1955-10-22 — Page 8

Page 8.

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1955.

TTHEN

Mr

Earl Black- well emer- gCA from

his Mid-Manhattan bachelor apartment at exactly 10 a.m. every day and strides to- ward his office on Fifth Avenue he is a boom of Hurtorial splendour.

His trousers are held up by a gold-tipped Florentine belt given him by Miss

Ginger Rogers.

ATC

The solid gold cuff links in Jits hond-made Italian shirt from Miss Joun Crawford, and bla 212 Imported silk tic s memento

Д

from Mis

Gloria Swanson.

He extracts cigarettes from a

gold

case airmalled from Parls

by the Aga Khan, and the paper noney in his pocket is held securely in a gold cilp, a little thing contributed by Miss

Tallulah Bankhead,

"Espionage'

TH BLACKWELL modestly

met.

A

Indeed, to the general pubile he is as anonyinous as man who works under a man- hole cover,

and

0

ZBA ZBA GABOR

scribers all over the world for But in the frantic though

an estimated return of £180,000 relatively limited world of

4 усаг the celebrity 40-year-old

Blackwell reports the move. Earl Blackwell 19 an elegant ani menta of celebrities in Hotly.

Washington. New York, handfonte combination

wood, of

London, Paris, and Rome. With guardian, father confessor, roving ambassador, and thus the help of 40 paid assistants man of unquestioned importance. and hundreds of volunteer

As a founder and now prest. Including the celebrities them. has learned dent of an organisation called selves. Blackwell Celebrity Service, Blackwell the directer of a vast espionage system which keeps track ΟΙ 100,000 big Rmes, dead OK adive, and he sells that Information to hand-picked sub-

some

of

·ROŠĂLIND RUSSELL

SARAH CHURCHILL

JOAN CRAWFORD

GINGER ROGERS

FAME

IS HIS

BUSINESS

BLACKWELL

anyone, and consequently Black- well-wre cool in his reply.

"Are you a subscriber to our service?" he asked.

am

He knows who will endorse a bratch at the public library. cigaroties and what the fee will but that she can be fired to a be. He known which ones will food convention because she has a lively interest in properly lend their celebrated names and faces to fashion shows, or world prepared victuals,

"I am not," the caller said. premieres of hotels, filme, or

astriali fee Blackwell w "I For

this

man's personal that Conversely, he can also convida

Miss

Bette physician, and he just called me clients to avoid certain Davis probably would not go to say that he took too many advise state becatise they get drunk or out

of her start lights.

way to meet the sleeping pills. But he didn't say

Is apt to leap aboard any train to tell you there's no time to be headed towards a dog show. lost."

L

I report em. BL

DLACKWELL knows that if a young woman registurs in a what famous people, unlisted mume Jean Kennerley,

cat Mexico City hotel under the and drink. He has their

she is phone

numbers, and knows really Barbara Hutton, hiding where they hide out when they behind an altas. He knows that ur Miss Gloria Swanson will not are pursued by writ servers

make a personal appearance in snoopers,

ARGENTINOS ARE PROUD

OF THEIR NEW FIRST LADY

ENERAL

From JACK COMBEN

she

pitno

don

BARBARA HUTTON"

Lon-

America's Early Election Fever

From RENE MaçCOLL

New York As he wearily prepared to go

bed after the full

Tone nuole of feverish extent of the dipster was clear

O this hectic American off home to

urgency has just been reporter dpproached him and added, following on the ill- asked if he would rum again in ness of President Eisen- hower.

out political

1950.

Turning to an aĺde Stevens

In this streamlined age, what Then a clot in the Presi-

tid

heart, and

or changed, Ike,

Wes

Until the night of September son remarked: "Have that man's 24, when he had his heart head examined!" attack

all the wiseneres were of course the Democrats repeating that, next year's gritied new marato સ timo tagious, wide-eyed, sinall-boy presidential election would un worship of celebrities. Earl la doubtedly be the briefest in went by but even so, until lico was smitten, nobody thought in a male-believe world American political history. The that their candidate would be living where all the stories come true," public, so they said, were fed anything but a sacriücial lamb she says.

up and bored with the old-time in November of 1956. With offices in

drawn long Paris und a working campaigning. representative in Rome, Black- well apeads almost six months with TV and so on. obroad each year.

three brisk and vivid weeks When he is in New York were all that would be called Blackwell is a familiar figure for. at the отета, at society fune- How wrong! tions, or at any one of a dozen The campaign has swung theatre first-nights.. He has a into top speed anth is now going wardrobe of some 28 sults, and at full blast-nine months be- his necessaries, as noted, gen-fore the two nominating col erally contain gold in one formventions are to take place and er another.

over a year before the nation will actually go to the, polls.

It is a political phenomenon. I personally have seen nothing

the man with the magical smile, the man nhy- whom no one could do thing but like, is removed. Tho field is wide open.

Statistics

And striisties show (to quợta alivourite American advertis- ing gambit) that there are more Democrats than Republicans' in this nation.

Out of place

And so everyone has got into TTIS

the act. Hope shines bright His handsome apartment on like it, in experience of the

West 64th-street is studded past three presidential battles. among the Democrats. And with gew-gaws from personal

cx-President popular But I can tell you this. As I when Winston friends a desk set from Sir have wandered around behind Harry Truman decided to speak Churchill's daughter the Democratic and Republican warmly on a platform alongside Sarah, a valuable oil painting

64-year-old "Honest Avo" queen of England, but that she where he was, and I don't have from Elsa Schiaparelli, on ivore political scenes in the past few

recently everyone 1 Harriman Now York, ira Madonna from Rosalind Russell.could have been forgiven for sald: "Wow! Harry for Ave,

Blackwell has lost his aplomby thinking that the elections were That lots out Adlai only once.

coming up in a fortnight's time. Last winter in West Palm Beach, Barbara Hutton, and her then husband Portirio Rubiroga invited him to join them for a late, informal supper.

B

I'm dying'

#

As Miss Ginger Rogers Boye affectionately: "Earl keeps such close tabs on us that I almost feel disloyal if I don't call him up every night and report that I've just gone to bed."

The sleeping hours of cele- brities, of course, are only miner detalls in

Blackwell's huge dossier, and His över-all rapport with their daily lives sometimes involves him in drámatte situa- trons

that any sensible author or playwright would reject as being corny or contrived.

One night last year Blackwell was alone in

The lar New York the

was saved, and he office when the telephone rang

still does not know Blackwell's and a stràined voice demanded role in the affsir, the private addrees and tele-

Blackwell s

phone number of famous

A

entertainer who is a notorious hypochondriac.

Buenos Aires. She belongs to one of the An accomplished planist,

Some weeks earlier, when the Eduardo Argentine's oldest famles and has had to give up the

man gave Blackwell the listing. descendarit is a direct

of Don recently, "You don't get much he had extracted a promise that

you have

GLonardi is turning the eronne Laus de Cabicca, who time when

a target vould not be revealed

Argentine Into "the happy founded Cordoba City where finally and a revolution to at-

revolution ominst Peron tend to." land." Every freestom stifled the

Dona Mercedes has two am- by dictator Peron is being broke out on September 10.

Unlike Evita, there is no show bitions. No. 1 is to wrlie-"but rapidly restored. Now you about Dona Mercedes. She re- only for myself," she says. "I in the drawing am much more feminine than get smiles in Government celves visitors offices where before you got The rooin

room of her private residence. feminist,

is usually full of dirty looks.

flowers, mostly orchids and

The false smile Of "Big roses. Brother" Peron no longer stares down from every other wall.

bolleve it is a woman's task and duty help the poorer classes, not only malertally, but also in the spiritual sense.

Ambition No. 2~0 visit

and Eutrope. "My husband hope to go soon," she says. non and you will be welcomed

started When the revolution by a good cup of tea-itself a

Jast

Dons Mercedes month rarity the Argentine for

near home-made sought refuge at n hostel years-and

Cordoba,

Cone too are the pictures Li Drop around during the after-

Peron's dynamic blonde

The Late Evita.

Now the Argentinos have

a new first lady, and there

wife.

1x

many

no doubt that the majority of them are

Senor Dad of her

Achavel

scores

Mercedes Villada Dona Mercedes hos a cook de Lonardi k Just and two maids, but still takes as good-looking as Evita, though time out to do her own cooking. in a more refined way.

"The general likes home cook

A striking brunette, who ad- Ing." she tells you with a cap-

side tivating smile. mits she is on the wrong

of 40, she is above all a family

woman.

Deeply religious,

"I am the wife of the revolu- she told the tonary leader," German owner. "Will you take me in?"

♫

"Yes," was the answer. Before dawn one morning wock later there was a knock al she spends her door. The proprietor told

Белога,

Is triumphant.

She is the mother of three much of her spare time rending her: "Congratulations, sons and two daughters, and books with a spiritual message. The revolution

and Author Graham Greene is grandmother of two boys

favourite. two giris.

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daya here

The

Excitement

own

And what a to-do on the Ro-

Those publican camp!

poor DLACKWELL suspected

got chaps have simultaneously

look practical joke and he asked

to try to

sympathetic no neglect the caller to hold on.

He grab-

is terrific, about Ikeand ,exeltement

their bed another line, dialled the

The activity frenzied. Long dis- chance of pushing celebrity's number and almost At the end of the evening, nstance phone calls to Albany, the candidacy A difficult trick.

the women are Incidentally, Instantly heard a voice cronk- they started for home, Barbara State capital of New York ing:

in power For plucked at Blackwell's elbow where Governor Averell Hatri- even more of

the "That you, Doc?

"Earl, I want

nowadays and sold:

than formerly. land God's sake hurry! I'm dying!"

man resides, are slacked up and Blackwell replaced the re- make a note of something. May waiting by the scores. The De-

And these Indies are tough. celver with embarrassment, and I borrow your pen?"

mocratic machine here in New Pouches under their beady eyes. promptly gave the doctor the Blackwell reached into his York is operating all out. Hats Strictly for the main

brother, pocket and extracted a ballard in the ring and. gauntlets State your business address.

down being flung

right, and state it fast, point pen given to him by a re

Az out in lobby the male publicity-minded young actress left and centre.

retainers and chuckers-out and New York a week before,

Ike's heart attack has brought hangers-on look mighty re- Just as he handed it to Bar- about the transformation scene, spectful and murmur throatly: bara le remembered too late, when he won the 1952 election "You know bud, if you want to that on the barrel of the pen, the Democratic Party of his in gold letters, were the words: Roosevelt and Truman) seemed gotta clear it with

(of get anywhere around here you "With the compliments of Zarretelevably smashed. You may worthy."

genuinely awed by the growth of his celebrity network, and modestly credits it to the dediented zeal staff. But Gloria Swanson, a veteran scrapper In the often Zsa Gabor." brutal scrimmage for fame, says Binckwell's secret is con

*

recall the characteristic

unsuccessful candidate.

the

chance.

Mrs Clot-

Yes, in America today the the hand that rocks the cradle rung

wise-

DEAN JENNINGS crack of Adlai Stevenson. • the election.

ALONG HELL

HELL ROAD

G

by Richard Pape

PAPE, ex-RAF bomber navigator and author of the bøst-selling novel “Boldness Be My Friend," is driving from the Arctic Circle to Cape Town, a journey never made before by car. He writes now from the rain and mud of Nigeria and the Cameroons as, again and again, he tries to fight a way through to the South.....

Garoua, French

to

this

Back we Johan Brun, my Cameroons. Norwegian co-driver, and I

went to Maiduguri. And next ETTING

day we started on Attempt No. 2. small French centre We tried to get south vin a of Garoua has re- road to Marn more water, presented an agony

mud, and madness.

of frustration, mud, rocks, helped by a Yorkshireman, Ted At a small outpost we were

swimming, and wading. Driver, in charge of roads and

I got here at midnight tracks in that area after three hours of

***Impossible to get over the |digging, mud-wallowing, and rivor for weeks," he sakk. “Lake jacking up the car on a Chad is pouring millions of gal waterlogged track. But I lous of water all over the great central basin. No ferries, no got it out and went on.

every roads; torrential rains

I now look for the worst other day. You must be mad to Kround every corher and hope hope to get through- to the for the best." I am tired of dis- Congo." appointing myself in believing

that the worst is over.

The officials in Kano, Nigeria, told me the, road to Maiduguri

;

'Impossible'

No relaxation

||EDLEMS.

FREERAR

APRÍÐ, ALGERIA

¿LEXA

BABA-R

PEHCH

WEST

FLANY

lung

CONCO

down

Into French

close to the flooded bank-before dropped turning downstream. It took Cameroon territory at Burba, two and a half hours.

where the African police left us,

On the little wooden guay at

Yola

Gerald

stood an

Our car, bent and battered, is Eriglishman,

unbeatable. Like tny Warneford,

education quite officer for the local children. He Stirling, bomber of 1941, it just

police officer for the province of Adamawa, and tho other 40

us to Franke Randall, chief refuses to give up the ghost.

Straight on

Europeans in Yola, who ad- minister 1,250,000 Afrirans.

We spent the night in Yola at a rest house. The English real dents were magnificent, Food, baths, kindness....

From Burha we beat it quick authorities before the French

We motored! tried to stop us. almost 100 miles over a track: which is something stolen from

we got to Garbus... Soon

leave

We told them of our attempts a

for:

to get out of Nigeria, rains, or later way in hell. Twelve hours no rains, They sympathised, but

We'll offered the same information as Ngroundere, and God willing. the French: Impossible, to get along the gain-soaked, rock- through to the Congo on redog strewn track for 600 miles to tha” nised roads until the rains ceased Belgian Congo. about November..

One track

laughed, when

It can be done, carefully, slowly, ruthlessly,

The little French hotel pro- prietor in Ginous, who smokes endless

fat cigarettes, shrugs Randall

ittle shoulders, and says: showed him my map. The road always sald Englishinen were south from Yola didn't exist mad, but at least I thought any more. But he proved magni- Norwegians know better." da ficent. Ho contacted French friends from

French tho,

hlo

Johan Brun shrugs Cameroons; he contacted every shoulders too. "A Cape to Cape one likely to know, of a way.

rocard," he replied. "We started in Norway," One Frenchman knew of one.

The little Frerichman blew out

and spluttered.

But I had to break through that Barrier. My escape training small track over the mountains his cheeks gulped his cognac, in the war-subterfuge, camou- which connected with another finge, and deceit with the enemy track leading south Garoua.

proved useful again. I tried

Incredible

The car, Its badges, the loaded rack, the springs, everything is 8 Bource of wonder to the many

of Nigeria and

rain

the

Apparently, for a

Tired, unshaven, covered in war good. It was a silther-mud, we returned to Maiduguri. a new line. I told the police that He examined the clearance on ing mass of mtíð.

"You'll never do. So ended Attempt No. 2 to find I was an inspector of the publie the Austin.

workca department; that I had to it," he said. "It's pure rock way through to the South.

Inspect the road for hospital two-thirds of the 18 miles; & I checked and rechecked my emergency from Yola on the Land-Rover can just make it.”. maps. One further road existed, River Benue.

argued against them. The officials in Maiduguri told but to reach the start of It at I was taken to the office and would give it a The A.80 Europeans in the tough

go, me that a wonderful all-weather Damaturu we had almost re immediately began to write out had taken a hammering fow arcas tball lay from Fort Lainty, in the trace our way a third of the a report in the policeman's log ears would ever be called upon Cameroons.

felt Cambrooms, through to the Bel- distance back to Kano. I told book. Quite dazed, he unlocked to take. glan Congo. But when we Brun there would be no sleep, the post and I shot ahead

"You'll rip it to got to Fort Lamy, after 180 miles no food, he relaxation until we

the of torture from torrential rains reached it that night.

night

We prayed it Randall, "I can't let you go."

We got we were told We reached the start of the wouldn't rain. It didn't.

I talked him out of it. And he and mosquitoes,

If the car parks up the next has done a wonder- that the road south to the Congo road. It was sealed by the to the River Benue, 170 miles sent his Land-Rover and two isp. it was sealed illt December.... Nigerian Police. We argued. away. Yola was over the river. African police drivers as escort. ful, kredible job which no car

That was our first attempt to, They said

"No" **

I tried

But it won't · Africans 'ferried the car across' Well, we got over the 'moun- has done before. broak through to the Congo, bribery, and again "No,"

- or rather two miles upstream, tains and through the pass. We prole up

JOHNNY HAZÁRD

[SOJAŢHE INSPECTOR : OF SECURITY POLICIAL;

A

„SNAP AND HOW THAT HIS CHIEF BRESLAU DEAD, VON SCHNECKS IN ALL POWERFUL & VI BAFE 15 AND WE AREW

Brun and I drove all throw would stand up to the

WHILE BACK AT KOLN'S FLAT...]

HERR KOLNY YOu VON SCHNECK! ALLE UNDER ARREST.. BUT IT'S YOU HO FOR THE MURDER OF CHREN MENSLAUT

By Frank Robbins:

HMM, 1997) WYQULD TAKE THE, WORD OF A STATELEGE PERION OVER THAT OR VON SCHNEEN 144

THE ADW CAR

sho saloon car with? 7-inch clear-' aners to head south in the rainy. said scuson has always been, con- sidered virtually impossible.

feel confident

situation.

San Miguel