1955-02-19 — Page 13

THE CHINA MAILĮ, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1955.

New Elizabethans Bring Greatness Again To England

By Sir Beverley Baxter, M.P.

T

HERE is one subject on which there is no difference

between the Speialists and Conservatives. In fact the subject has only to be men- tioned in debate and there Is an immediate coalition in which even the Liberal rem- nant joins.

-

that kind of thing. They stoop, but not very low, to conquer.

I felt sorry for the athletes who had to reply.

When the brains are in the legs or the biceps it in pretty tough to match them against a chap like Macmillan whosu kmins ure most certainly in his head.

1 must say, however, that the apeeches of the athletes WETE good, taking all urprisingly

We things into consideration. 1 refer to sport the beard from the gallant Peters, civilised alternative to War. wh

on television Ancient Greece excelled in staggering and falling on the athletics just as she led the Vancouver track when victory

certainty world in the cultivation of seemed an absolute

We

heart sensible speeches

of

we W224ITI

Raw

the Arts. Grent Britain from boxers, gymnasts, jumpers, gave cricket to the Modern weight throwers — not only World, and also the game sensible but amusing and lively of soccer which is the only speeches. game where the outside the head is used. It is in the realm of sport that the British taught mankind how to love-although at times they rather overdo it.

You will understand therefore that when I received an Invitation to a dinner at the House of Commons in honour of the athletes who went to Van- couver i accepted at once. Such an invitation is almost a Royal Command.

Under our second Elizabeth 10- day we are seeing the develop- mont of another much age."

Three weeks inter my wife the gala first and I went to

performance of Sir night William Walton's new opera **Troilus and Cressida" Covent Garden,

If

It was a sentimental eventag for us because we had not only known Willie Walton when s a youth he was trying to get a hearing for his music, but also because the conductor was r Malcolm Sargent whom we first met years back when he hart Kraduated from playing 11 church organ to become the con- duclor of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas,

Walton has always been lazy and took bla Ume at earning recognition. Malcolm Surgent was patronised by the critics for being able tot superstela). Does x To conduel the Hornpipe at the Proms The kilotle. Juvenile fons throw

So as the evening moved to its climax there were only the two chief stars left-and

chairman called on Chattaway

We really let ourselves Kʊ, for it was not very long back since he beat the Russon champion

at the White City in London in one of the most thrilling strug- gies in the history of sport.

But now instead of facing

he Just one Russlan Just

had speak in the very temple of oratory with champions of the art all round him.

mu

00

Let me and your suspense by repea Ung

what a Tory Minister The chairman LA

that said to

а Chattaway Socialist M.P., finished: "I'm going to take up aristocratic

"might Philip Noel Baker, who ran running," he sa

hava a chance against fellow on the track."

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be not

lowers at him?

while

However, Sagent and Walton

both

The were

knighted its coume of time, but not without some eyebrow raising in oustere circles. In fact Benjarniu Britten was outshining Walton, and Surgent was not considered a meritas enough musician conduct at Covent Garden.

10

be 21

But London is a psychic place and there was a sudden feeling that the first night of "Troilus

Cresida" would TLC tremendous affair. I was lucky g two seats just that cough tes

overlooking the orchestru pit.

Covet Gurdên

was

who

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