1958-10-24 — Page 4

9

Page

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1958..

Mr. MAUGHAM ADMITS A

FLAW IN HIS MAKE-UP

THREE courses

are

-I CAN'T STOP MYSELF CRYING WHEN I HEAR THE MASTERSINGERS'

by SEWELL STOKES

of course, Well don't know what the others are carn- ing....But I think that at the present moment perhaps 7. S. Ellot Isn't doing too badly!"

open to celebrities over 80 (Mr Somerset Maugham was 84 last January) when inter- viewed: to answer the questions put to them; hadn't come up to expectation to murmur "no

com- and which plays were worth seeing? told him to read ment"; to fall asleep. Howard Browne's The Taste of

Calling on

the Ashes, and to see The Flower

"Of all your plays which one Dorchester where he takes ing Cherry-if he didn't mind breath before starting on a mine Sir Ralph Richardson's acting. has made you the most money?" montba globe-trot-ibere

"One that I didn't write my Un the contrary, he thought Sir

11 very clever actor self. An adaptation by someone alph

else of my short-story 'Hain.' Indeed.

"Now ask me anything you' It is always being performed tice," said Mr Maugham, lean- comewhere," ing

Wak

me knowing In what mood I would And Mr Maugham,

Having Ihres hours tre. viously stood before big por- trait by Graham Sutherland in the Tate, 1 did not feet too optimistic,

The difference, however, be tween facing the portrait and feing the man himself is that

back on the couch, 3411 What a ply," I said, think elegant grey sult replacing the ing of My Fair Lady, "that one recent jacket of the portrait, of your plays couldn't be made for into a musical, an earn you a that he has worn at home

nice new fortuna." twenty years.

the portrait regards you with No journal

faint disgust, but the man him- st smiles at you benignly; and elbet

on this ocraston after wolting in eue for 14 envies to see the Byzantine Exhibition at the V, and A.

Alert

[

"People of all classes were querving there," Aa

Mr

Better, I thought, to leave the ore Intimate questions to the

Inst.

A modest smile appeared. "In Vienna an curly play of mine, Jack Straw, is being made into u mustent. And the musicat version of

novel.

טנת

Human Bondage, is promised for production in America next

srason."

1

Lily

life. But I have been lucky-

funsmuch as I have always been able to convert those mistakes Into 'copy' for my storles."

Too modest

I asked what eventually was to become of the paintings of Gauguin, Picasso, Renoir, Tou- louse-Lautrec, und the other treasures in his private collec-

tion.

Mir

"They will have, to be sold after my death," sold Mc Maugham, simply.

Leaving

Maugham's kuxury sulte I recalled his alleged retort to a critic who ac- writing his used him of not best: "Would you rather I wrote books the War and Peace and lived in modest comfort, or am 1 to be allowed to write the popular books I do, and by them earn the luxury I enjoy?"

ever

The wilkely part of that story "Is it true," I began, "that

is that Mr Maugham is far too you always travel on Christinas

"There has recently been

to have Day heutige you like to have revival

modest a man of Interest in the train to yourself? ISC Lungry's life, the result of an imagined himself in Tolstoy's

someone telling outspoken blography. Once you told me you had crossed the me that."

remember

"¡ once travelled on Chistmas Atlantic, in the same liner whil Can you recall anything

Maugham, obviously delighted Day. Not having a family of her, to And rullore spreading zu.

Men a good deal younger then my own to celebrate with, it that she told you about her- M: Maugham are a quod deal da good way of filling in scr?"

sit wer at getting down to the the time."

husiness of question and answer.

It was reported earlier this Natural

I was reminded by his sleriness year that you were going to write a Journal. How is it com-

ng along?"

of Bernard Shaw at about the saine e, only Shaw would rather have been dead then seen

with a cocktail in one hand, and a cigarette in the other.

Two things Mr Maughom "Absolutely untrue. At my remembered Lily Langtry telling She are life is far too monotonous him during that voyage. to be worth recording, One was sixty at the time, and look- her bey-day said does more or less the same thing ing back to

that her unique possession had rach day."

Would you say you were the been her lovely natural colour- living ing. In among

were generally used she had been able to appear beautiful without their bid.

First, Mr Maugham put a couple of questions to me; What

recommend?-top, thriller could i Raymond Chandler's last one authors?"

I don't care

earner

shoes.

-London Express Service).

Yah, Missed it!

THE SMALL BOY IN US

ERIC SEWELL MEETS THE WIVES OF TERROR ISLAND

Don't Call Me A Heroine!

WENT TO PAY A FRIENDLY CALL day before cosmelles

ON THE BARLOW FAMILY

AND

Mrs Barlow says...

Sald Mr Darlow: "It's just as my romance Also the FOUND MYSELF HELD UP AT GUN-ove two pairs of evez military rules, 1s confined

Talked endlessly to him about: an American gentleman of POINT ON THE PORCH. whom he had never heard,

"he's man

In two famous hemispheres," "Why is famous?" Maugham asked hers

Shr. told me: in Nicosia these days. My wife Is my second pair. In the car, truck calls for

to

hero

any longer, I will be glad to get back."

Because she was one of the few

the women pickling to pressure of fear, she pleaded "An Army that I don't use her name.

"I KNOW I AM A COWARD" us girls at our

SHE SAID, "BUT I HAVE HAD

"Eut," she said, incredulously, "Sorry," said Regimental Sergeant-Major one way and I took the truck clean, because of our ball ENOUGH!"

he Barlow, lowering his .38 Webley and waving me other." to which she replied, "Because into the hall. "but we can't be too careful, you anti-terrorist drill for driving the back. Afterwards a truck Makarios saying to me blandly:

know...."

I loved him!"

If we stop at traffic lights, she homes. The soldiers sweep the dresses, but it is often quite a The Barlows have another squeeze getting all the girls in in Nicosia. They were in one takes us home.

2

friend alone, it wouldn't just be Dad who started a row. It would be the Army.

It is rather fashionable just

This wasn't their home in Watford, England. car, and I was driving behind "If we were to go off with a now to be angry, I pointed out.

stopped near the notorious boy If he were a young man today, This was Nicosia, Cyprus, where the man of the another when Dad Barlow

Maugham did Mr

think he house totes a gun to protect his frontline wife and Murder Mile,

I went into something to be would And

shop for didn't family.

cigarelles, and Immediately about? No, he angry

and think so. But he felt sorry for

Barlow, his wife, Jenn, who

Carol emerged from their car writers lodny. young because their books carried them

and stood with their backs to n NO Bille hod

to ta turn

wall where they had a clear Journalism to make ends meet.

windows of flats facing them. "So bad for their literary

view of both the street and the

style," he said.

Ten minutes after I entered is beside my husband, and there their lovely Army-leared house I intend to stay."

the outskirts of the Cyprus

the inside Said Mrs Barlow: "There may capital. I saw from how the family keep their anti- be one or two wives who just terrorist drlil. There was an- haven't the temperament for

Cyprus and who want to other knnek at the door......

back home to safely. But the vast majority are determined to

"And what of their style is drera?" I asked. The striking Mrs Irla Barlow laid down chonge in masculine attire that her tercup quietly and 11 10

of.

a devil but

he's got my Nestle Chocolate

DON'T FORGET! "THESE FABULOUS ISLANDS" OCT, 30th, 31st & NOV. 1st at the

GOVERNMENT STADIUM

a passport in leather...

THE

Diplomat

BY

Pioneer.

the meek of a min

`PSOFICER STRETCHWAY

0-1-Y-£•£ and T-A•K•E•B

with every nation

The continental touch! A French

tubular belt designed for the man of discerning taste... Pin-point stitching

accents the luxury leather,

"We don't look on ourselves as hernines.

he noticed whenever he came to hide in the recess of the cake stay here with their menfolk. Landon, he thoroughly approvedened hall. Mr Barlow sild

revolver from its lobster straps the leg of his favourlie In his young days men had all ped looked much the same, and armchair and crossing the hall. He said: "Magis-nattened himself rather dull.

another irates, I read, are always telling doorway with the muzzle point- Teddy Boys to get rid of theiring towards a shadow on the clothes and have a hair-cut, porch. wouldn't criminal to

thought hure

dress

50

st

onc

Murdered...

Sitting

duck

When I was here in Cyprus three years ago, I remember

'One way or another, the British will eventually forced to leave Cyprus.

1

The warning

bo

"If you po in the truck, you

On

the words seem paper return in the truck-and that's

Almost offhand-but I recollert. Diat?"

the expression on his face which Since the shooting of Mrs gave them force,

have more wives

If this is one way-if he or Catherine Cutlife in Famagusta recently, stopped shopping in Cyprus FOKA think that Instilling fear streets and taken their custom in women will expedite lerrorist to the Nas.

ims-then I think he is sadly vunderestimating the Army wives as a whole.

"I always do that," explained Barlow. A stationary car is a district sitting duck."

д

I

A

Driving through the trouble

of Paliouriotissa,

The girl gave a lift to was stopped to ask diretions from

the only one of scores of wives I spoke to who has decided to Social life?

Barlows British girl walking with The

I offered her

litt,

Act out because she is frightened. have little. They play safe by child.

The rest aren't to much staying at home most evenings. which she accepted..

frightened as angry. Plain If they go out at all, it is under

“I shouldn't be out walking furious. They don't bellove Dad's pistol guard to the cinema or the iness ut the local bar- alone like this," she confessed there will be more cold-blooded "but being cooped up all day killings like that of Mrs Cutliffe, racks.

In the house is driving me

But if there are, EOKA will But Jean is a teenager, and a

wilt not teenager's life would be pretty mad." Then she told me:" And such murders

am going home on Monday. My drive British women from Occasional bleak without the The Barlows live in one of dance. Jean does go dancing-usband says he's not going to island. They will only streng- life out then their determination to stay. dances and have me risking my front door, crouching in a cor-

10 camp of the city, but only present an impossible the trouble-spots ner to target to a possible killer.

fion

"I am not pretending we've time. But we'd much un tilsy rather put up with restrictions

than leave our husbands,"

Carol Three-year-cld pleases, or to decide the length chalantly disappeared behind the and dificulties, even dangers sofa, and 18-year-old Jean the slutioned herself behind

of une's own holr,"

"Have you, in the course of your long life, ever felt yourself to be in the presence of a really great man?"

Greatest

"Winston," said Mr Maughan unhesitatingly. "I've known him for 50 years. Dined with him two weeks ago. He's the greatest man of this generation without any doubt whatever."

The atmosphere, I thought, was now sufficiently congenial for me to risk the more personat

hole.

Blinding light

ut

⇓

Not all Army families take such stringent precautions-but few Lave had quite so much danger en the doorstep,

A few months ago, the Bar- having a quiet cup of len before going to bed when shots were fired outside their window.

she swung the door open,

fram faller, lows were At a comma tash

the same time switching on

blinding beam light on the call er. "Oh, it's you," said Barlow. "Come in,"

The family relaxed and re- For the lumed to its tercups. smiling caller was their GIL. "Tell me, Mr Maugham, is it Armenian neighbour with whom quite true that you couldn't care Barlow shares hopes of a fortune on the pools. He had come for less whether or not any of your

the weekly ceremony of ling work survivos? Do you not expect anything you have writ-up the coupon. ten to be read in, say, a hundred There years me?"

hundreds are

Grabbing a pistol, Mr Barlow :Erraked outside and found a Greek Cypriot neighbour lying murdered under a lamp-post.

Blow up

Two evenings before I called, the Army found two bombs on

of " piece of wasic ground 30

families like the Barlows on Yards from the Barlow house.

A pause, Then: "I have an this beautiful sunny stand of They had been planted In the affection for my novel Cakes | violence and terror, hundreds hope. of blowing up' an Army And Ale and a sneaking hope of army wives like, Mrs. Barlow, patrol whose trucks usually that in the future half a dozen for whom a visit to the hair- batted Into this yard,

of my short stories may not be dresser or collecting the week's. Found unreadable,"

groceries is an expedition to be A day in the life of the Bar- "Mr Maugham, you are often undertaken only under the pro- laws is fairly typical of all Army éonsidered be Intensely tection of a pistol, for whom a families. Dad and Jean go cynical person, without a drop knock on the Goor at night work. Mum stays at home int sentiment in your make-could mean death on the doar cooking, cleaning, washing and

up. Has no book, no play, no step. experience in your lite. ever moved you to team-or shall we

say to a prieking sensation be-

Eind the eyes?"

Had the moment come for me

to be shown the door?

"I flatter myself," came the

►

Angry wives

looking after young Carol.

But there are theso differences. Dad Ukes Jean to work under armed guard. Until three months ago she WILS 48- aesistant in a photographer's shop they? What effect has the war in Nicosia. Then one day Eaka

Just how frightened

nerves

calm reply, "that I usually talk domestic fe? Has the cold- Get rid of her, or it will be on their everyday told her Greek Cypriot bess: sense. If you do that, you are blooded shooting of two Bel-

likely to

Now she works for Naail.

be regarded as tish women in Famagusta made worse for you-and the girl." cynie. Watching the end of his them more apprehensive? D cigarette, he added: "Every they now regard themselves as time I hear The Mastersinger, possible Eoka victims? and I've heard many times,

Dad Barlow drives her to work in the morning and col-

tears come intu my eyes, I don't To get the answers to these feels her every afternoon. "1 want to cry, but I can't bloody questions I flew to Cyprus, well help iti

To an outsider, you appear Behind me in London t lett to have avoided making the an almost hysterical cumpalgu mistakes in life that so many of in some quarters to “get women tis seem unable to avold, How and children out of Cyprus."

have a gun," he says simply. "Jean hasn't.".

Mrs Barlow stays mostly in- doors. "I used to buy from the shops in Nicosia, but not any

have you managed to be so com- The anger that this vacua lunger. I don't know how big pletely successful? Or is it just tion compaiga luck?

hom aroused the risk is, but I'm not taking

among Army wives is. Dilter. it anyway. I shop at the Naal,

As a matter of faci I have They don't want to be evacuated. and I go there only when my mado many big mistakes in my❘ It is the old story of "my place husband is free to cocort me,

ZANIES

"I tried to steal á barileship"

POWTM

Авгунцем

HALT CHILD

CROSSING

/HALT (CHILDREN [CROSSING,

the