1955-02-05 — Page 14

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"Page 14

8

TOP of the COLUMN

"Tell the Governor that 125 is trying to make a getaway."

London rosen derpics.

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1955.

Why I Decided to Debunk a Hero PARADE

A

for

RICHARD ALDINGTON, whose new life of Lawrence of Arabia has set off one of the biggest literary-historical ·_rows of the century, explains to Sydney Smith why he wrote it PARIS. England has known JOLLY, fresh-faced, many a good year. burly Englishman sit- Richard Aldington, whose ting in his untidy first novel, "Death of #

debunked book-crammed study in a' Hero," aun-baked, tree-shaded villa glamour of war 26 in the South of France has ago. has challenged tradi- set off one of the biggest tion and legend again with work debunking u mujor literary-historical

Lawrence of Arabia.

A British Crossword Puzzle

#1

12

$15

25

27

2

18

13

16

the years

From four years of research, Aklington has discovered The fighting wizard of the desert, the turnous-dressed

spy

the katych-crowned hers, the in- "The tellectual, the mystic of Seven Pillars of Wisdom," to be a man who bakit his own legend and came to believe his Hex. That is why he was convincing," says Aldingten

Wn

OR

to

Such a conclusion is a terrific Challenge to at least 1wu

c.f Englishmen Keratin whom Lawrence has appealed, still does, as the classic British hero. There he goes. tanging

Arab the desert โรง Kulse, suffering the tortures of Hunger, capture, una excupa), the secret chief of a desert war that won victory in the Müldte East for Ris vountry

To all this Aldington says, th effect" "Nonsense—mostly lles."

20

21

22

23

THE

3 Fortible (8)

Apartment (4)

ACROSS

DOWN

1 Support (4)

2 Quip (4).

Hearty (4)

B of fare (1)

4 Savour (8).

Dissects T81

11 Prevent (Bs

13 Challenge (4)

18 Aul to bonuity

781

18 Reserved (8).

19 Particle (4),

$1

Change (5).

21 Averred 185.

25 Rebel (0).

20 Splendit (4).

27 Refrained from (H).

7 Easy and comfortable (skong)

(5).

10 let in (5)

12 Perch

(5).

14 Paling (5).

16 Concise (5).

17 Drink

(5).

18 Equipped (5).

26 Expletives (5).

21 Insects (4)

22 Withered (4)

24 Excursion (4). 24 Judge (14).

YESTERDAY'S CROSSWORD.--Across: 1 Tender, a petul,

7 Regnter, 8 Elope, Bitter, 11 Natled, 13 Cunkers, 15 Trudge,

18 Named. 19 Exercise, 20 Laica, 21 Shells. Down: Thre

Drift, 3 Returns, 4 Bereft, 5 Extolled. 8 Detend, 10 Tenement,

12 Es.cn 13 Cancel, 14 Endeur, 16, Uuele, 17 Ewers.

Deprecated

*ורן

ALDINGTON

LAWRENCE

Why did Aldington → a mali of considerable weight English letters today--write this book? He tells me:-

in

I

of

Last

or-

Uten

hns

been

decline. it does Europe

BEAR Lloyds of London have yet.. And if necessary he'll take HUG agreed to insure the his case to the Minister of Town sheep of the Pyrenees and Country Planning./ against pawing by the last of "I had the perisher, under his from British officers who were Europe's husky mountain bears.

Lawrence's . And the assumed name, under my direct eye-wlinesses

insurance policy SHORT OF Britain is running,

out of clergymen. command I tried to get him out alleged exploits, and finally brings to an end the smoulder- CLERGY

Church of Eng- three times until I was ordered lettera written about Lawrence Ing feud between the local shep-

Association of land officials predicted that only to headquarters and partially from "very high quartera." One herds and the

808 elergymen will be ordained his of these, I belleve, was written Mountain Huntsmen, told of the reasons for

by one of Lawrence's admirera, recruitment, For years I've been

More than

sheep in the church this year. a hundred Sir Winston Churchill.

in the last month alone have year there were only 380. trying to debunk him, but I've

The average number of beon howled down."

The British edition the been hugged to death by the Aldington book appeared lastbears, some of which weigh 700 dinations from 1850 to 1880 was week-end. It has been shown to ib. and stand nearly eight feet 030-just about enough to keep Lawrence's brother and to high. But the Association says the supply steady. Since

friends that

there since they are the last of

a continuing large number of his They have all disapproved of it their kind in all strongly,

not want them shot

In 1899, England and Wales For n while it looked as had a population of 34 million though the Association would and nineteen thousand Church logo particularly

the of England (the catablished Pyrenees Hunting government church) clergymen.

Now, with a population

of It is coming out. For, Federation, sensing good gamo I say the publishers, "No one to be had, sided with the shep million, there are only 14,000. has been able to dispute the herds. Then somebody hit on major fucts, If they had we insurance, reasoning that Lloyds dinalians a year just to keep the would have changed them."

insure present low numbers constant.

Sir Gerald Kelly, 75-year-old The fact that the row behind

President of the Royal the scenes began months before The Association will pay the past an enormous gmp. My suspicions publleation gives some idea of premium. Lloyde will pay the Academy and rockened Britain's Krew thu ordinary episodes the jealous, living controversy shepherds "in such cases where top art expert, had a confession "May I congratulate you on had been magnified into extra- that still buzzes bitterly round the bears culpability shali be to make last week: your courage? The

modern Lawrence ordinary exploits."

the life of the shy, Arábindisputably proven.' story in, in my uplatan, une of Aldington not only consulted dressed figure who became othe British Lawrence's letters

Ho made his confession with the biggel phoney mytha evre

but offelal of the most romantic histories. swallowed by the British public.

Ollee War

Should reports heroes of the twentieth century. | UNUSUAL

gentle shake of the head NEIGHBOURS gambling man London's Young Contemporaries

-a bookmaker Exhibition and he had NANCY SPAIN ON NEW BOOKS

-have his betting office next more comments for the artists, door to # church? The ques- 100.

EL

The myth of a hero.

One letter reached him from

British retired

Air Force offleur, Squadron Leader G. C. Breese, who was commanding ollicer when Lawrence, his desert exploits, joined

training school Depot Uxbridge Barracks as a recruli in 1932. Breese writes to Aki- Ingion:-

yenre,

"I began to write a perfectly plain, objective. decount ol Lawrence's life.,

Look four read 70 works DU Lawrence, studied 10 years his private letters-banned from publication and now in the British Museum.

Not disputed

Di

DUT

after

in

"f checked anxi checked until

very between

facts the

legend, 1

counter- gradually, alld the perceive began to

NO POISON ON LUCREZIA

I

#1

Dr Renaissance

HAVE been reading

book by Dr Bergen terribly BYST Lawrence Evans, an old spoilsport_if began in France EL few over there WIN one. En- weeks ago when A French

his work THE translation of The Aldington titling

OF SPOOKS

Wik

with printet

the SPOOR

bok title, "Lawrence the Imprstars). (Michael Joseph, 158.), he The Freh auditle sath has exploded nearly all my "This is the astemishing faked

ife of the man who

the favourite fallacies A41

France, enemy

by famous English

analysed writer"

اده

กาย:

Aldington tol deprecate He French version of my book. with its deliberate provvention

mistransla- And Mons But

the admits conclusions

the

same- Lawrence was "a poseur and a romancer."

ure

Fancy anding COLLE That Cleopatra wasn't Egyptian, that Nero didn't Darle that Dr Guillotine didn't invent II, that Churchill wasn't the first per- son to Bnk, oratorically, "blood and toll and tears and sweat."

Lucrezia And that

Borgia was

probably a good

a good girl. Mind you, I don't really care that Dr Guillotine simply sald Aldington has

already

that re-

the French revolutionaries ceived a wad of letters. His ought to have some sort of a English publishers

have

head-chopping machine; and 1 um entranced that John Donne (1611)

and Lord Byron (1823) forestulled Churchill.

ceived even more-from ordin- any Lawrence hero worshipers and from people who knew the asse 1 Jaly undoubtedly great Thys

The English publishers have but been threatened, begged nol persuadert, to withdraw the bookt.

"ALL

Aldington Himself saysı She let rs I have received have bren opposed to Lawrence,"

VIGNETTES OF LIFE

- WHICH REMINDS ME OF

A STORY-

THE ANNUAL BANQUET-WHERE THE JOKES AND MENU ARE AS UNCHANGING AS A STATUE'S SMILE.

DO I LIKE SKATINO ? BABY JUST PUT ME ON ICE AND I'M

HAPPY?"

HE MEANS IF THE ICE IS IN A GLASS

| WUNL

1:16

But I am really terribly up at about Lucrezia, So for rom being a gay, poisoning, loose- living itle number, Dr Evadis says that "the only force of character" she showed in her He was on her wedding journey when she held up the cavalcade in wath her hair.

Evans Kys that the poisons were tatty ton: und the famous polsun Flags (hollow with a needle let into them) wouldn't have hurt a mouse.

Give him his due, Dr Evans dotmn't only destroy my dreams; he has

collected ulro

many gloriously uscicas facts. for instance, take off

with a backward lenp, and that is why i miss them when I swat,

vleorage. And it is she who has pulled the trigger.

For why? Because when she was a-wondering in the stracts of Prague

end Caspar took painted her, and she (poor dope) thought he loved her.

A ukriy tale, you

think? Well, I du assure you that Mrs Flies, Fleming mokes you swallow

every word.

But I must dispute the doctor's allegation that nobody can read more than two books a day and absorb their contents, Maybe he would like to have a little wager?

HE is nuts

MUCH enjoyed Mrs Joan Fleming's HE OUGHT TO

SHE is mad

Lower

when

WDD always ready to anybody against anything.

*

44

It would need 000 to 700 or-

"I don't understand art," he said.

h

a

gramme

at

some

tion faced the Socialist- Among them: "You are on-

વન અન controlled housing and planning gaged in the only decent occu- committeo of Doncaster Rural pauon in the world-but you're Couneli,

and it was answered going to have a much rougher with a definite NO.

passage Chan hed. There aro The Committee recommended too

too many of you. that the bookie should not be

Leulty A mild old allowed to open un office next gentleman and Bm interested 10 the 40-year-old brick-built an art. But I am not interested Methodist church at Rossington, in art criticism, the Third Pro- long-hair (Britain's near Doncaster.

And the Council is expected radio network) or highbrows."

With that he was off. to agree.

Each Sunday evening the church has a congregation about 150 people, most of them REALLY When William Rob-

get hamsci miners* Wives and daughters. NINETY BO

Job us ✡ guruener Fow miners go along.

(wo years ug job That Welsh-born Lewis Jones, the

Alici at 7 am. six days miner member of the committee, 50 explained its views

this way: weck-his workmates were sur

*Strong 'back for a m Prised.

the usuni in his sixties," was remark

Last week William reured and his workmates that he was 10,

in

am not a

of

LAS, there is bad news

the pay-off, Shirley Jack- Fon, whose last book, "Life

withg Among the Savages,"

that it was Cosy to understand

B.B.C. into a actually turned

has "Woman's Hour" serial,

Just a a couple shillings on the gone swooning back to her pay-

football pools-that's as far 23 chiatrist's notebook style with 1 go. If people want to gumble, (Michael that's their affair. But the com- THE BIRD'S NEST

(d.).

churchman, and I'm not much of a gambler either.

oupic of

BE SHOT (Hutchinson, 95, 8d.). Joseph, 12. Richmond inte felt that a church and.a

a splendid suspense story about mutty artist called Caspar, Caspar has bewitched a nice young woman call:t Hero into vbig with him. He has esO- brated the Black Mass. And

most of the locals go around saying that they think "Caspar should be shot." In fact,

the say

found out

How did he manage to cuu- vince the aumoruny al pauriey Park, in suburban London, that Le was a bare sixty?

Miss Elizabeth

office should not be mad. Her mania takes the form being

They neighbours. next door of "split" personality, Le., Miss stand

entirely Lor

different.

"No cigarettes wild a bottle of three distinct R thinks herself

things. Some say the church

brown we now und then is my persons:

one one babyish,

stands for good and the betting

And he wanton, one quite nice.

ECCFEL" office for evil, but I wouldn'

COTERYS William stiu does not lock more than 80. She is lurned over to a psy-

go so far as to say that myself." He chiatrist.

but he aamined that the cold succeeds in

But the bookmaker, Norman "fusing" the three personalities

weather--steadily below bought

cold" "really her Tweedale, has already und rechristens Into one

ng, asd his office (once a fish and chip ca-was beguanlig "Morgen Victoria."

Which seems to

bum down. "I gave in to my the shop) and has started redecora- crowning confusion.

ting it. He says he's not beaten family and retired."

only person who doesn't this JS ID anaeme enung e- fugee called Anna Prokop," who the maid-of-all-work at

ܝܵܐ

Winter Sports

me

BY HARRY

WEINERT

DOING THEIR BIT

IN THE SUNNY SOUTH —

FOR THE

NEWSREEL CAMERAS,

COFL, FIRE BY GENERAL PRATURES. CORA DAWORLD RIGHTS RESERVED.

OPEN THE |WINDOWS.

LET IN SOME AIR/

SOME DEVOTEES CLAIM SKIING IS AT

ITS BEST WHEN THERE'S

LOTS OF NO SNOW.

STANDARD FORMATION FOR, READING THE SUNDAY PAPERS.

THE BATTLE OF THE THERMOSTAT,

"GET GOING- HERES YOUR

CHANCE TO

REDUCE, THAT

WAISTS

UNE

"YEAH IT'S WARMER THAN THE

AIR IN

HERE/

WAIT AWHILE

MAYBE IT'LL

freeze

for

to t

HOUSEWIFE'S Governmeni MILE

research men have let out low facts on what a house- wife down in the home while her ausband is away at work.

16

And this was the most sur prising in a small compact none the walks about a miit about her haise day going

A

vicaning and cooking.

The government anen, bers

of

mem-

a building research station operated by the Depart- ment of Scientific and Industrial Research, are studying house wives' hablis and so find out the best way to build a house. To get their facts the re searchers had a special three- bedroom house of plywood built in Hertfordshire, furnished it, throw in all the things that go to clutter up a room-toys for instance then added 10 volun- teer, housewives, one at a and told them to go to work.

Everything was umed. Instrit ments under the Goors charted

movement Inside every

the

house.

And this is

Ana

what the

timo,

searchers found: A housewife spends 70 percent of her time in the kitchen and does 40 per cent of her walking-nearly, half a mile-in there,

She never clores a door hind her

Richard Bateson, who directed the experiment, said: "It is sur

the women Angle way CASH. out the house. If this fyand we think it is we have got to think again about where to put the doors and, how wo should hang them."

WHAT'S IN HS ramte was He-

memperland that' A NAME?

name he had

The judge looked at him quizzically.

Ww he sure” nia No perhaps,

hame was "Remember?! other names?

Forgot?

Not

The accused loslated. The

Capetown: Judge shook his hand and find him- £5,- Remember. wi wo African and He bad form potion the pope which entitled him to be in a thunicipal

THE BARE The Ame IDEALISES

arms—becausó a ma: in on á nísdist vendo now..besiting that he of colour: fim of the The bride Paliski e

+

"THE SEASON WHEN THE POOCH 15

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