RAS-1982 — Page 257

RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 All AI Reviewed

Smashed up the matsheds over at Kowloon; And here, perhaps, I may be allowed to say Apropos of nothing in the play,

These Kowloon matsheds are a perfect bane; They're hot and stuffy and let in the rain; And oh! those musical and parched mosquitoes When they are hungry, don't they fairly us.

The British soldiers should have bricks and mortar.

Our Ayrun* brother has them, then we oughter.

235

Then there were the opinions of life at the lower end of the military hierarchy. Giacomo and Beppo treat sarcastically the soldiers' life — they have just been encouraged to "go and enlist — you'll have extensive pay". Giacomo replies:

And get boiled beef for dinner every day.

A soldier's life ain't quite all beer and skittles, There's too much guard and not enough o' vittles.

And as for Beppo:

Me be a soldier not much. I couldn't stick it What price the slow march in defaulter's piquet, Instruction drill and then fatigues, although We don't mind working for the good old P. and O.** I rather fancy we should greatly like

To see the coolies go again on strike.

A dollar a day, more beer than we can carry

Is better than parade in Happy Valley

If that were all they did I would enlist.

The long delayed unveiling of the Queen Victoria Jubilee statue† in Statue Square drew comment when Fra Diavolo, being pounced upon by villagers, expresses surprise:

Well, landlord, may I beg an explanation Of this great rising of the population? Perhaps another statue has been found

* Native Indian troops also stationed at Kowloon,

** During a coolie strike in 1895 soldiers were used to load and unload cargoes.

†The statue was commissioned in 1890. It was not unveiled until May 1896.

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2026-05-13 00:58:19 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

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Smashed up the matsheds over at Kowloon; And here, perhaps, I may be allowed to say Apropos of nothing in the play, These Kowloon matsheds are a perfect bane; They're hot and stuffy and let in the rain; And oh! those musical and parched mosquitoes When they are hungry, don't they fairly us. The British soldiers should have bricks and mortar. Our Ayrun* brother has them, then we oughter. 235 Then there were the opinions of life at the lower end of the military hierarchy. Giacomo and Beppo treat sarcastically the soldiers' life — they have just been encouraged to "go and enlist — you'll have extensive pay". Giacomo replies: And get boiled beef for dinner every day. A soldier's life ain't quite all beer and skittles, There's too much guard and not enough o' vittles. And as for Beppo: Me be a soldier not much. I couldn't stick it What price the slow march in defaulter's piquet, Instruction drill and then fatigues, although We don't mind working for the good old P. and O.** I rather fancy we should greatly like To see the coolies go again on strike. A dollar a day, more beer than we can carry Is better than parade in Happy Valley If that were all they did I would enlist. The long delayed unveiling of the Queen Victoria Jubilee statue† in Statue Square drew comment when Fra Diavolo, being pounced upon by villagers, expresses surprise: Well, landlord, may I beg an explanation Of this great rising of the population? Perhaps another statue has been found * Native Indian troops also stationed at Kowloon, ** During a coolie strike in 1895 soldiers were used to load and unload cargoes. †The statue was commissioned in 1890. It was not unveiled until May 1896.

Baseline (Original)

Smashed up the matsheds over at Kowloon; And here, perhaps, I may be allowed to say Apropo of nothing in the play, These Kowloon matsheds are a perfect bane; They're hot and stuffy and let in the rain; And oh! those musical and parched mosquetoes When they are hungry, dent they fairly us. The British soldiers should have bricks and mortar. Our Ayran* brother has them, then we oughter. 235 Then there were the opinions of life at the lower end of the military heirarchy. Giocomo and Beppo treat sarcasticly the soldiers life — they have just been encouraged to "go and enlist — you'll have extensive pay". Giacomo replies: And get boiled beef for dinner every day. A soldier's life aint quite all beer and skittles, There's too much guard and not enough o' vittles. And as for Beppo: Me be a soldier not much. I couldn't stick it What price the slow march in defaulter's piquet, Instruction drill and then fatigues, although We don't mind working for the good old P. and O.** 1 rather fancy we should greatly like To see the coolies go again on strike. A dib a day, more beer than we can carry Is better than parade in Happy Valley If that were all they did I would enlist. The long delayed unveiling of the Queen Victoria Jubilee statue† in Statue Square drew comment when Fra Diavolo, being pounced upon by villagers, expresses surprise: Well, landlord, may I beg an explanation Of this great rising of the population? Perhaps another statue has been found * Native Indian troops also stationed at Kowloon, ** During a coolie strike in 1895 soldiers were used to load and unload cargoes. †The statue was commissioned in 1890. It was not unveiled until May 1896.

2026-05-13 00:58:19 · Baseline

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Smashed up the matsheds over at Kowloon; And here, perhaps, I may be allowed to say Apropo of nothing in the play,

These Kowloon matsheds are a perfect bane; They're hot and stuffy and let in the rain; And oh! those musical and parched mosquetoes When they are hungry, dent they fairly us.

The British soldiers should have bricks and mortar.

Our Ayran* brother has them, then we oughter.

235

Then there were the opinions of life at the lower end of the military heirarchy. Giocomo and Beppo treat sarcasticly the soldiers life — they have just been encouraged to "go and enlist — you'll have extensive pay". Giacomo replies: