1935-01-09 — Page 11

William De Morgan

(Continue From Page 7)

of this, she said briefly, When

No "Plot"

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1935.

PUBLIC MONEY VOTES

she looked iri softly half-an-hour De Morgan has said that he did Many Iteins To Come

not attempt to create a plot, nor had he any idea when he was writä

later, he had started on the oes. cupation which he was never again to abandon, was was writing.rapid-ing one page what the next would

ly.

be. "My ideas of what will happen." By and by she discovered that, he explained, "are only distinct by somewhat characteristically, when accident occasionally." He be- she provided him with the pencil, Revod absolutely in the reality of she had omitted to supply any his puppets, and he waited with paper. As a result, he had writ- a complete sense of impotence to ten the continuation of what was see what they would do next, to be his first novel, "Joseph How is the story going?" his wife Vance," in the washing-book would ask him when he came which happened to be Handy, and down to luncheon. "I am rather when that was full, unable to ar- distressed, I am so afraid they are rest the rapidity of his flying pen, going to quarrel," he would answer he had covered the back of ad- sometimes; and later in the day vertisements, torn envelopes, and when she asked again, he would _scraps of paper which were-within-perhaps-reply-happily After all his reach with the continuation of I don't know if they will come to the story so that afterwards_15 | & quarrel. I must wait to see was with difficulty that abe pieced what they will do." the disjointed fragments together, into a consecutive whole,"

No Thought Of Publication At Brat he did not treat his new occupation seriously. "My book," he explained later, "was written in the serenest "Independence an author can enjoy, to wit, a total disbelief in ultimate publication I never considered the feelings of my reader for a moment nor his eyesight!" He told his story la the leisurely, discursive, colloquial fashion in which he transcribed

with the

De Morgan's novels were in- directly the result of his work as a potter. It was during these first fifty years of his life when he was busily engaged in making experi- ments, and looking about for boys and men whom he could train to help him, that he acquired the familiarity classes and dwellers in the slums working which is one of the most striking features of his books. The close and daily contact into which he was brought with his own potters, listening to their talk and watch ing "them at work as he sat in a This novel was of great length-corner of the factory making de a-good-deal-has-been omitted-from-signs or meditating on new inven- the printed version-and it took tions gave him that intimate know- two years to write. It is easy to see that as De Morgan admits he found it difficult to bring: it to a satisfactory conclusion. Then, various publishers' hands it hung fire, though De Morgan, bit-

letters to a friend.

in

One result of the typing of

ledge of their habits and language, that insight into the points of view and prejudices of their class of which he writes with so much sympathy and kindly humour.

Up To-morrow

The

A number of small items are ta come up before the Finance, Com- mittee of the Legislative Council when, it meets to-morrow. detalls are as follows:- Electric Fans and Light Photography

$900

TO Owing to the unfureseen increase in number of prisoners the amount of $2,000 estimated to be spent on photography has proved inadequate and a supplementary vote for $70

requested.

UNEMPLOYMENT

IN BRITAIN

New Chapter In Social History

London January 7. chapter in the social history of What Is described as new

Great Britain was opened to-day, when the Unemployment Assist ance Board began its career as the National Authority charged with the maintenance and wel- fare of the able-bodied

uncm- ployed.

էլ

Sir Henry Betterton, formerly Minister of Labour, and one of the new Feers" for the Honours Lists, abandoned his political

$400 career to become first Chairman

of the Board.

Kowloon - Canton Railway:

Loading Coar Prisons Department:--Light... 500 Owing to the extra lighting re-

The Board assumes its functions quired for the New Hall at Laichi-750,000 persons receiving transi- In two-stages. From to-day about kok Male Prison the provision of sufficient and a supplementary $12,000 under this sub-head is in-

vote for $500 is requested. Police Force-Transport ... $2,400 Increase in crime has called for the conveyance of more prisoners more police staff. The increased and more witnesses as well as of expenditure is spread out amongst the 24 Folice Stations proportion- ate to demand and the original provision of $12,500 is found to be inadequate. A supplementary vote

tional payments, which in future, Assistance Allowances, come with- will be known as Unemployed

time it will take over the respon- in its care, and in three months'

sibility for all able-bodied unem- played men entitled to help from ties. the local public assistance authorl-

sent estimates, if dependents are After that date, upon the pre- included

charge of about 4,000,000 people the Board will have

and will adininister about 255 of $2,400-18 therefore requested--millons-yearly-It-will-have-a- Extra Clerical Assistance........ $160 staff throughout the country "or

about 6,000 officials- British Wireleri.

Owing to the necessity of en- giging two extra temporary clerks at the Kowloon Magistracy the vote for extra clerical assistance is overspent by $180 and a supple- ic

When De Morgan is not sollio-mentary vote for this amount is "LITTLE WOMEN"

requested.

terials

3400 Fumber of prisoners,--the daily Owing to the Increase in the average for 1933 was 1472 whereas Up to November 30, 1934, it was 1601-more cleansing materials are estimated is insufficient. required and the amount of $5,800 Police Force: Incidental EX-

ten by "the writing bug" was deep-quizing, or talking confidentially Cleansing and Sanitary Ma- ly involved in his second novel the tragi-comedy of his narrative Later he remarked, "I hope to unfolds itself entirely out of the hear something definite about ellpped, colloquial dialogue of the Joseph Vance" before I start my actors; he gets his most telling third novel."

effects by a sequence so simple, so intensely human that one scarcely recognises its profundity. draws you "some besotted human He creature with a most, unflinching realism, then changes your abhor- rence into sympathy and com- passion by showing you in luminous paragraph or two what the poor wretch used to be and how he grew to be the thing he is. This profound tenderness for

"Joseph Vance" provided encour- agement. The girl to whom it was entrusted was discovered dissolved In tears, and on being questioned respecting the cause of her grief she admitted that her feelings had been so powerfully worked upon by Janey's death In the story, that she could not get on with her work.

B

A publisher in a small way of human weakness is an undertone business, who felt he could not through all his books. handle the work, persuaded Mr. "Heinemann to take over the mahu- script. It was read and recognized as a masterpiece and ere long Mr. Heinemann himself was on his way across the Atlantic with early proofs. The publication of "Joe" In England and America was de- cided upon.

From the first, the success of the novel was phenomenal. The critics were unanimous in their chorus of praise, in spite of the unusual length of the book, which seemed likely to prove of the stumbling-block, and the public on both sides of the Atlantic hailed the advent of a new star on the literary horizon.

Lavish Eulogy

The War When the European War came. De. Morgan, conditions and many distractions, in spite of adverse

was still struggling to two novels upon which

continue been engaged before the outbreak he hed

of hostilities. Just as an artist will turn from one picture to an- other and and his power of per- ception thus quickened, so De Morgan had always found that he could turn without any confusion of mind from one plot to another. and that the transition of ideas actually aided self-criticism.

which he exercised

But those inventive faculties as a potter reasserted themselves in the coun- try's emergency and he gave up much time to trying to invent anti- submarine devices.

$800

·penses... Owing to more dog licence badges penditure being incurred in weigh- being purchased and also to ex-.

ing overladen vehicles at the Hong Kong Yaumati Ferries the sum of $5,000 has been found insufficient

and a supplementary vote for $800

is requested.

$200

Prisons Department: Materi- als for Repairs and Re- newals Owing to the necessity of pro- viding 200 cell boards at a cost of chikok male prison the sum of $456 for the new hall at the Lal-

59,650 provided under this sub head has been found insufficient and a supplementary vote for $200 Police Force: Coolle Hire is requested.

Medical Department: Convey-

ance Allowance

$200

$100

The excess is principally due to expenses incurred in visiting Bhing Mun Water Works owing to in creased work of Investigation.

Estimates, 1935 Medical Department: Disin

feating and Fumigating plant

$18,000

took over the Disinfecting and On October 1, 1934, Government

Fumigating Bureau, and it was then too late to make any provision for running expenses for 1935.

A supplementary vote for $18.000 is now requested to cover the estimated running expenses for 1935. If the anticipated amount of work is carried out Government will be reimbursed by charges for any expenditure under this head.

1

BRADMAN'S CHRISTMAS

(Special. Air Mail Service)."

At The OrientalTM

Elaborate settings, amazingir authentic costumes and a true reg production of the original story characterizes RKO-Radio's drama- tization of Louisa M. Alcott's classic "Little Women" showing at the Oriental Theatre од Wednesday and Thursday, starring glamorous Katharine Hepburn and featuring a notable' cast.

Without the conventional dramatic license, the production. is Louisa M. Alcott's story "in the Hesh," the same sweet story of ideal homelife, Its pathos, romance and tragedies. Even the locales described by the author including the famous old Alcott have been studiously reproduced,

home:

As in the

double romance, first, with Laurie

provides the main plot, while the the rich boy next door, and later.f with the lovable Fritz Bhaer,

romances of Meg and Amy and the sweet Bfe of Ettle Beth.

original story, ̈ ̈ Jo's

Miss Hepburn enacts the role of Jo,

Douglass Montgomery 1s Laurie, Paul Lukas as Bhaer, Fran- cis Dee as Meg, Joan Bennett is Amy, Jean Parker is Beth, Spring Byington Is Marmee, Henry Stephenson appears as Mr. Laurence and Edna May Oliver interprets Aunt March. All the other characters of the book ap- pear in the production, even down to Aunt March's dog and parrot.

FUNG KEONG RUBBER MANUFACTORY

Canton Branch Re-Opened

Owing to the depression, and to having too heavy, stocks in hand, the Canton branch of the Fung Keong Rubber Manufactory, the largest and most modern factory in that city, stopped operations for some time.

The "Spectator" led off with lavish eulogy. So far from His death came in 1917 in tragic caviling at the length of the par- circumstances. The constitutional rative, it dwelt emphatically on the delicacy which had haunted his fact that if the writers of olden younger days seemed to have pass times Dickens, Thackeray and ed, leaving in its stead an autumn- George Eliot could come to life al vigour of mind and body which again, they would, in comparison belled the seventy-seven years of with their work, and most of our a busy life that had drifted over modern literature *thin and bin-belied, above all, the stress anaemic and it added:-"Mr. of the last ten year's and or all William De Morgan follows, even which he had accomplished since in its lesser mannerisms, thethe publication of "Joseph Vance." method of Dickens and Thackeray. On Boxing Day, 1916 an officer Slowly, and patiently he builds up, from the Front called upon him. not an incident or a career, or He had read Joseph Vance" in even the whole career of one man the trenches and determined his or woman, but the whole careers. first visit on leave should be to of a large circle of thends. The the author of the book. In the book is a remarkable novel a fine course of conversation, De Morgan novel by whatever standard we discovered connecting links among. judge it every character down to acquaintances common to them the humblest has the stamp of a both, and was plying his new genuine humanity,"

friend with questions concerning these, The stranger's final answer came with a note of melancholy I want to know how long you My father is dead, my mother is have been writing it and lots of dead, my aunt whom you remem things. It le less like a first book bez is dead everyone connected than was ever. I belleve (if we with me is dead. Good-bye." And only knew the truth) you have as William came back into the written a large number and pub-room he observed quaintly in re- Kshed them anonymously. Fer-ference to the visitor's last re- haps you are a well-known writer merk, Well that's a nice cheer in disguise. Don't tell me that you ful state of affairs Everyone con- are "Le Queux" or "Bilas K. Hocknected with him is dead! ing-refreshing your soul, by writ thought, under the circumstances, He has no intention et playing. ing a real book after dozens of there was only one thing to be even in the mildest game during when machine-made, popt ritien But done gave him a copy of the two months of the season re- Artistes

he first!

Whet Ghost Meets Glicet

maining

he reaches home He few hours De Morgs

avoiding exer-

A friend wrote to William De Morgan

that

London Dec. 19. This will be the first Christmas- tide for many years at which Don- ald Bradman has not played cric- ket. He leaves London with his wife, and pays a brief visit to Bwitzerland. He will spend a few. days on the Riviera, leaving Tou Ion on Dec, 28 for his new home in Adelaide,

Bradman, who made his first and only public appearance since his illness at a function in aid of Bat- tersen Hospital, said that his oper ation means a year's absence from I cricket.

The factory resumed working on January 5 and over 800 hands are now, employed.

The management of the factory Is now to the hands of Mr. 8. WE Tang, B.Sc., who has been trans- ferred from Hong Kong.

S. AND S HOME

To-morrow Concert

Chariton will be held in the

AConcert arranged by Mr

Wednes and Boldiers Home

OFFICIAL

11

HONGKONG DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP.

1935

TO BE HELD AT

THE HONGKONG HOTEL

ELIMINATING CONTESTS

JAN. 7TH-12TH

FINALS ON JAN. 13TH

FOR JOB PRINTING

CONSULT

The Hong Kong Daily Press

Ledgers, Account Books, Leaflets, Magazines, Circulars, Prospectuses, Company Reports, etc.

Every

description of Commercial

printing necessities.

Neatly executed

Prompt deliveries.

Telephone 30251

to Benjamin in the Spring

Broug

Bep-

the

be two