1958-06-28 — Page 5

Presenting_Another Hongkong Short Story

THE CHINA MAIL,

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1958,

By George Ramage

My Chameleon

You know how it is.

•

You sometimes pick

up any old book, skim idly through it, and just occasionally come across a few words or an illus- tration, and you stop, and you think, and per- haps you exclaim, "Now isn't that funny? It re- minds me of....

all

But there I go, burbling on when I really want to tell you about Kay Carter, who rocketed into my life in that dreamy summer of 1956, A golden time, a golden woman.

2

We-that is, Kay and didn't last long. but then one becomes philosophic about that sort of thing. don't you think? Our affair, it I must use hackneyed term for something that lingers in the memory, was like a tropical sunset-beautiful, * silmutaling,

Inevitably and brief.

came

"... Called Kay. That.

Affectionately, Of Course,

And She Liked It...

Not very original, not very ture and humidity combined in rubtle, but it shook me out of that special kind of Hongkong my inertin. I turned and looked, purgatory, Kay suddenly flew and suw a dark, intense woman, into a snarling rage, and yelled the most metalute, harsh, twenty-fiveish, and quite atroci in ously dressed in the height of common voice: "For God's sake fussiness, perched on a high bar stop purring over me as if I'm stool next to me. But her voice! pour fame pet. I refuse to keep without doubt, the it up any longer. It wears me She had, mast soul-stirring volce a man out, all this "tolitering like u could wish to hear. i didn't broken-down duchess. Now no matter at pil what she said. Sho away-you make me sick!" 1 hud in Inel a genius for saying TUCK to flabbergasted I just nothing beautifully. I simply went, and that was that. sat there and listened, kept the drinks mobile, and gave the her necessary

to keep CUCZ falking.

was utterly captivated. I suppose the place filed up-1:

usually did and empiled, but I Well, I was thumbing through never noticed the comings and the first book to hand this very goings. Then the captain began night and

D across În flick the lights off and on, the brightly-coloured picture of a band stared mournfully ahead, chameleon, And on read the and she stood 13. aald so caption.I chuckled. It said: casually, "I'm Kay Carter, Sec "A creature noted for its power you tomorrow--here," and was inge. Just like that, Didn' of changing colour; constant or versatile person." enen tegit for a ft. Shattering. Now, I used to call Kay my chameleon, Affectionately, of course, and she liked it,

It all began because of a sui- den urør

to escape from my study life flat and cool down at one of the beaches Purely by chance I decided on Repulse Bay, cosaed my sleepy coupe into something like mobility and crawled along the coast road. I was just another little the infintie or man seeking meeding a change. I swept into the parking area at Repulse Bay with a certain abandon and an uncertain skill, and made for the Astoria, a drink-spot" of gomrohat decrepit splendour.

I just sat there, shping my brandy dry. and letting the day's frustrations trift venti! Quay. It was the quiet even- in hour at the tall-end of a scorching day, and the cool sea- breeze talked away ทพ 1erariness. Through the open windows I could see the many islanda, the man nice, K couple of broiled humans, and one nondescript dog scrabbling for treasure with frantic paws. it all didn't Bren to maller very much.

This, for me, was the moment of truth. I aŭt up stifly 'and said, rather owlishly, with the brandy working overtime, "This wouldn't be Kay Carter you'ro talking about, now would i Bill was completely shattered, and gasped, "But rea-do you know her?"

blah,

However, BIU really

Let's Take Hongkong's Word

By R. W. Thompson

In thb samo way they adopted It was then that sanity

ro-CANGUE turned, and I murmured that I

another inaccurate term-China "A had met her very casually, that

from the same language. In square board, or passing, we I knew just

remember, that it what he meant portable pillory of wood, was the Portuguese whe gavo about her voice, and what a used in China as a punish- Europe many names for Enalern great pity it was blah, blah, ment." This punishment was countries, including Japan and mitten. He'd worked out some of Hongkong. Ita weight CAN DO?

waa once known to residents the erroneous Siam, hairbrained scheme to rope certain Miss Tingleton, a self- Was limited by law to 20 confessed, voler expert, to work pounds and its main func the necessary miracle with Kay'stion waN to prevent its Billy wearer from eating during fond blessing, and left thethe day. It was removed Antoria gurgling to myself at Falc's sense of humour.

during the night.

vocal chords. I gave

I didn't see Bill again for four The following days seemed or five weeks, and Kay was com pletely oul of circulation, cadless and very emply. I never saw Kay at all. I couldn't Fractising her Intonation, I sup

Once or twice I was bring myself to call her.

One pose,

hus one's pride. So I haunted tempted to ring her and ask her the Astoria, hopefully, and drank the time, but my sense of fair

tol, morbidly.

play prevailed,

One evening when the drink- cherita in front of me looked ke the lower of Pisa, and I was down iny millionth gushing brandy, I was slapped fore!bly on the back, choked over my glass and turned to find Bill Frobisher beaming at me as if he'd won a State lottery, He was i anauseatingly breezy mood, and kept on and on about He'd got himself to-unofficially,

some woman engaged course,

it

*

་་་

Ia It possible? This phrase seems to be related to the Cantonese construc- tion tak m tak?

Leland quotes the tale of a mandarin who "accing a small English sailor thrash a large one. excialmed, Hai yah! little man can do." Leland also points out that My no can do that may mean "I will not do it:”.

This is a Portuguese word cangs, 'ox-yoke'. Its etymology was, in the past somewhat ob- scured by the fact that the Tartars who introduced it to China called it kanggial and then

used the expression Cantonese k'ang ka to wear the fetter."

A friendly correspondent ends letter full of wise suggestions with the full phrase can do or no can do?

The same word appears in CATCHEE Bowyer's Journal (Cochin China, 1090):

were stapped on the cheeks with

a small strip of leather, Instead, CANTON

possess; hold.

Leland offers several examples

CHAIR

in Hongkong. In the same Often used for sedan-chair

way cadera (Standard Portuguese cadeira, chair) was used in the old dialect of Macno.

A derivative of catch. "He was imprisoned, conced, menning get: have; own; tormented but making friends Then one grey, rainy early with his Money....was cleared, evening the Astoria trio was and made Under-Customer... vamping Its lugubrious way In Staunton's Embassy it is of this word in use: My look. through an off-beat version of observed that "the punishment wee one plecre man St Louis Blues, and I had just of the

catches I saw a man eating: cha, usually called by ohow-chow, pushed my glass under the bar-uropeans the sangue, in general. My catchee walto, I am—or um when bay's bioot nose for a repeat, ly inflicted for petty

crimes, to be married; My no catches gloomy voice monued: |(1707). Make that two."

A Frenchina, Leon one in inside allo that housee, I have not one friend all that Roussei, in A Trayers la Chine, It was Bill,

published in 1878, remark that family.. There was no greeting, just this punistusent

was probably a thundering, "Do you know what that hell-cat did to me?" I

never Inflicted on women who drew myself up fairly enct on my bar-stool and asked, "Are you referring to Kay Carter, the you Jove?" "Bah!"* woman growled ill, and then poured out the whole grisly story.

Apparently, less than half an hour before, he'd met Kay in the cocktail bar nearby, but hadn't recognised her at frat, She was, according to Bill, dressed in the most extraordinary get-up, and made him feel quite ashamed,

She must have noticed this, because suddenly, in her most throbbing Fingleton voice, she had drawled, "My dear Bill, she walked this is the way I like to dress. Hortense, who scraped a proud like a goddess, looked like on It wears me out stalking around living Giving aristocratie advice, angel, and was dressed like "ike a clother-horse. Now, go on what to do when and what He groped for the magic word. away you make me sick.” And ke a dream?" I queried. Bill, bless him, was so astonish- to wear always, -

and felt sorry immediately, But cd that he just went,

Well, of course we met again, the next day. Same time, same

He insisted that the drinks place. Do you know what her

were entirely on him, and so Best words were? She said, "

I felt it only right and proper gather you don't like my clothes. Well, do something about 1," that I should pay some little at was absolutely shaken.

tention to his maunderings. I had a vague recollection of drivelling seemed that he was completely the pre-swept off his feet by this woman. about drens-sense on vious evening, but couldn't for Apparently, he'd been sitting in the Mc of

remember some cocktail bar nearby when

i had glided the most at criticising her particular taste or lack of it. But that's how it tractive woman in this world, or out of it for that matter. Hair, makeup, clothes all absolutely a tops according to Bill,

goes.

ne

So, ever one to accept challenge-in-the-weeks-that--- Tollowed "I"did" do something about it. took up this crusade, and her appearance noticeably Improved, thanks Inrgely to that lovable old battleaxe, Madarne

Kay was being groomed for for what? I never Have it o thought. But the result of all This was that within two months that voice was linked to as chic and as poised a woman as you could wish.

I was sublimely happy. had created my masterpiece

In the far corner of the bar, behind me a rather moth-eaten was also sublimely unconscious at These of the increasing despendency of trio plugged away Foolish Things. I hummed the my perfected woman, melody softly 10-myself, pushed were odd moments when I be my glass towards the bar-hoy, gan to feel that she was just and asked for a repeat.

alle waspish, but I quickly sbrugged that one away.

A cool, female voice next to me drawied, "Muke that two,

18

"Do you know,

☆

I needn't have worried. 2011 I'm afraid I didn't сот was oblivious to that sort of miserate with Bill as much as T thing.

might have done. I had an urge "That's it exactly," he to rush to the nearest telephone exclaimed, “but......... "

and ring that cocktali bar There was a long pause here, nearby. Which I did. And and I eventually bridged the when Koy came on the line and said in that wonderful voice that she was just about to have an-' other drink, I said, "Make that two, dear,"

I Ep.

Do I

"You said 'but,: Bill. I

gather that you are a little un- certain about something?" Bill smalled ruefully. There

"That's Then I went smartly back to "It's im- Bill, slapped him a fond farewell just 1," he groaned. possible to believe, but she on his bowed shoulders, waved actually has the "mosi grating, gully to the three beetles Jazzing harsh, metallic voice I've ever 'One Fine Day,' and went to join 1.card.

cacrilege, that's my mcst inceariant what it is. Almost as if you versatile chamel.com, caught the Venus de Milo croak- -ing 'Cor blimey","

Then it happened. One even- fp, when the soaring tempere-

A British Crossword Puzzle

2

3

4 15

19

10

12

13

116.

19

20

21

22

2.J

24

25

126

27

28

29

30

31

ACROSS

32

DOWN

1 They may be taken in a box 1 Spot of refrestunent! (0),

(6).

4 Please pass! (6).

8 Sacred boete (0),

10 Flower, partly Easter (5).

12 Scarlet athlete? (8).

34 True, from the line the RE

joined up (1),

17 Tax on u ring? (4)..

19 Singers (7).

20 It's no use, ho's sick (7).

2 Mark II (5).

3 Refrain from killing (8).

ན་

5 These aren't over-weight (4). The spirit of progress, shall we say? (8).

7 Puls one's name down (6) ;

A question of arson, It seems (7).

11 Squatter's dog? · (0),

13 is found wanting? (7)

** 22 Base for a apenker (4)........19 Scottish island (4).

29 Fertiliser (7)

.(0).

29 Wrong It's a girl. (5),

30 What d'ye-call-it, (0),.

18 Gives over (0),

18 Tast time (4).

21 Very manly (6)

1

27 Keeps the subjects in order?

20 Ladles have them (0).

24 They ruled at one time

(B).

4

20 Glye' pralso.(B).

28 Man, maybe (4).

31 Players and lawns may be 25 Fish in a corner (3).

32 Dandy aca-ntotion (6).

It's

(COPYRIGHT)

and

PARADE

BIG-EVEN FOR TEXAS: dropped

the title because he

A treasure trove of more than could not keep it up.

a quarter of, a million silver

dollars has been found in t His grandfather, * retired secret cellar in the Houston English magistrate, used the mansion of Texas oll million- aire James M. West.

West, who died last December, liked to hand out silver dollars to passers-by.

His family knew he kept stock of them somewhere, they hired detectives to find

it.

tille, but his father, "an easy- going man" who worked here as a customs officer for 36 years, dropped it.

Samwell worked a litt for 13 years, He wants the title to pass to his son William, a 19- 60year-old university student. "It is not everybody." sald, "who can trace ancestors who fought at Grecy."

The men crawled under the house to reach the cellar 'and found the money stacked in cot- ton bags, paper sacks, water- barrels and petrol cans.

be

THE DOCTOR'S ADVICE: "Going steady"

between

It took seven tripa by on teenagers la dangerous, says Dr armoured car to take the money away, and it made a pile five feet high in an area of eight by ten feet in a strong room at the Texas National Bank,

West was one of the great Texas eccentrics. His great hobby was riding on night patrol with Houston policemen.

His personal fleet of care in fcluded 41 Cadillacs with elabor-

ale radio equipment,

His home was a maze of dis- appearing doors and other trick devices. He is believed to have left more than £30 million.

•

'

•

W. W. Wigle, a school-doctor. in a report to the Northwestern Ontario Youth Conference.

"The practice results in a loss of social contact, and the youths" studies often suffer," he said.

Besides, there was the danger

of too close an intimacy. The time to begin dating varied in accordance with the Individual and the home,

"However, teenagers should keep to their own age and the doctor functional groups," added,

BUN-BATH-

HAZARDS OF ING A hunter mistook the trim ankle of a sun-bathing Roman

BIR WILLIAM, .... THE LIFT. MAN? WÜliam Samwell, 58- year-old retired Cape Town girl for a quall-and took a shot

liftman, claims he is Sir William Samwell.

He has traced the Samwells back to the reign of Edward the Third. The title was created in 1075,

Samwoll says he is

a direct

at it.

Patrizia Ginelli 22-year-old

got Dur brunette, decided to tamed all over, She ́cholo, a secluded spot among shribeat Focene Beach, outside Houle, ty

*The qually hunter ( BAW

FRIDAY'S. SOLUTION—Across: 3- Bordører, 8. Hold 9 Publican, 11 Caro-US A.-I, 12. Erva, 15 Forecast, in Hear hear, 19 Orbs 1 Football, 25 Disciple, 20 Flow (rov), 27 Remédial. Downs 11 Chic(ago), 2 Blur, 4. On-us, 8 boll, e Recur, descendant of Sir Thomas, the "Patrizia's ankle move and let 7 Range, #Punch, 10 Balsa,12 Amour, 14 Bhall, · 10. fret baronet, His, groat grand- loose with his shotgun.. Doctors Assop, 17 Trite, 19 Order, 20, Besom, 21 nd, 22 Olga, father, William, retired from, say Patrizia's" wounds are not 23 Axle: 21. Lawn

the Royal Navy on half-pay and ... serious. -

the

This should properly be name of the province Kwang Tung, broad east the capital being called, amongst

other names,

Kwong Chou. The English took the name from Portu- guese Cantao.

I can never be sure whether

are offering me a chair or the

the pedicab drivers of Macao

Cantonese ch'e 'vehicle.

An old spelling of this word, recorded by welters such as Leland is char.

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