1936-02-11 — Page 2

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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1936.

BOOK REVIEWS

THE CULTURE OF general reader, all the most not-

CATHAY.

China's Great Age

China By C. P. Fitzgerald. (The Cresset Press, 30s.)

of

When Sang Hung-yang asked the scholars how they proposed to defend the frontiers if the monopolles which supported the army were abolished, they re- piled Unter alin) that the Mas- ter-conqueror does not fight, the expert warrior needs no soldiers; the truly great commander re quiries not to set his troops in. battle array. Cultivate virtue in the temple and the hall, then- you need only show a bold front to the enemy and your troops will return home in victory. The Prince who practises benevolent administration should be match- less in the world; for him, what use'ls expenditure?

The none too logical arguments

a form calculated to appeal to the

able periods and achievements of China's national culture. Within the short space of these 600 pages. the student of comparative philo- sophy and religion will discover a wealth of Tascinatingly interest- ing material, Moreover, in these annals and records of anclent worthies and memorable villains, of golden ages of culture Inevitably followed by protracted periods of (BY J. O. P. BLAND.)

chaotic strife, he will and contin- This, the third volume of the

ual evidence of the ruth, that. Crosses Historical Series, issued though East be East and West be under the general editorship of West, nevertheless, "within the Professor C. G. Seligman,, fully Four Seas, all ace brethren:" that maintains the high standard set

there is, indeed, no new thing un- by Prince Mirsky's "Russia" and der the sun; and that human na- Mr. G. B. Sansom's. “Japan," and ture, as manifested in politics, definitely establishes the position produces much the same gestares which its author achieved by his all the world over. If the reader's "Son of Heaven" two years ago,

own philosophy is of the catholic as a stnologue of exceptionally type, and imbued with a sense of sound knowledge and literary dis-

the ironic element In human laction. The publication of this affairs, he may derive consolation scholarly and ablycondensed sur-

for those political is that afflict vey of the history of Chinese cul- the twentieth century, by obser- ture in all its branches-literary,ving that the three problems religious artistic, and political which chiefly perplexed the states- comes opportunely as a harbinger men of the Han dynasty 200 years of the great exhibition of Chinese before Christ, were burrency de- art, to be opened on November 28, preciation, instability of prices, at Burlington House, for in it the and the heavy cost of defence reader will find the evolution and measures. The Chinese Empire of distinctive characteristics of each that day found itself suddenly "branch of Chinese art explained confronted, in the period follow

and fittingly illustrated in a se-ing the great Ch'in-Han revolution parate chapter, under the period and the passing of feudalism, with in which this barticular art reach-

a series of economic difficulties, for ed its highest perfection.

which nothing in the experience of its Intellectuals provided a satis

Mr. Fitzgerald gives a most lu- faci 2

from factory solution,

minating account of the origin and purposes of the delightful pottery which the philosophers in ordin- ary to the Kuomintang Govern-agares produced by skilful artists ment of to-day take considerable during the

-

In the chapter on Sung palating, for example, he will find a lucid exposition of the cause of the chief technical difference between Wes-

Lern

and Eastern art and learn from it to appreciate the pro- found influence exercised an Chl-

nese culture throughout the ages, Ly the invention of the writing brush in the second century be- fore Christ, the close association between calligraphy and painting and their continual reactions upon each other.

||

"

Apart from its distinctive value as a guide to the art student in search of Eastern knowledge, Mr. Fitzgerald's work summarizes, un

comfort.

*

even

Mr. Fitzgerald "cltes more interesting instance of the universality and permanence of cause and effect in mundane af- fairs, East and West, in recording the famous debate concerning the Government's iron and salt mono- polies, which took place in the year 81 B.C. between sixty indign- art Confucian scholars and; His Excellency Sarig Hung-yang, the Emperor's chief adviser on econo- mic affairs.

COMBATING FATIGUE

...

The Cause Of And Cure For Motorist's Backache

BY HE KENNARD

Everyone now seems to have either heard or have had. Arst- hand experience of the distress- ing condition known as "moto- Fist's backache," which is quite often accompanied by chromte Indigestion and general fatigue. If the number of people that re- quire attention is any criterion, I hold the opinion that the com- plaint has become more frequent of recent years. It is extraordinary "that so much trouble. can

caused just by badly designed "or worn-ut seats in the motor car, but that is exactly what does happen.

be

If the reader can bear with me for a few moments it will help we just run over the anatomy of the lower spine and thighs. First we must visualise the lum- Lar ares of the spine, consisting of five vertebra. To the front et these bones arise strong ten- dons which converge to "jain one long muscle passing downwards and forwards and then narrow to a tendon which inserts itself) at the top of the femur or thigh Done.

WHEN THE BODY SAGS This muscle is the principal flexor of the hip joint. With the spine fixed it will bend the thigh up, or with the thigh fixed the flexor muscles will bend the trunk forward; they also help to maintain the upright position of the body..

Consequently, when a person drives a car with an in different seating position the body sags. We and flat chest, restricted ab dominal spate, stretched Imus-

flammatory condition. So much for cause and effect..

Naturally, the ideal thing to do is to have a seat that wil prevent this extra tension on the muscles and also be adjustable to each individual, but such a procedure I am afraid would not be practicable to the manufaċ- turer. Nevertheless, there is no reason why motor car designers Should not be able to look at their seating plans. with slight anatomica knowledge. Instead of regarding them as is some- times the case: as thing to it on."

"just some~

A good seat must follow the natural Enes of the body and adapt itself that the weight is evently distributed, with no gare under the lower end of the spine, and the support should continue as far as possible under the thighs towards the back of the knees. I have recently tiled a very excelent idea that will do away with quite a lot of backache. Like many other clever ideas, it is extremely simple,

AIR CUSHION IN LOWER BACK SQUAB

All the

Is

apparatus consists of the rectangular air cu.hion which is atted to the lower back squab of the driving seat, with a rubber tubing. protruding through the upholstery, so that the driver may blow it up to any degree he wishes. I did not have the opportunity to try the ap paratus for any length of time, but after blowing it up 10 sult myself (which takes a couple of cles; particularly the afore-seconds) I Lat on the seat for mentioned dexors of the hip afteen minutes or so before the become strained and very" pain- cushion was deflated Even after fub All this is because there is that short period the difference no support for the lower spine was extraordinary: with the air and under the thighs, which out I felt most definite sagging means faulty posture and muscle not only in the middle but

completely. strain, producing a very bad n-

China's doctrinaire scholars bear a certain family xeness, it may be observed, to those with which the League of Nations Un- lon has lately made us familiar. Bu Sang Hung-yang, never on the side of the Angelis, declined to be- leve" that "benevolence and righteousness would suffice to keep the nomads north of the Great Wall" or that the practice of vir- i tue,

expressed in disarmament.

would automatically cure the ills of the State and pacify its enemies. Like Cromwell, he believed in keeping his powder dry. If only for its exotic flavour of ancientry, this debate deserves an honourable place, in the archives of the Fa- lace by the Lake, at Geneva.

•

Tang ers-horses, camels, grooms, actors, and danc- ing girls figures-that have lain buried for a thousand years in the graves of wealthy families all over

(in the

China

hope that their spiritual counterparts might bring comfort and company to the spirit of the deceased), and have lately been excavated in large numbers for export to the art dealers and collectors of Europe and America. These little figures, so human and Individual, so full of life and move- ment, revealing a plastic art of the highest quality, were

So

never

NEW FICTION

seriously, and is not mere fadev. but it is startling to see on the Jacket a note stating that it lifes the vell to show what is actually going on in more than one big cÍLY. at the present moment.-R.G.W.

Although given a somewhat un- inviting title. "The Clown And His Daughter" by Holide Edib (Allen and Unwin, London, 7/6) is really a very well written book. The author is a lady of interna- tional

Though it will come as a severe shock to some people, and a source of interesting Information upon, a contentious subject to others," "The Winged Bull, 'described as a “ró- mance of modern magic," by Dion Fortune, (Williams and Norgate, London 7/8) is sure to interest the majority of readers. Besides being a decidedly unusual, if not unique,

repute, one encyclopedia book, "The Winged Bull" has the added advantage of being written going so far as to call her the by a man who knows, exactly what greatest figure in present day Turkish literature. The story is he is talking about. Mr Fortune

get in Istanbul (Constantinople) is Warden of the Inner Light.

at a period when the Young Turks Commencing with a man rendere?

were working for power, and while hopeless by continued unemploy

there is virtually no plot yet the ment invoking the God Pan ou

book holds one from the start. The side the British Museum on a foxxy

characters are alive and though evening, the book goes on to dea- cribe an experiment carried out by foreign in the English sense of the a devotee of modern mysticism, word, they are real and convin- cing: the background is painted who is trying to wrest his sister

In with the sure touch of a writer from the psychic power of an uns-

who knows and loves Turkey, who crupulous man, The book includes mention of the forgotten magicals in sympathy with the new, and who yet has a deep respect for the the ancients, the Black

old. The beautiful Koran chan- Mass, another amazing ceremony

ter, who is the central figure, is described as "the great sun-rite

entirely lovable, and one can only feel sorry that "clown" is the only English word that approximately describes the calling of her brave Bo and tender-hearted father. far as the actua style is concern- ed, one has the feeling that each sentence Way taken separately from its context and critically ex- Intended by their makers to glad-amined for any flaw in syntax. den the eyes of living men. They Thus while the individual sen-

tences may be were objects of magical signific-

entirely COT- ance, intended solely for the bene-

rect, there is at times a certain fit of the dead, for which reason

lack of flow in a passage as a whole the artists who desigried them an effect which is heightened by tried

the use of unusual Turkish names to inspire their work and the Buddhist

over which the reader must make humanity which sculptor dellberately

Ignored. mental pause However, the Their association with the tomb story well repays any little effort

which it may take to read. It HC.F.

art of

which brings fertility to the earth, and inspiration to the heart of man." and the Mass of the Bull. The puzzling theories contained in this book will cause some deodle to smile, and others to think furious- ly. The book is obviously meant

and ill- made theni improper omened as a decorative art, and explains the fact that the litera- ture of the period contains no re- ference to them Passing strange, indeed,

that the revenges Time's whirligig brings in: that graceful art whigh the Confucian- ist scholars Ignored, survives to delight the learned commentators of the Eumorfopoulos collection."

MOTOR

far so good, but, in my opinion, this is not enough. To make a perfect job it would be better to extend the distance from the back to the front edge of

much. the seat-not very otherwise the short driver would An additional be uncomfortable. two or three inches: wouïd most beneficia, especially to the man who is behind the wheel of 2 car many hours at a ime,

be

As to the material used in the construction of the seat I have a very open mind. Having asked many people their opinions on this subject, I have ascertained that some advocate pneumatic cushions and sweat never to use any other, whilst others are faithful to spring upholstery. The chauffeur of a friend of mine, who nearly every year tours car the Continent. In his anys that ten hours daily is quite a, usual period for him a drive. and a sponge rubber seat is the only one that would persuade him to go any farther.

וננ

Nevertheless. I can see oblec- tions to having upholstery con sisting of layers of rubber. Ven- ellation is not always so efficient as with springs. and with

·larze mad this upholstery is likely to get very warm: On the other hand, rubber would pro- vide a good even support to the driver whom Nature had neglect- ed a little in the form of natural padding.

are

*

Extract from a boy's letter: "We gave a performance of 'Hamlet' before we broke up for Christmas, and a lot of fathers and mothers çame. Although some of them had seen it before, they laughed just the same.”

JOTTINGS

"GENTLE ART OF ses; who could see the greatest

SEEING"

(BY H. MORTIMER BATTEN)

If one is interested in wild bird and animal fe. It is surprising how one's sight becomes quicken- ed to pick up anything moving when one is travelling by road. This "gentle art of seeing things" adds enormously to the interest of one's travels, and, having acquir- ed it, one becomes painfully con- scious of how much the majority of motorista miss. As an example, I remember one moonlight night when driving a friend I was as- tounded at the number of hares. on the road, and after Bome miles I chanced to comment up- on their abundance. My friend's reply astonished me. "Hares!" he exclaimed, I've only seen the one that paced un.”

On another occasion an owl al- most flew into our wind-screen, an incident which many Scottish motorists regard as a bad omen. On my passing some remark I found that my companion,had not noticed It Again, one night, a fox stood so long in the centre of the roads looking at us that I thought we were going to bump him, but our chauffeur did not see him; while not uncommonly in the Highlands, when the deer are. down in the straths, It is quite difficult to get other people to, make out their shadowy forms,

It is, of course, purely a matter educated eight rather than keen sight, though I often hear the comment that my own children are

wonderfully keen-sighted. Their eyes are probably no kee ner than those of other, children, yet by practice they see when motoring far more than do, the Will you say majority. This, I think is largely owing to a game they have played since quite small, and of which they never re. Many a long journey has been made less tiring for them by competing against each other as to what they could

A shy young curate was seated at dinner next to a duchess. "I'm sorry," she said to him, but I didn't quite catch your name." "Jinks, your grace,” said curate.

"Just a little louder. please." "Jinks, your grace. "I'm very sorry. it again?"

the

inks, your grace, the curate almbst shouted.

The duchess gave up in despair. "It sounds to me just like Jinks

she said,

of.

number of hares during the next five miles, or the greatest number of game of any kind, or the first hawk in the skies-according to the wild fe of the country through which we are passing- with the result that their eyes are for ever combing the fields and the hedgerows till it has become second nature.

Non-motorists are ever ready with the criticism that

when speeding over the country by car Can we see so little of its interests, and, though this may be true of many, the point I wish to em- Phasize is that the motorist gets anique chances of seeing owing to the distances covered, and owing also to the fact that most birds, and animals do not take cover from a moving vehicle as they do from, a pedestrian; but one must acquire the art of seeing. which is mainly a matter of being sufficiently interested. Children are naturally interested in the things that live and move about. the fields and hedgerows, but they never think of searching for them" unless encouraged to do so. Once having learnt this, it adda enorm ously to the pleasure of one's tra vels, and having acquired the art, It continues through life as a pleasurable influence,

Aviation Teacher:

"Tell me, Hans, what is a sudden squall and how, does it begin?"

No

answer from Hans. "Perhaps my question is not too difficult for quite clear or you?" suggested the teacher by way of helping him,

"Oh, no!" replied Hans, not the question, but the answer!"

The preacher was reading the Scripture when an elderly lady broke in: "What Kind of Bible are you using parson?”

Fm reading from the Revised Version, he answered.

"Him" she said The King James Version was good enough for St. Paul and it's good enough for me.

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