1955-05-07 — Page 5

Page

BOOKS... 75 MILES OF THEM

By J. W. TAYLOR

London.

HE recent stir caused by

T the discovery that a

■>

rare volume was missing from the British Museum's library is hardly surprising since everyday over 300 renders use this world's best! known and finest collection of books 75 miles of them....

This formidable literar starehouse is a veritable book lovers paradise. Six million volumes bulge the shelves. which anaka cut in an unecas= ing struggle for space at the rate et 1 miles to annual house a Now of 250.000 ad- ditional volumes.

Books on every conceivable subject. cram the shelves, rang- ing from Lord Nelson's log book to Richard Spicer's congratula- tory aration to Queen Elizabeth Опе at Sandwich in 1573.

volume stands six feet high alongside a one-inch square

The book of midget.

your is, bound to be there. Choice Says one Principal Librarian: "It is a

anyone place where who wants any beck on any subject in Any language and who has failed to get it else- where can be sure to find

Some of the library users are stranger than the fetien in it. Types like the seedy senolar. looking up research for some author, or hot-eyed revolution- aries devotedly compiling

projects that

will

enormous never see a printing press, all Pass through the British Museum Reading Room every day.

THE ECCENTRICS

Usually the escentries who gather there are hardly noticed by the staff One fellow, how- overy, did rather upset the scholarly calm of the place. He was A dress reformer, who would order all the available books on nudism. After a

a day's would Study, he

THE CHINA MAIL- SATURDAY, MAY 7,1955.

"Watch this M.P. pick my brother up we've painted him all over with treacle."

I HAVE TO ‘NAG' HIM-FOR HIS OWN GOOD!

MY LIFE

with the

AGA KHAN

Cannes. luxurious, sun- -N 1

washed Riviera villa,

I have been talking to march out of the Reading Room one of the world's most and throw off bis macintosh, fabulous women the which was his only garment. Begum Aga Khan.

This eccentricity in the raw, as

it were, really did cause a few death ago ber hores Mili- raised eyebrows. It was only tary Court. won the Lincoln- after threatening to deprive him first big event of Britain's Hat of his reader's ticket that, the racing season dress reformer ceased his ex hibitions.

This apart, the British Museum Reading Room staff handle all types and a variety of requests with scholarly

was

TRC Begum

delighted when she heard the news, for Military Court had been pub- lely upped by her husband, the Aga Khan.

The Begum nearly covered of Military Court when cost the elency. They rarely fall toit won the Lincoln. She bought

recall the breathless

rise to any occasion, and they the horse for "about £3,000" as a yearling. And the "Lincoln" prize money is £2,748.

often

young

man who asked for

portraits of Aristotle,

and

Demosthenes

Plato After

scanning them intently he ያዩ። turned them to the librarian, saying: dare say you want to know why, I wanted to see the portraits of those three men? Well, I dined with them last night."

KARL MARX

DREAM HOMETM

As I chatted to the tall," beautiful and supremely elegant Begum, she told me what it is like to be the wife of one of the richest men.

BY THE BEGUM

AGA KHAN

(In an interview with Joe Hollander)

Khan keeps to no special diet in order to retain her elegant slimness. In fact, meals at Yakymour are the highlights of the days The Age Khan is gourmet gastronomy is one of his hobbies and it is he who menus with

the

Chef Day's

Hangmining the wines which

She

the meals is the Begum special

province. *personally superintends the

stocking of the wine cellar.

After lunch on fine days she usually takes, the Aga Khan for ́a drive in her 33 h.p. Cadillac convertible, with herself at the wheel

In his work on behalf of the Ismael community, of

which

the

be is hereditary reigning prince and religious Frame Aga

Khan has no stauncher supporter than his wife.

OWN. PLAN

of.

in

She is particularly interested in promoting the welfare -the Ismaell women and

liberating them from age-old Oriental prejudice and restric- tions.

"The Begum loves the theatre, the ballet, music, architecture, painting and sculpture.

"This winter, In Assuan dur- ing my husband's convalescence. I started to paint," she told me.

1 was inspired by Sir Winston Pastime, and it has taught me Churchill's book, Painting as a

- great deal".

"Like any other husband, the Aga Khan needs looking after," said tbe Begum, who is the third European wife of 78-year-

The Aga Khan and the Begum Many a famed world. per-ald

Mohammed Aga Sultan sonality has found something Khan.

the name flow "easily off

"Many

women often 'on the shelves there to help

"Although not a difficult man, the tongue.

write to me asking for advice make his mark on the world, my husband likes an active life

When I asked the Begum to on women's social work, about widen his knowledge or spark and cannot easily renconcile

describe his imagination. It was there himself to slowing down for a Yakymour she replied: "No day daughters and, often, on per- a typical day at choosing good schools for their that Kart Marx's treatise on while after his recent illnesses.

When it is ever really typical here. sonal problems, "Das

Bible Capital," the

of So always to remind him it

1 have

re There are always lots of visitors known that His Highness is ill

the house and magnificent Communism, Was

to take things easier, to be care- compiled to

important official Ietters are gardens of Yakymour were from lengthy researches. ful of his health, to wear an on social or official calls and my im

as a hostess keep me often addressed to me.” T it is chillyin duties of overcoat when it

planned by the Begum herself. However. Lusy her day may "It was a treeless hill before short, to nag him for his own busy.

the There is generally a small be the Begum always adheres house built, 17 years long good. Jusl

of other

was party for lunch; one day it to two details of her routine ce

she said. Today it is a beautiful, exotic garden, a

com below ham or the Marchioness of

codes and a twice daily bination of features of horticul- in her own pool, once tural and botanical art taken

25, the assumed name

Library

period.

Lenin visited

daily over

a

the

Just like

chatted,

He hardly spoke 10wives the world" out might be Mr Somerset Maug- light breakfast of crange ........

anyone, but always had friendly smile for the staff.

As we a

across the terrace.

Samuel Butler read there three days a week from 1877 to his death in 1902. He always shore

by borrowing one particular book, which he later was just the right

leht And,

started

this

Africa

gum. "DUKE'S VISIT

or

The. Aga Khan's - Fons by ;)

4

Un closed sun-lounges, all de-

us lay Cannes with its villas, its Milford Haven, or other friends swim luxury hotels, and the sweeping and neighbours on the Cote before lunch and again just be from Persia, Arabia and Pro- crescent of the palm-bordered d'Azur. Or important guests fore bedtime. The pool is flood- vence.

lit and heated during the winter with golden sands. from Pakistan or East "Yakymoun

is my dream home

evenings which, even on the The Frincess's love of light, gaiety and colour is reflected in said the

Riviera, can sometimes be Cs the rooms are airy, with bright, the interior of the villa, where come true, said

indeed,

previous marriages, Pri size on which to rest his wait-cream-coloured villa with the "Sometimes there are extra

Prince Aly warm-tinted walls and glass- ing pad. George Bernard Shaw

young „gay,

sun-blinds, scarlet

set special VIP.s like the Duke of Khan and the educated himmelt there in five mong cypress and orange-trees. Edinburgh, who lunched and Sanuddin, do not live at

signed

bring the gardens and years of assiduous, hard read-

mour. Aly has his own, fabu- out-of-doors right

Into was planned and built entirely dined with us.

"Then there

on house. de l'Horizon Ing.

according to her ideas.

dre problema Tous Chateau

San- Although books

Yakymour!

Set in her occasionally

clothes An exotic, arising each day from the beavy nearby Cole Juan, while disappear, the British Museum Oriental-sounding

but mail which arrives both for the ruddin name,

still • at Harvard

Both are frequent restrained tones.

Begum's tastes are for quiet, has a very good record for actually only a combination of Aga Khan and myself. My hus University. garding its vast collection of the Begum's own initials, Y band always discusses these visitors to Yakympur whenever volumes and most of the valuvette A-ga K-han, plus part of with me, and I am able to re-they are staying on the Riviera. able items missing in the past the word amour. They in lieve him of much of the burden Exteptionally tall dew years have been recovered. the middle was-inserted to make of his correspondence.

નવ

forma

LOVES HORSES

Although she Frenchwoman, the Princess A,

JUMP (and run, dive, swim) TO IT, FROGS

From DONALD wise-

Johannesburg. can beat Leaping Lena,

You can be in the big money

chance.

the

the

occasionally

visits the salons of Dior, Bal- main and the other great Parisian designers, her favourite is Madame Gres, for she feels that despite the fame of the great male couturiers, women better than

men

woman's

for understanding? n's basic fashion' Instincts. But of all her varied interests, animals

probably take first her like. She loves

places & racehorse owner

horses

in her OWN right, with 15 horses Cocos Islands and the heavy entering a toush BOAC plots air. Add another 55, a month in training at Harry Wragg's

Newmarket stables weights from the U.S. and are combing the 50 countries the stabling fees per head and

And, of course, there are

are her Australia-you haven't a load's airline touches for champions................ That is, guarantees them pets tay Yakymour Mithou, damp bed, plenty of jumping bon and Simba. Mithou W the lady of Durban, who can Whats all this about? Well,

Brightest hop (sorry, hope) is practice, and a strictly training (the name is Hindustani for the World Frog Olymples are

the aforementioned Lena, who diet of garden insects."

Something Sweet

eet) is a grey #clarting at Margate, 90 miles will be out to beat her record of

And there are no Immigration and red. Congo parrot spaniel-is from: Buben on May 212- *720) Mini 4in. three bounds.

be high and long Vhough wizard you some say (freestyle), and diving, Lega has been but out of her, 240, and 960, (inches) stride, by the recent decision of fand dashes,

a herpetologist

bo studies

Jump 321

Cendry list (1s a frog) reptiles) now open, Already 600 are Uning up. Matal's--police are thr

blems unless the come

ething

Gok

And

by the

her on

London Express Service

Step up employee efficiency!

INSTALL

Remington

ROOM AIR CONDITIONING free estimates" from

Sole Agents

V. Spalinger & Co., Ltd. Engineering Dept.

York Building Tel. 37061.

MOUSON

AFTER A HARD DAY

RELAX IN A

PARKER KNOLL

Chath

•Traditional beauty

contemporary com fort Parker-Knoll chairs give you the best of both worlds." Try sinking into one

see how the lateral tension springs conform to your every move-

without

megs murmur.

SOLE AGENTS FOR PARKER KNOLL

Lane Crawford's

it's peanuts

15

the few more pennies you pay for the lots more comfort you get when you wear..

Jockey

Would your

SHORTS

Mods only, br

Insist on the GENUINE

Jockey

all Fine stores

watch have

time on the sea-bed?

kept

WEARING. Rolex Oyster Perpetual,' a professor of Milan University went for a swim off Capri.' But the strap-buckle was loose, and his watch broke from his wrist, and sank to the bottom. Without much hope, the professor asked some divers, working nearby, to keep an eye open for his watch. Surprisingly, seven days later, they actually found it, and it emas, still keeping, perfect time.

It is not really so incredible. For this superb watch, completely protected from water and sand by the famous Oyster waterproof case, is automatically wound by the Perpetual "rotor" mechanism- another Rolex invention.

It is in their ability to stay, accurate under such incredible tests of endurance that Rolex watches prove their immunity from the more normal ills that beset an ordinary watch.

(similar:

ROLEX

Page 5Page 6