1937-07-10 — Page 11

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH WEEK-END SECTION

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1937

T. Paul Gregory Reveals

A

THE STORY OF A

FAME---A WOMAN'S WHIM...

THE majority of us are

THEN DEATH IN A DEBTOR'S PRISON

largely familiar with the name Staffordshire which recalls the smoking kilns of many a pottery manufactur- ing centre-Burslem, Stoke- on-Trent, Longton, Hanley; but few of us who reside in the Far East can denomin- ate any locality which could be considered the Oriental counterpart of our English potters' towns. Yet, there

short, all the delightful secres of are in South China, two Chinese domestic life (See picture). famous centres of the cera- Thus the grent modeller

grew In ekill and reputation. and mie industry King-teh-t

the length

height his career, he took for himselt t ch'en and Shek-waan.

nature wanton and

so numerous

Pottery Art Loses Its Most Famous Master

of

but

Finally, his many creditors des- pairing of ever securing payment, applied to the Courts for redress and the won cast Into prison for debt.

To sit in prison is in itself a dis- „aster, but when one is an oplum nd- dict and having every nerve in one's body literally crying out for their wonted stimulant, and having it

The former is situate in theby nat

concubine--a beautiful cread of province of Kwangsi, and is one pleasure and galety. To one of such of the most prosperous cities in merring to a simple dented, is an even greater calamity.

artist wo the Middle Kingdom. In fact, potters' town offered little soon all and as the the kilns in opportunities aro

for Indulging in B King-tch-ch'en that the poet Roheinlan existence, she

speedily became miserable. Her husband Longfellow described it as the

tried to cheer her and urged her to city of "ten thousand chimneys."

take an Interest in his work; but and, moreover, from here comes

in practically all the porcelain which is exported from the country. Indeed, so vast is the quantity that the West long since learned to bestow upon the products of King-teh-ch'en's kilns the distinctive name of "Chinaware."

Shek-wann, on the other hand, is not so well-known, although its potteries have been active for several centuries. This is a town in the dis- trict of Naum-hol, about a score of miles from the city of Canton. The

kilns wares produced by

place have been famous

Chinese since the bemongst the

embrace every not of the

she eng speedily berame surfelted watching him day after day sitting at his work-bench-modelling paltry things of clay. Indeed, his assidu- thing ous devotion to his ert

his ern irritated

the tady, and she.e

e.constantly chided him about it, eventually telling him that be must loved work and her beautiful self.

The poor husband was in a dilem- mi,

she truly loved

his pretty wife, and at last, wearled by her importunities, he yielded to wishes

followed a few short years of reckless

reckless spending in

choose between -his

and

her

to

CHINESE TRAGEDY

Here are pictures of work

actually done by the groat

·Chinese pottery artist con- corning whose tragedy the accompanying story is writ- ton. The two pictures aro cloquent of the rise and fall of the unfortunata man. Opposite is some of his work before he became an opium addict and thrown into prison. Below are some of the grotesque figures ho produced in prison in order to earn a daily dose of opium. The duck in the picture was modelled by Wong P'ing, tutor of the artist. These pictures were taken by a staff photo- grapher by courtesy of the Dragon Lantern Shop.

then the pursuit of frivolous pleasure. At length, his own savings being

cx- hausted. of this

the artist, with gay in. souciance and careless heed of the of the of the future, borrowed here and there, un- til shortly he was hopelessly in debt, Ming period (circa 1388 A. D.) and of the pat-

and he could borrow no further. ter's art, from the

Then being no longer able Chinese

10 kitchen 10 exquisitely grant the, insatiable desires of his modelled figures of men and animals.

pretty concubine for finery and The latter are, in their way, mar- luxurious living. and his own in- vels of the modeller's art, as excep-

terest

in his once well-loved craft tional care is taken in the manipula- being entirely dissipated, he, like

order tion of the plastle material in

many another in similar position,

In that particular gaol, the strict to Insure proportion which will not took to opium. His sole desire now

This careful offend the artistic

letter of the law prohibited prisoners became the solace of the poppy and eye. observance of anatomy, together in his drugged dreams he beheld

from indulging in opium smoking, with the thick, flocculent and parti

himself once more the great master

but there was of course, a certain coloured Blazes

ced, have ren-

and he saw his numbed fingers turn-

urn-amount of smuggling going on-for dered these clay

immenselying out again the figures thint

who could pay the

priec popular. It is, indeed, to such wares once loved. But alas, such a boun- | Here even opium dross commanded uss commanded

Then and there, a that Shek-waan owes its fame, and den slave did he become to

was bargain the high price of course beyond the

struck between the warden of the the modellers are easily amongst the "black earth" that he began

reach of the penniless artist. Finally, to most skilful of all the artisans

of his

clothing and the pots and uten-

pawn the

the hapless for man dragged himself be- prison and the inmate. The official China.

sils of his already impoverished

warden and,

ing agreed to supply the materials and kow-towing

the facility for burning the clay, and men household.

Soon he had no funds dally boon of a little opium. The Ihrice besought him to grant the

the artist was to model one figurc In the employ of the Shek-wann pot-with which to buy good opium and

tries who have gained more than had to content himself with smoking dignant, and demanded in a perempts'in (about 1/10 catty)

cach day, for which he was to re- warden was both surprised and in-

ceive a daily potion of nearly one of Patna lory tone: "Who do you think you

opius •

There

have been

many

local reputation for the studied ex- cellence

one

in

he

the dross. Of him now it could be

of their modelled Ogures, said: and of these artists, perhaps the most celebrated was who was truly a master in his craft. His sud downfall through debauchery optum, which eventually culminated in his death at the age of $5 in n debtor's prison last year, is a poignant tragedy of Chinese He.

This artist was the favourite pupil Ping,

of the great master Wong

a

himself notable modeller, andl. greally esteemed amongst

connoisseurs

Chinese

for his faithful repre sentations of ducks

other

barn-yard fowls, (See picture),

But the pupit ensily surpassed his master,

and for years there were turned out by his skilled, hands a succession

of charming figures in clay-men and women in their happy, care-free moods, children playing with fowls and animals; in

Permanent Waves

We use the finest Cluster Curl oil

of Lavender, non-ammonia solution. HAIR-DRESSING

MANICURE & FACIALS EXPERT TREATMENT.

MODERATE PRICES Appointment Tel. 57122.

SUI LAN

BEAUTY PARLOR 523, Nathan Road, Kowloon.

"Yin-laing, yin-tsing

Tsu az, tsnu wing" "Oplum not, oplum sat.

- Not only will he die but be throws away his whole Bfe."

TEST ANSWERS

Weck-End Problems

PROBLEM I. HICKVILLE FAIR The total number of beasts bought was:

Callie

21

Pigs

40

Sheep

42

made up as follows:

P

$

1st farmer

2nd

3rd

4th

3

5th

2

Oth

1

7th

"

The answer to the problem is

unique because no number of bensts, other than 10, permits of seven different

arrange- ments.

*

PROBLEM JI.

HAL

AR1 D

L

I ME

D E S

Poison Pen

Solution

Playfair had hit on an ex- tremely ingenious idea. When Calliput went to Digger's Green, he took with him pine special sheets of stamps, cach different- ly marked in Inviable ink. These he kept in locked drawer. There was one sheet for each of Plnyfnic's

suspects, and, in due course, Calliput had sold stamps to all of them. All the poison pen letters posted subsequently to his arrival bore stamps that had been sold to Misa Pallaway.

those

da

are?"

The artist replied:

"I am the greatest artist in Shek-waan".

"You a great artist?" repeated the incredulous official. "Why, you are nothing but a worthless opium sot."

"I know," inslated the artist, "but I um Indeed he. Only give me a handful of moist clay, and I will prove it to you,"

Perhaps the quiet assurance of the man convinced the official, and, cum- manding that the required materials be brought, he ordered him to model his (the warden's features). So the artist took the clay and holding it beneath the table at which oft fletal war seated, gazed intently at the latter's face, and with a payer on his lips that his fingers show their wanted skill, he quickly moulded a striking portrait.

"There!" he exclaimed, handing the finished result to the warden, "now won't you believe me when I say that I am a great artist?"

She

H

As the official stared at the perfect | Shek-waan potteries have as yet ac- likeness of himself, he felt as it in

the presence of grent genius. "Please," he said, "give this to me. It is indeed, a marvellous piece of work." -

quired the renown of this great mas- ter, although there are a number of living modellers who are esteemed for consummate skill in portraying certain subjects. Amongst these, be mentioned, the clansmen may Fok Tsun and Fok Hau who applauded for the delicate detail of their subjects.

are

However, there is another artist upon whom the mantle of the Im- prisoned debtor seems likely to fall, and that is Lau Wal. This artisan has

been long esteemed by his for Chinese and Japanese admirers his

characters representations of from mythological lore and

Bod- pantheon-fairies,

of Goddesses

For nearly six months until his death, this remarkable man was an inmate of the debtors' prison. Everyo day during this period he modelled methodically a figure in clay; but the

Buddhist histvos,

the

Mercy

bonze Bodhidharma Taat-moh in Chinese) who arrived in China in 528 A. D. This worthy

•SNAPSHOT GUILD

The

PICTURES EVERYBODY LIKES

THEstatisticians toll us that there

are now millors and millions of camora owners-more than 16 - tions in the United States alone-but how many of them take pictures that really qualify as pictures, auch no might be chosen to adorn the walls of a home other than thoir own, in a question.

Some judges of amateur snapshot contests arer that scarcely ono per- son in a couple of thousand submits pictures of genuine pletorial quality or having the anving appeal of story- telling human interest. Others say that often most of the pictures aro so good in those responts that they have difficulty in making docialans.

Porhaps to verdict depends as much upon who the judges are as upon what the pictures are. All of thom concedo that from the stand- polat of photographic quality-cor rect exposure and proper focus-the average of amatour photographia in high. In that sense there to no doubt that thousands of amateurs tako good pictures but with respect to ovoking general appeal, it must be admitted that not all give evidenco of attention to artistic composition, thought in the choice of subject, or care for the right moment to anap the shulter. The result is pictures that are commonplace in their apponl to others. Usually auch piciuron aro personal to the picture taker, such an a close-up of a beloved Infant with no qualities to distinguish it from anapahols of a thousand other babies.

To win snapshot prizes, camera users need to take pains to plan

their pletures or at least exercine judgment la selecting a lowpoint

work now produced by his hands (Kwoon-yam in Chinese), etc. More- shows a striking dissimilarity to the over, one of the favourite themes of work of his carller and

is hap- this artist is the modeling of figures only one of which may be mentioned pier yours. The old

skill

Wis there, but now was instilled a hor- rible nale; for, all the figures are literally self-portraits. Lean, gauni with protruding bones and faces with stark staring eyes-Indeed, the vivid

the appearance of

bodles

of

ture),

A

con-

is especially revered by the Chinese,

In this article. This is a Mr. Ch'un who is said to show great promise in his modelling. Incidentally, it may be said in this connection that the other products of the Shek-waan

and incidentally the Japanese, on account of the scholarly nature of portrayals teaching, which is based on the Armed

rinciple that every one may arrive potteries, such as kitchen pots, bulb opium addict. (S:c ple- at knowledge of the dharma or law bowla, etc., are largely left to the lengthened, the figures became more

As the months in the goot of Buddha by meditation; hence hands of the ordinary workmen; for Chinese artists, who are naturally of the criterion of an artist' is judged by ghastly in detall, and some of the a contemplative mind, love to deplet his si in modelling the various latter ones are demoniacal in their the great Teacher in one of his many types of figures

moods. Lau Wal, for example, ex- horrifying aspect, revealing the ter- rible mental and spiritual anguish presses a forte in portraying Bod- | suffered by one who has fallen victim hidharmaa as a squatting cowled

to the terrible curse.

figure holding a straw sandal,

With the passing of this famous modeller, none of the artists at the

brushes

There are, furthermore, a whole array of minor artists In Shek-wann,

her

AIRDRESSING fashions go up and down,

just like the position of the waistline or the length of our skirts.

Just now hair is on the upward move, and has been since the Scalptite dressing (the flattest of all) which was fashionable about five years ago, But it still has a very long way to go before it reaches the Puff style of 1900, which was over two inches high, and it's most unlikely that it will ever again reach to the Chinese wax dressing of nine to ten inches, or to the highest dressing of all known-the Frigate style Powder dressing of the period of Louis the XIV of France, which towered up to three feet, and was precioua difficult to support.

The new Truefitt dressing seen in the pictures shows a building-up to about 1%1⁄2 inches, with a fringe effect in front, and lacquer flowers to take up the shade of the dress, Wax and "Cellophane" flowers look smart too.

The dressing shown is rather elaborate for everyday, but it can be modified in many ways. Provided the hair is dressed upward and backward at the sides and from the

F

This, in brief, is a resume of the skilled modellers of Shek-waan- artisans of a craft which, as the years go by, will command an even higher | appreciation and esteem than they do

even now,

hair upwards

ears, with a few curls for the top, it will look up-to-the- moment chic, even if it's left low and long at the back.

☆ FLOWERS really do seem to have gone to our heads.

4

From the perched flower or halo, we are now becoming entirely Arcadian, with the checkiest chaplets and garlands you ever saw. Imagine the daintiest pastel colours in delicate flower petals, bound together into a narrow shep- herdess wreath, with the traditional strings falling Bo-Peep fashion for some inches behind, and you have the iden.

What you must still conjure up for yourselves is the amazingly, coqueftish effect these are bound to create, with that suggestively slight til to the right. Just that something which calls for a second look. from the one who matters-and after all-why not?

Constance Spry says that never in her experience has there been such a year for flowers. She is, of course, consulted by every successful hostess in Mayfair, and many la the debutante who owes her first triumph to some arifully placed floral link in her tollette,

All the same, don't run away with the idea that these "coroncia” are always cheeky, for I was thrilled to see the loveliest orange blossom one. It called up the June bride vision as quick as thought, complete with blush,

that will give the best composition. Jinphazard shooting rarely brings really good pictures. Unless export. enco has proved it, amateur picture takers should not assume that they possos natural picture 8021, They would do well to study oxam. plon of artistic photographs con. elantly puhitebod in magazines, nowapapore and books, go to photo. graphlo exhibits, and journ what it takes to make a good pleturo.

Can it be that the majority of amateur picture takers aro quite con- tent with their pictures considering the fan they get in taking them and their value as records of good times or likenesses of rolativos and friends? Córtainly many do get Tast enjoyment in carrying their anap shots around with thom in wallots and handbags and exhibiting them to those in the circle of their acquaint- anco, They think their pictures aro pratty good, and, as personal ple tures, toy certainly aro.

Whether or not a camera usor is interested in snapshot contests, he can got all the pleasure the painter gota in his work to create pictures that will be admired by everybody it ho will venturo.boyond the field of personal interest and try to mako pictures of general appeal. This manus planning, care and thought. It's the difference, for example, be tween a picture entitled, "My wife and Junior, aged four," with the sub Jocia standing stlily alde by sido and one of tho namo aubjects on. Ellod, boy's boat friend is bla mother," showing hor, with the boy over her knee, giving him a spank- ing. That's the kind of plature evory- body likes.

Joha van Gulldor.

"THEY BOTH PLAY FOR THE

SCHOOL NOW, ISO MOUD

OF THEM MUURSE,"

JA

"You have every right to be, Mrs.

Evans, con sco a

wonderful improvement since you Look my advice about 'California Syrup of Figs."

"I could tell from what you said that there must be toxin in their sys- Lems.. When children are cross and peevish and lose interest in their food and games, you can be practically sure it's an accumulation of poison- ous matter upsetting their Insides.. I've seen it so often! Just cleanse the system in a safe, natural way, chil- dren go ahead like wildfire.

"But do be sure always to give them "California Syrup of Figs." "It's a natural fruity laxative which safely cleanses and purifies the bloodstream and creates a fine healthy appetite.

"Keep on with the weekly dose of *California Syrup of Figs. Mrs. Evans. It's a fine laxative-for young and old. As a matter of fact I use it myself and advise you to adopt it for the whole family.

Be sure to get the genuine "Call fanta Syrup of Figs."

"California

Syrup of Figs"

'NATURE'S OWN LAYATINE