1958-04-05 — Page 13

FARA and I went

to Happy Valley. We'd

managed to back.

Jdt.

enlled.

THE CHINA

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1958.

A

HONGKONG TALE

BY A

STARDUST

aman.

man.

socret. N

been

I was

GEORGE

I watched Robson stand nonplussed, but only for a moment. Then he scurried nfler the policeman, and barred his path. I thought

all the favourites hand, flapped it, and anid, She makes a tidy income asked," Steiger?" A smile he's an crazy as a coot hlu

from writing those precious like the grimace of a skole- acf. So what's he do, th? that were off colour "Hi!"

Before I could 'ndjust little verses in Christmas ton crossed his face, and He keeps moving things in HONGKONG WRITER and all the long-shots myself to this Jack cut in cards, but she has the good then he winked, slowly, as if the house, and then blames Sara, la wilo.. Tells her to that didn't like the with "I ace he's giving you sense to laugh about it, sharing.

the James Dean routine. Well, she kept Sara and mo bless her, put my thoughts answer the telephone when distance, and the last Charles, Get him to tell a mused for Reveral into actual words with a it hasn't rung. Hides the and then, quite sharp, "I liked him better at keys and mages to find race was just coming you about the film he saw moments,

last night whilst I give the suddenly, she put a large fist Happy Valley." And, of them in her handbag. But RAMAGE up. We were debating lady a drink. He's a re to her mouth and hissed, course, it took me quite p I'm telling you, if he doesn't whether to call it a gular film fan, Davie is." "Do you see what I see?" time to explain to an in- watch it they'll be taking mind, and then-there ho

And Sura drawled, "When

credulous Penelopa the him away.” day and go home or you've quite finished with

waa! Waving his puny Othello, strange personality changes to have a final flutter stereophonic sound, dear,

of this very ordinary little is he a very fat woman?" to a policeman, who smiled. “And his wife," I asked, arms, and talking urgently Boing quite honest you could possibly drive me with the housekeep one, and away they went, She was gaping at a strange about it all, I don't think I like a house, end.

Jack laughed. "Fat? She's tolerantly, shrugged his But for shoulders, and strolled away, ing money when up leaving me to the cold stare middle-aged couple seated could properly explain it. all that sho manages to have

some distance away. The His James Dean posturings camo Jack Hunter, of the little man.

"This film you saw," I woman was florid and quite had slightly amused me, but a bit of fun on the side, big, red-faced, with began, "was it good?" disgustingly fat, and next this one made me more than Can't blame her, can you?"

A little uneasy. "Smushing he said. I to this mountain of oozing the peak of his dog-

I said I supposed not, and was flesh was a little wensel of.

I drove back to my flat in went on to tell him about it was the moment for me to It was Robson! 1 cap pulled well down asked him what it

I the Incident in the Rendezy do something about it. So over his fleshy nose. "Giant," he said, Then gave a gasp of recognition, a queer frame of mind.

irritated, intrigued, ous that morning. Jack I crossed over to them. He gave me a wide Victor he teetered on his toes, and saw what hnd startled was

The little man and yes-anxious mughed some more, a little Robson was practically in-

I was coherent. 1 Mature grin, and asked how thrust both hands deep into Penelope.

shouted at I'd been. I said, "Fine, his jacket pockels, and was positively haranguing "What's the mutter?" asked falsely, I thought.

him. "Robson! Robson! Fine," and introduced him chewed his lip. I remarked the fat woman who was Sarn quietly. "Surely you're very depressing company for to Sara. Ile doffed the cap that it was a pity that such nodding her head miserably, not letting that?" "That's Sara the rest of that day. Shut up!" He stopped sud- and began his haven't-we- promising young actor As we watched this mime just it, I am.. He's getting She tried to cajole me out denly, and lonked wildly at me. I think he knew me, mel-some-place-beforę gam- should have died so tragic of the woman's bobbing head in my hair," I snapped. It of my moodiness.

twitching

although I found him great- ally.

Sausage. was all too silly for words. uncojotenble, "The greatest," he and

When

ly changed. His eyes were we got home my It was whilst Sara was said, jogging his head like fingers and the domineering

he said

dilated, and there was al- Then, pro- antics of the man I found boy told me there'd receiving the full treat- marionette.

'phone calls. "Mo

most majestic anger, a ment that I noticed, just ducing a key-ring, he twirled myself muttering, "He's not some bebind Jack, a sad little man it round with one hund and Dean any more." And then catchee numbers," he un- A couple of weeks passed bigness about this scrap of

a cigarette to his it slowly dawned on me nounced proudly just to during which Jack kept me a man. with the depressed air of flipped

I show me that there was posted about Robson. Hard- "Now keep calm, and tell an out-of-work jockey. I thin lips with the other. I what I was watching.

than

1 one genius ly a day want, by without me what's the matter," odded to him and said, said I'd have to be going. was watching not James more "Hullo."

And gave me a his telling me some titbit: ordered. Jack slewed his "Sure," he said, and slouch- Dean, not David Robson, but around.

three There was no amused note Robson looked directly at ball-neck round, muttered ed away, whistling softly yes, I was quite sure-Rod slip of paper with casually, "Meet Davie Rob- through his teeth. I shook Steiger. That was it, Steiger, numbers on it. or rather in his voice now, however. mo. "Oh, it's you," he said,

written it had begun to bother him, almost gratefully. And I| Friend of mine," and my head, and went to find The little man lil cropped the same number 100.

his hair--and--was wearing three times. I recognised too. So, in turn, Jack would noticed, with some surprise. I Sara. switched back to Sara. smiled ruefully at the little

So I snort, "He's Brando today— a resonance, a richness in his The following Saturday steel-rimmed glasses. These it as Jack Hunters,

"I'm trying to tell MAN who responded by horning we were in the he kept taking off and using rang and hold, the receiver. On the Waterfront. What voice.

point his words, at arm's length as he roared, a game!" or "Now, guess this fellow to come and see staring with expression- Rendezvous, dullying over them to

as he did so wearily "Hello! I've been ringing who it is this time, Burt my wife. He won't pay less eyes and twitching a coffee and watching the pinched the top of his nose, you for the last three hours. Lancaster! The Sweet Smell any attention. It happened muscle in his jaw. Then he world go by, when

He How about coming out to of Success! What a little last night-after I'd seen whistled tanelessly, through Penelope's deep voice boom with tensed fingers.

putting on a Fanting tomorrow and giant he ial" and so on, the film. She's been carry clenched teeth, wriggled his ed, "Hello there?" and she was really shoulders, and swayed slow joined us. Penelope is very it was pathetic.

It was comical, no, giving yourself a bit of always a power personality, ing on with another man. And as exerciso?" I said I thought always an inflation of I warned her, but she just ly backwards and forwards. tail, very bony, and has the

we watched Steiger Robson, that was a good idea. "Bring Robson's littleness.

laughed. She was big and Finally he lifted a tired hands and feet of a navy. with an imperious arm the little woman," he bellow.

fat and ugly. but I loved movement, indicated that it ed. I agreed to take the And then one Saturday her. She shouldn't have was time to leave. The fat little woman along, too. morning I saw Robson again, laughed. I'd have forgiven woman subrasively gather- And then, as the thought for the last time, and once her if she hadn't laughed. “ ed-up her belongings-the-truck-me,-I-romarked, "Oh...again at Happy Valley. I'd He slowly turned and bill was paid, and then they by the way, I saw your taken my dog out for exer- with a certain dignity bo- both moved towards the friend Robson today" cise and, for no reason at gan to move off. I motion- door near us. With right Jack snorted. "Davie -boy? all," found myself strolling ed the policeman to go along hand deep-thrust into jacket He's crackers. Do you know around the Racecourse idly with him. "Robson!" pocket the little man stalk what? He's never out of the watching swarms of eager called. He stopped, turned ed wide-legged along with cinemas these days. It's beaver schoolboys playing 4 his head, and looked at me. the woman meekly follow- a disease, that's what it is. near approach to football. I spoke very gently, ing. As they passed our Now take the beginning of It was a bright, stimulating What was the film you table he recognised me with this week. He went to see day. It was happy Happy saw last night?".

quick petulant frown. I 'Caslight'—all about a man Valley. For a short while A half-smile flickered for couldn't resist the tempta- who tries to make his wife I'd pushed the nagging prob- a moment and was gone, tion. I nodded to him and think she's mud, although lem of Robson from my "Othello," he said.

DON'T PANIC After all, says Cummings, even in the home we're always on the edge of destruction

teedie in the court ra marning's sewing.

for example

The shorka to the oSPYDER system when the bruncile that you satrien roanor from The Arraser

Bamleg ved-head

The lethal toys of one's children

The 11te detall that the elevijolan fargotsabout.

That Folly: iltiju-stati

of

The trilling section water-pipe

10 pluinber considered dăn, need

incring

·Bo, nalurilly; the pooliliity of an H-bomb'secidentally Tafileg en me sosreely disturbs, for a second, my pleasure, nikle boda da "spring-

Slane

and.

show.

THE NEW

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HE LEFT: LONDON ARCHBISHOP OF CAPETOWN WRITES ON THE BLACK v. WHITE CONTROVERSY

I MUST!

SPEAK I

by the Most Reverend

JOOST de BLANK

apply, say, in Britain or in France.

The moment We think principles can be adjusted t will, the structure of civilised society, breales down,

ARCHBISHOP OF CAPETOWN. You don't need to live in

IT IS now six months, since Archbishop Joost de Blank loft the East End of London for South Africa. Naturally for a man who has always attacked social Injustice, he has soon become one of the most controvérsial and most attacked figures in the black versus white controversy,

T. is hard to put down my position that nobody can under- first impressions of stand it and that normal judg- ments cannot be applied to it. South Africa. I know that even thinks that Christian IfI voice one word of principles have to be amended criticism I shall receive A 10 sult its exceptional situation. large number of personal_PRINCIPLES. attacks by way of reply.

ARE PRINCIPLES These attacks-will be headed

I am a simple soul who by Cabinet Ministers and 'will range up and down the white belloves that principles do not

years in a country before you daro to say that adultery is : sin; and it is a sin as South Africa as much as in the Middle East of Jesus's day: Nor do you need to be here for 10 yeats before you dare to say that any policy which expresses itself in the exploitation of

the

La conTM raco by another trary to God's will.

In this corection I have one important first impression which Every ought to be recorded:

statement suggesting Jetter or that it is much too early for me to have any opinions; or, to state or principles have always come from members of the white population. odvocate Bilerice for at least 10 years are, 'I find, never, Joern- communities.

Those who

If only it could be freed from Its prejudlecs, South Africa would be about the most won- derful country in the world. Nowhere can you find so rich a variety of scenery. Nowhere

and hospitable people. TOO MUCH IN

THE PAST Its history is short, just over three mindred years, and the South African knows bis count-

of other lands. It may even be try's history as do few citizens

true that many of its inhabi- fants tend to live too much in thus In come ways it is a "Eackward-looking rather-than 'a

forward-looking country.

can you find such warm-hearted

popuplation of the country. For ebalgo just because you happen bers of tho coloured, or African pave been overwhelmed by the

the dyed-in-the-wool South Cross the Limpopo or steam African Kales ali comment into Table Bay. But there are except 100 per cent approval, any number of South Africans "who do. They say that snil Other countries welcome the the business of loving you

neighbour Is "hll 'right' Eng- first impressions of vialtors, or

(oven which indar Holland, but not in resideris they are unfavourable) but not South Afrion; wait till you have South Africa-nol unices they boen horo a few years, they express only admiration and say, and then you will reallso that the colour of your skin. commendation.

makes all the difference, an

TICW

Et is because South Africous

of

I am sure that South Africa is like this only because it

enduro years has had to racial conditioning. FALSE AND

ARTIFICIÁL There is something falso and

artificial about it, and the South,

On occasions the bitternessI of the past pofion the poten- tialities of co-operation in the future, But the people's na- tural genius for friendship generally cures all differences Dining my first few months In the Cape. I and my family kindness and generosity of hosts of those whom we now call Triends though

year ago we did not know they existed. There is no place in the world where the stranger Is 20 warmly welcomed as hè is héro.