards his ball with springy steps.

It was +

and day for him when he realised that his golfing days were done.

John Simon was essentially a

onan

prizes will not be

Stanley Baldwin swept the country with his National

THE DEBATES are over-Bira. Mom is bock in her Kennington rows, How is the time when she should take up a light novel to relax awklie by the fire-not food her racing mind with still more, speeches from Hansand. Sleep will never come that way,

in

the outside Interest which is so essential to fill the vacuum the lives of elderly people, if they are to keep their mental alertness and bodily vigour. Indeed, gardening is an

older cellent Occupation for people. It

minda koope their from dwelling with regret on the passing of time. It focuses their attention

on the future, so that they look forward with positive pleasure to the passing of the seasons, and to the new which euch joys of the garden one brings.

Fruit and vegetables will help to maintain general health and tone.

Is there anything

DEADLY WEDLOCK : Last day

E

So I talked to her of -MURDER

NICKIS, # famsons model, iMasovers that hay husband De, BRISTOL ROBERTS has murdered LYDIA CLIFFORD, she cannot give evidence against him while still his wife shà decides to divorcs him—and send him to the gallows, Sha knows that

be quesias her plan he will kill her too. Inspector_RAYNER, of Scotland Yard, questions her about Lydia Clifford's death. Nickle goes to Bristol's house, thinking ft empty, to find evidence against him. She is surprised by EDNA VANE, who is in love with Bristol,

DNA

I hadn't the money

Friday.

to

thon

I them. I wanted lovely VANE and

And like you had, were standing facing morning.

knew thot Mra Roberts ́intended to revent something about Doctor Roberts once she obtained her divorce," sald Edna Vane, "but I thought it Was spite and muchief-making. did not know until last night, my lord, it was something much graver than that."

afford As Bristol's counsel bobbed things up again, the judge said softly: and one "Sit down, Mr Hamblen, Just before you let the witness tell her story," other, one cach

on married Bristol, I L'ame

hero

"Last night," said Edina Vane. each side of the bed and found you having breakfast

camo back to Doctor in which I had slept and she with him. I hated and envied A

Envied you your clothes Roberta's surgery and found was sleeping now. I still had you.

luck Mrs Roberts in my room. Shc the negligee in my hand,

had my negliges in her hand..." "You say this is

your negligee?" I Baid. "Then where did you get it?” "Why should I tell that ?" she asked. And then

and good looks and your too.

went

I "Shortly afterwards,

woman into the kitchen. The hudn't arrived yet and the boiler was smoking. I raked it out-

The board is not happy about Mrs the question of exercisc. Mann says she gets nil she needs walking up and down stairs at Westminster.

But that is not the same us

the fresh air. walking in

of an hour should bt toin

birt enough in the sixties, should be regular.

cisc that stands between Mrs Mann and her 100th birthday? She thinks But although the board be there might be. It would not be

life lieve that it is her active true to say that anything alarms Jean Marin. But many elderly that keeps Mr Mann so young, there kre

people do feel some concern some changes sho

about the effects of the London a bitterness settled over her ought to make.

face. "Just because you Members of the board would smog. like to see her take things just Indeed, fog is the reason for have always had the clothes that cottage in Kilereggon. Her a little more easily. All women

bed husband is a bronchial sufferer. you want, don't you believe of her age ought to go to

understand," said Edna for an hour

after lunch Mrs He endured agonies in the tugs that other women--poorer

Glasgow,

been women, women not

"What did you сого Mann says that, for an activo MP, that is out of the question

ordered to live in the country. popular with men-can have what happened to a negligeo that had got torn and stained nice things too? every day.

No need to worry The board recognise this fact. But the need for her to build

19 still up her energy

there, aho

1 do must Therefore,

the day. Let Mrs earlier

in Monn have her breakfast bed, reading the papers if sho wants to.

in

It is not surprising that Mrs Maon flads i dificult straight off to sleep when arrives home after Her bruin is still active, mind alert.

lo

ж

shu

a debate, her

Milk important

pf

and har

JUDGMENT

NOT without emotion, slowly,

the

whole story. I looked down to seo what effect it was having on Bristol,

you and what I mked out with the simply, she went over

astics was that negliged, It was torn and partly burned, but it baled you was so lovely that for having destroyed It,"

"But" I said.

"Oh,

NO Vane.

"What would you say, Mra Roberts, if I were to tell you on Mrs that I have taken your place

and in this household--that The six-day serial

Bristol himself gave me that

Is the London variety likely to have any ill-effects Mann and other women over 60?

men

Mrs Mana has concern

for no need

Only

if she suffered gown?"

trouble

woulti

from bronchiol

Nurse I said: "I would say, she have to take precautions. In Vane, that in the circumstances that case she would have to stay my husband is a fool-a bigger Indoors in foggy weather, close fool than I ever thought he the windows, and keep the room

bronchial sufferers.

warm. That is essential for all could be. I don't believe you. Not," I added, hastily, "because I think you can't take my place with him. You are welcome to it, You are a faithful and loyal person, a fine nurse, and a most attractive woman. You are far too good for him."

But there is no question Mrs Mann having 'bronchial Don't go to bed the moment trouble. And no need for her to you arrive home,

Mann worry. Mre Don't read White Papers last Sit down in a thing at night, comfortable armchair with a novel, or other light reading.

After half an hour take a hot milk drink. Then go to bed und to sleep,

That milk drink is important,

If Mrs Monn derives any com- fort from a smog mask, she can wear

all means. one by

But mask OT no mask. let her go about her duties without fear of the consequences. The overall medical board is

Government and appointed Sir Older people must get adequate Mann's regime is, with the ex- Foreign Secretary,

John Simon to the post of amounts of good protein and of

calclun. weaker

it WAS D strange decision in many ways, but at least we hød man at the Foreign Office who would bring intellectual clarity Lo his task.

that life's denied him.

He was tall, slim and distin- guished in appearance, but his House that the time had come

volee and his munner probably chilled the warm approach of friendship.

is u

It was Simon who told the

to end the Anglo-Japanese America had Aliance because

08 a great power and emerged the allance was no longer a

He necessity nor an advantage. may have been right, but there who felt that were many of us bod things would follow.

In a short time he had im- pressed the Oxford Union, and eventually became its president, The late Lord Birkenhead was legend that they a contemporary and there

It was Simon who went to to decide who would join the

tossed a coin Berlin to talk with Hitler and

thus set the pattern Liberal

Parly and who the

great men of the West would ga Tories, because there was not

and to the parvenu dictator

AL

The bones become with increasing years, to calcium is essential maintain their strength.

and

|

The castest way to take it is by means of liberal quantities

of milk (at least a pint daily) and of cheese.

"Thank you for nothing." the suld. "And now give me back my negligee and go."

'I HATE YOU'

DEADLY WEDLOCK

was written by LEONARD MOSLEY

|

а was

But Bristol was not there. Nor was Inspector Rayner, Bristol's counsel. bewildered and uncer- Loin, looked round for his client and then sald, lamely: "In the circumstances, my lord, may I ask for an adjournment?"

The judge said, suavely: "In the circumstances, Mr Hamblen, I do not think on adjournment

This is a case in

necessary.

which a young married woman has come forward and charged

I

crucity against her husband, and given examples of it. found her case bloquent, sincere, and convincing."

He paused, then continued; "On the other hand I came to the conclusion, on listening to her husband's rebuttal, that he was charming, clever, but a most accomplished and con- summate llar. I have had doubt, from the start of the

with coffee? But it beautiful gown, and I couldn't bear-oven though I wanted to case, -to throw it away. I took it

away and washed it. Then I cewed up the shoulder strap and put patches where it had got burned, and I kept it."

view of the that Mrs

I looked ot her and said: "Edna, I want to tell you some- ceptions they have noted, the best

thing about that negligee. And one for her. She

SAID: "Are you going to about Bristol too. Please is an

stop outstanding candidate for

testify against nic In this bating me and listen." hundredth birthday stakes.

case?"

Next Saturday: CRAHAM ROE The young executiva

YOUR THREE-MINUTE CHECK-UP The grandmother: Age group over 60

If you are a grandmother of over 60 Nick the answers applicable

to you and then read the key below.

that the

1

It

room for them both in the same thus build up his glory in the party.

gyes of the faithful. Simon was

Was with a sense of relief that the wrong man for the job.

we heard in 1935 that he was to

Icoder become deputy

of the House.

that Simon entered the House of any rate it was as u Liberal

Commons in 1000.

The druma of Parliament fascinated him from the very beginning. To hin the Anor of

Two years later he was made helight of history. Not even and Bnally in 1040 he reached the House was a stage ilt by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. the Courts of Law could supply his natural goal and became such a setting.

Lord Chancellor and a viscount.

Ladder to truth

Yet in those long years, until he became Lord Chancellor and went to the Upper House in 1944,

ww RB

we

Perhaps

study this baffling enigmatic figure should realise how deeply he was affected by his first wife's death. He was very much in love with hor, and her death after only three years of marriage was a

he failed to achieve the supreme terrible blow to him. Parliamentary

success that he

craved. He was never incoherent,

te

was never intoxicated with the sound of words, he was never, or rarely emotional.

Warmth for two

DOW

We listened to him as a bar lady, who survives him.

In 1017 to married an Irish of paradox. In the Law rister picading a

Lady case, rather Simon is as Irish a flawless than as a Courts he revealed

as she Perhaps politician mind, a mind that cut

was then and her bomely good, aham and actifoc. never. obtuse nor verbose. could always find the word express his thoughts.

He

through unfairly, we felt that having put nature supplied warmth enough

was his case to the House he could for both of them. He have then crossed the floor and

to demolished it without any

Theatre was outlet

tions.

I realise that this is a portrait

trouble-and without a quaim which does not reveal the whole;

of conscience.

the mind and

To him

There was a gentleness about John Simon that some»:

could not have

Yot he was a man of the time touched the heart, in bis strictest honour,' a mn incap- ablo

egunday place at Wallon Heath of any action that would where I often visited him for a Yet at the theatro, which he

legal ston day's golf, he af Joved, he would wax enthusiastic infringe moral

dlords. Unhappily he gave the over mediocre acting and author impression to the House that he been a more considerato host. ship. The theatrical setting relt only with fascinated him, ant the foot over wth the heart.

His intellect added glory to Ughts blinded him to imperies- logic was the enly ladder to the legal profamion. His personal

truth, and exposition a declara- politics was a heavy one.

morifice in giving up the law for

But at some moment in his In 1031 he and Leslie Hore- formative years he must have Belisha split the Liberal Party been hurt by something Simon was born in 1873, the and led a group of Liberal- somebody. There was a breast- son of a Congregational minister Nationals pledged to work with plate, that protacled his boart and was christmati John Allan, "the: Tories: The Liberal Party from wounds tout, also kept it brook. He was deleducated si was doomed in any case, for the, from kindly buman contact.. Teie Collars Adinburgh, and Bockin bat become the

Perhaps in the theatre he ton of faith, found an outlet *for his conti gealed emotional ben. -***

Dr

than advanced upon Oxford with datural alternativé to the Con... In the land of the mind ho || the way of a man who donowa wervative Party,

was un2 naftovat

(a) I have many out- side interests which keep me active,

(b) I have at least one

hobby.

(c) I have no hobbies.

2 (a) I sleep very soundly. (b) I weep fairly soundly. (a) I suffer from Insomnia.

3(a) X can relax easily.

(b) I find it hard to relax. (c) cannot relax.

4 (=) My digestion #s

good.

(b) I pccasionally

indigestion.

have

(0) I suffer from chronic

dyspepsin.

5

(a) My

good.

missory

La

(b) My memory is not as

good as if you. (e) am very forgetfut,

6 (a) I never feel my heart thomp.

(b) My heart thumps Deca-

sionally,

(0) It often thumps,

COUNT two points answers and nil for (c).

7(a) I

alert.

mentally

(b) I find mental work a

strain.

(e) My mental reactions

are very sluggish.

8 (a) I never feel dizzy. (b) 1. sometimes feel dizzy.

often feel dizzy.

9(a) I never have cramp in my legs. (b) 1 sometimes have it. (e) I often have it.

10 fa)

петег have headaches.

(h) I sometimes have bend-

aches.

(c) I often have beadaches,

11 (8)

Dover catch

cold. (b) I throw of colds

gulckly. (c) ret colds which

Linger,

don't Fot breathless "too often.

12

(b)

(0)

tend to get breathless than I did. The sightest exertion makes me breathless.

SILOTO

for (a), somers, one for (b)

Total up and check below."

12-18 points: Ávaraju, Under 11 "pelats: Poor. If your answers to questions 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12-des

Over 18 points: Good,

(c), you should see a doctor.

JOHNNY HAZARD

NOW MART 27 COPE CLOSING IN

| PROVA BOTH SIDES.........AND I KNOW |E CAN'T TALIC HY WAY OUT OF THIS

the

"Yes," she replied. "I bellove

don't

that Bristol has ever

They had finished with me in the witness-box, and with been cruel to you thoughtless, Bristol. My witnesses had been Now it was the turn of perhaps, but never cruel.

I am heard.

were to Eoing to

support Any $0. You have those who always been very kind to me, Bristol's rebuttal, and the first Mra Roberts, but I hate you for one to be called was Edna Vone, what you are doing to Bristol. You are lucky to be married to eficient as ever as the answered

questions from Bristol's

him."

She looked

as cool

and

the "You're in love with him,

counsel about her name, ond aren't you?"

age, and profession. But the "All right," she said. "I love moment he asked her about mo, him-and he loves me."

"Then why." I asked, "Is Bristol fighting this case

and

she turned to the judge.

"My lord," she said, "may I why are you helping him? Why make a statement?" don't you help him, Instead, to gel a divorce in order that be can marry you?"

'HE WARNED ME'

"That depends," the judgo said, "on whether it is relevant to this case."

"I can assure you that it is," she replied. "It was my inten- tion to help Doctor Roberts to HE went Hvid with

rage prevent his wife's divorce, be again, and I thought for a

cause he had beseeched me to, moment that she was going to and because I am in love with hit me. "Don't try to trap me, him, and would do a good deal Mrs Roberts!" she said. "Bristol to help him..

has warned me about you. The moment you are free, you plan to ruin him. It's a horrid and

diigusting thing to do,"

I said: "Even If what I plan to say proves Bristol to murderer?"

She stared at me, uncompre

GRAVE CHARGE

:

"HAD-until last night, any- way-reason to believe that Bristol-Doctor Roberts--loved

Roberts won

no

which person, the peti- loner or the respondent, "has told the truth,

ber

"The statements made by Nurse Vane are sensational, and no doubt they have been taken notice of in the proper quarter. But I must make it clear that evidence has made na difference

to my whatsoever decision. Without considering a word that she has said, I have no hesitation in awarding decreo nist to the petitioner. With costs, of course," he added, "against the respondent should he be in a position to pay them,”

POLICE CALL

D

when

came into Fleet Street and T was early afternoon

turned my back, for what I hoped was the last time, on the Law Courts.

were The newspaper sellers

Inte shouting the

editions. "Divorce court scandal," cried one of them. But it was not about my case, There was not about much they could print Roberts versus Roberts, for the judgment had been brief and enigmatic.

As I stopped on to the pave→ ment and looked round for a

taxi, a police car drew up. Arr omcer jumped out and saluted.

“Mrs Roberts," he said, “wo have just had'a call over the radio, Could you come with us. and make a statement?"

Just then Edna Vare appear ed. "You too, Nurse Vine," said the policeman. "We want you

hending, and I went on: "Tell me too. I looked forward to to tell us something more about what you said in court," And Nurme Vane, did Bristol marrying him some day. If Mrs then, looking at us both: "There

her divorce, that really give you this negligue?”

is also the question of identify- She hesitated. "No," she said, would mean that he was free at length. "I know it used to and we could be married. Yet ing a body. Doctor Bristol

Roberts has killed himself." and you threw it promised to lie about him, and you,

his relation with her because ha.... away.

asked me to.. I did not know didn't." I told her. "Yes, you

you did," she said, "but then why he was so anxious to many clothes, prevent this divorce.” you have you've forgotten."

Bristol's counsel was on his it was all "Wholesale perica from the feet. "My lord, manufacturers” I said.

to

"But

I

Endla Vane didn't appear to "Go on, Nurse Vane," sald boor.

love clothes. But the judge.

“AH”BĶIP AHOYZŽ NEVER- "HITCHER'A KIDS ON A BOAT,

By Frank Ribbing

"NSO I HOPE THEY

WON'T MIND GIVING AND

LA LIFT NONIZ

At which Edna Vane and I simultaneously reached out our hands and clutched each other. I should have felt happy that over. Instead of which, I burst into tears.;. And Edna Vane was crying too,

THE END

situation calls for a

an

Miguel