1937-10-26 — Page 22

30

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1987.

Is The VILLAGE

T would pay a village to-day to revive an ancient custom, sport, or ceremony-or to persuade the oldest inhabi- tant to remember one.

Because the games of Olde England (and Scotland) of yesterday are the money-mak- ing events of to-day, and where It is true that " tradition will be observed," it is also true that "money will be made."

The countryman is 'cashing in- on the superalitions and religious traditions of his forefathers, and Hames which were once the recrea- tion of the hard-working rustic are to-day something to be

organ-

1ned on a business nutters because

siness footing, Not that anyone the old game of kicking a kettle down the village street la adver- tised, and showmen take advantage of the gathering, to Introduce one or two modern mechanical

delights,

"Nat

at all.

But the happy custom of five hundred years ago may now bring hundreds of pounds into a village. It is not much use tho ‘smithy- Ratago installing one of those new petrol pump things if there is not nn "old custom" once or twice'n year to bring people in from the nearest towns,

NE must view with some suspicion the frequent modern "revivals" of

old customs. Delightful though It 18 to remember Romething which happened in Robin Hood'n day-how much more delightful It must be for the village Inn- keeper to see an excursion train arrivo with hundreds of country- conscious town people.

"You want an old custom, we will give it you," is the answer to the

Blightly

sentimental and

romantic townsman, travelling by car or cycle, or merely using the public transport which makes "the country" an annexe to the factory.

It is this modern development which maintains these anelent sports.

14

A spleed bun and ale feast." the quaint custom of throwing apples at the Mayor," "ancient bonfire dance," "five hundred a side football "-all this, sort of thing brings out people with monty,

The truth is there is something of the countryman in all of us, and not many generations have missed since city dwellers left the land. Rural scenes; sports and crafts have their subtle appeal, and it is now easy for the over-civilized to get back to them.

Sheep dog trials. Highland games, hound trails." mitch trialn (in many places openly" started ")

floral dances," what you will of country tradition, are to-day the mecca of the tourist.

Their part in real country lite is less real than when a necessary -part-of-local life, and the events. have taken on a new tradition. Catorcru, amusoment providers,

THE

WAYS

DERHAPS of all the uspects

GREEN?

NOT NOW,

says R. W. Foster

transport companies, shopkeepers, all have their interest.

The bank clerk, the factory hand, mingles to-day among shop. herds. farmers and country folk.

In many It is a good thing cases these ancient rituals would gradually ale out, for lack of any purpose or real meaning, were 11. not for the modern publicity value.

In many cases these events have their roots in ancient religion and superstition, but the roots have spread to-day to a firmer hold on *bustness."

Nearly 50,000 people attended Preston's age old eng-rolling fes- tival," and "pleturesque Mussel- burgh was crammed with visitor yesterday for the Riding of, the Marshes celebrations" are the soil of descriptions you read to-day of old

aporis.

A.

book,

G. Macdonnell, in his new "My Scotland," has summed up the

the situation as applied to Highland Games, and It is equally true of the smaller events.

Ilghinnds of Scotland

also have their games, although probably, they were a relaxation of the warrior rather than tho fertility worship of the agricul turist (the motive in many Engils customs), Hevertheless sprang from the people.

"T

here

HE new age has changed all that. The games on the

mad cl new

are simply an adjunct of the rail- way posters, hotel prospectuses and the lure of the mountaina."

And that is true of almost every anclént custom and sport.

Why, they are even going to bring the Highland Games to Lon- don, with 200 competitors coming by train.

Six years ago they held the In- ternational Sheep-Dog Trials in Hyde Park. And who could com- plalu If town people were able to see this battle of wits between sheep and the shepherd and his dor?

These trials" are founded, not on a recreation but on labour. Once a year, at the International, it is open to all to see this routine work of cottish moors, English downs and Welsh mountain sides. The cleveres dogs in countries matching wit against wit In the handling of the world's

"Probably

... a relaxation of the warrior"

most witless animal, the sheep. The

motor coach visitor, and there will be thousands at this year's trials at Cardiff, will see hurdles set apart from the "gates" through which the sheep have to be driven,

To the once worker it may be enough to see the dogs cleverly moving the sheep down the cource, bastening Jaggards. stopping strays. But the judges are watch- ing other detalls. The sheep must not come too fast and not at a gallop, nor must they dawdle and wander,

A

LL this is something bred right in the country, and is one of hundreds of events that have taken on new meaning.

Elsewhere ancient are being revived.

ceremonies

Perhaps, as happens in inany places, it is a "centuries old cus- tom of dancing in the main street." The custom is maintained, but three-with-houses-Illuminated and

OF

CROWS

ones who

"foodilt" and motorists stopping to join in the revels. And possibly the local wireless dealer takes nd- vantage of the affair to remind people how easy it in to "now go home and dance with a super super Hearall,"

это

If you cannot persuade the Alm people to come down to your "old custom," then probably it can be had been "kept in at broadcast. Vinge customs bird Life the crow is the most school for being backward with coming into their own again. No interesting to both children and their lessons or who had been mis- modern camival la considered grown men. Now that we are ad- behaving. There was at any rate a

complete without its "ancient ox- vanced in years how pleasing it is decided fellow feeling between the

roasting festival." to look back on our early days na children going home frun school children, especially tr

were and the crows. WO

brought up in the country, and on

Ան

Fully half a century ago, when no these long columns of black objects

on the lying ever so high in, it seemed red could yet be seen

political horizon, and the two distinct never-ending formation,

parties were

and the were the Tories These long lines were formed by Liberals, it was insinuated that the the crows flying home happily after

crows belonged to the Tory party, their day's toll in the open country was completed. We never seemed they always bullt their homes in "the full trees la proximity to the

to see their outward journey, but ancestral castles or mansions of our the return flight always occurred the village school was scalling, and aristocratie forefathers.

15

the children, also 'wending their way In the Midlolllart village from

home, gluddened to be their

Irksome tasks,

free from which I am taking observations, the with faces crows for centuries have remained

Actually, no village is too small to take advantage of these new- found opportunities to "cash in" on tradition,

**Hundreds of visitors," we read, "will flock to the picturesque Kentish village of Biddenden to witness the ancient Easter Monday ritual in commemoration of the Biddenden Malds."

That is just one event which, once a sort of little private village

Recently the Ang

and Queen rc- turned to the busy

and multifarious duties of State after spending a much needed holl- day at Balmoral..

In this article the

writer shows the

maitonal value of

Topit bulidays..

Joliifcation, is now the target for a day's outing.

Probably the parish counell of your village will meet one day and complain that the people in the next village have been making a ren good thing out of their old custom of throwing the sexton into the

village

lake pond."

An old member of the coune!! will promptly remember a story told. when he was a boy, of how they used to have an "old custom" something to do with shaking ogge in a sieve until all the eggs are broken."

From that collection will do- velop a revival of an ancient custom"-and a bit more money for the village shops.

Probably the focal confectioner will devise some form of sweet- meat associated with aforesaid custom.

Of course, "tradition must be observed," but all the better if the paid observance brings a lot of visitors with money to spend.

The truth is that "ancient cus- toms" have nothing to do with modern life, a cold matter of fact sense, but if they can be more than maintained for the sake of selling a few oak leaves at a penny a time in ald of the local hospital well, then, up with "Ye Olde England."

To-day's Thought_ THE paths to the house I seek

to make But leave to those to come the

house itself,

-WALT WHITMAN.

turned upwards to the binek fappitig juyal to these tradition of partially When Women Make Us Smile

columns, would cry at the pitch of by sustaining their colony close to their mirthful voices, so that the the seventeenth century Woodhull crows might not fall to hear them, mansion of Sir John Foulis, of these never-to-be-forgotten lines: Account Book Immortality.

"Craw, craw, ye'r talther'à uwa".

O'er the hill an an' Laur 'awn', Tao get a gun on' shoot ye ut; "Craw, craw, yer mither's awa".""

The Laggards

AL

the

end of

KING'S

A New Colony

w

Coronation

marrier

STRAIN OF

KINGSHIP

THANKS

to newspapers and news- films, people nowadays realise that a king is one of the hardest worked men in the world,

When a year or two ago, Lord Harewood, brother-In-law of King George VI,, declared in # speech thal the publle made too many demands on the Royal Family considering the limitations human endurance, it gave the British much needed food for thought,

It is now known that had the late King George V tollowed the advice of his doctors and taken langer and more frequent holidays, his would, in all probability, have been prolonged.

The strain

dally of duties and ceremonial which modern Kingalaip How entails taxes the stoutest and strongest heart, and for this reason, I for no other, the nation will rejoice that the King and Queen are having a real holiday" this Jutumn.

If one looks back on the present elgn since last December, one enn- not fall to be impressed by the nxiety and hard work which it has hrown on the King. Queen Victoria and King Edward VII would have ebelled strongly against auch trenuous time without even break.

one

Even in placid Victorian days the ad Queen used to complain bitterly of the unremitting work which felt to her lot, and she cut down her sublie appearances to the minimum.

Yet she spent

of her most

year esiding in quiet

retreats

Bal like noral and Osborne,

which ΣΤΑΥ xplain her long life. Ministers hat great dimeulty in getting her to give Individed attention to State affairs when she felt he was having a change or a holiday,

When "C.-B." Resigned

the

During his nine years' reign, King Edward VII spent about five years. abroad, chielly at watering-places in France and Germany. When Premier, Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman, realigned in April 1908, King Edward was at Cannes, whenco he summoned Mr. Asqulih to form new Ministry, a proceeding which did not at all please constitutionar pundits.

After the postponed Coronation in 1003, Kind Edward and Queen Alexandra enjoyed ta refreshing holiday cruise along the West Const from Wales 10 Scotland, during which they landed at various places, including the Isle of Man.

King Edward VII was Kreat racegoer, and visits to various race- courses he regarded as health- giving. Week-ends at the country nouses of his intimate friends and shooting parties were other favourite relaxations. He was always insis- teni on his right to have free and as far as possible unfettered holl- LuYN.

His son and successor, George V,

a stern sense of duty. Stays at Sandringham and Balmoral were his favourite means of obtaining rest, and change, and he resolutely de- clined to go to Continental spas or esorts. For an old sailor, cruising made surprisingly little appeal to lm, and during his 25 years reign Le made In all only about three holiday cruises. Salling his yacht Britannia al Cowes, however,

Was something which never falled to in- vigorate him.

Dislike of Unfamiliar Places

Shooting over the Yorkshire und Highland moors also, delighted him, but settled holidays at strange or un

umilior places attracted him out t . Even his stays at Bognor and Eastbourne in the latter years of his reign, on doctors' orders, were not truly satisfying When an intimate friend once told him that George III sed to go regularly to Weymouth for hollday. George V replied Jrily, "We all know how he finished

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33

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13

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120

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124

125

ACROSS

29

13

great big world which keeps turning.

5 Critic becomes sour.

8 Is he Cora's affinity?

land.

9 Go about two and make good. During his reign of ten month, 10 I must explain! (two rather ex-King Edward VIII gave indica-

irritating words, 3, 3). tions that he had inherited

the11-Found in Morocco and Scot- holiday tosles of his grandfather. Els famous Naklin cruise off the 12 Grating that is little more than Dalmation const in the summer of cuok provided. 1030 was in the old Royal tradition. Nearer the sky. It is the opinion of a great many well-informed people,

after

*

Thomes on fire, but a Cockney might think it easy to get this: burnt.

20 Much the same as 14 Across.

11 Asking for more

4 The heart of this monster is à

child's plaything.

6 Palace?

7

Make up your mind to get out

the puzzle once intre,

Oh, definitely!

13 Does it explain why you can get washing properly done, for

change

in Arundel?

#

115.U.S.A. State.

19 Were faces so repaired a hur

and fifty years ago?

dred

20 Scientist whose name to-day is

replaced by X.

| 21 If so guaranteed, W's certain in

the end.

22 Where there's Usually this.

in will, there's

23 Admires Konogram),

24 A future croaker,

21 More than enough,

Yesterday's Bolution

MAGNE 8,1 UMED 1 DUT

I

|| TALT 08 JACK ABB

L'ECKBUS 8BI FIRET 8 G

EOTATACOTT PNE FLYBUCKYEASTIN

THOUND GARNISH

including 10 Wanting in plumpress, Thumour is the spice of life, best organ in the neighbourhood. It Queen Mary herself, that if the 17 Normally like one man out of

women provide the occasion for has nearly a hundred stops. Is former Monarch had taken a pro 18. On the Ca

eleven (two words, 3, 3), a considerable portion of that spice. that so, sir?" said John.. "The best longed hoilday immediately There is the rentimental

woman, organ i know in the neighbourhood he War instead of undertaking 10 Dear Pa mukes a display in the lustrated in the young woman who is my old woman's tongue, and that arduous Empire tours, it would have As the children no doubt would begged her wetheart, to laten hasn't got any stops at all."

promenade. bech

23 Gold has served to stop teeth have observed, this aerial colony on while she asked him a very import-

much wiser course. In the M the cast side of the Water of Lellant question. He was all alert, and laundrywoman reminded him of a

A man said to his friend that his long run,

and these also. King George VI closely resembles 20 Nearing (anagram), the miles-long was at times rather noisy, as if some intent upon, giving a helpful answer. great: preacher. "And why?" "Be hip father in his devotion de duty 27 17 their fees resemble them, column were always a number of political row was on and evictions And Lila was her question. "George, esuke

they probably won't make Blower or streggiing crows, flying were about to be carried into execu-if you had never met me, would you to me she is always bringing home and his dislike of any suspicion of

to me things I never saw before."

lacking." For this reason alone li

song about them. heavily in singles and with consider 11p, Still, for centuries there has have loved me just the same?" able space between

Naturally, many of the tales about is imperative that the nation should 28 Waders turned inside out. them. These, been no break in the continuity of

And there is the simple soul, like women are abast the marriage re- make it clear that it regards it as 20 It's hard enough to set the the chlidren remarked, were the the historic Woodhall crow colony.one who told her friend

brought the change, husband was an influential man in band from the evening paper that a holidays like most other people in the that her Intion. A woman read to her hus-natural and essential that he, the however, at least half-a-dozen politics, "Dear me, I didn't know of couple were going to be

Queen, and their family should have couples deserted their ancestral

that." Yes,

husband has voted after a courtship of forty years. my abode, and crossed the river into the in two general elections, and each suppose," was the husband's sarcastle

"Iland. adjoining village, in the centre of me it has gone the way he voted."

Indeed, it might be possible to was pass on Act of Parliament making which they bulit their new homes,

comment, that the old chap There is the truculent wornan who too feeble to hold out any longer." provision for a fixed annual leave of | These, couples seemed very pencelul

A Glasgow young couple had met two months for the Sovereign, during and happy in the fall trees round ever meets a difference with meek-

ness. A clergyman left his parish for some time at the lunch hours in which period his duties would be our houses.

for a short period and was aware of flope Street. The girl, hoping to performed by a Regent and other Philosophers tell us that birds the serious illness of a certain man: stimulate her rather lardy admirer, members of the Royal Family. and animals are gifted with instinet On his return he met the man's wife suggested, "What about meeting in Blaze of Publickly er knowledge, which have always dressed in deep mourning, upon Union Street after this." puzzled the brain of man-and are which he drew the natural deducilqa A boy was asked why the Turks likely to do so for all time.

and expressed his condolence. made such daring fighters. "Because In the old, lelsured days before she said, "if you mean Jim, he's the man who has two wives is far railways, cameras, and cheap news- What Is the meaning of these very much alive, and is at work this more ready to die than a man will papers, a Klag could retire to a re

A heavy programma of Empire blackwinged "Torles" leaving the minute. But the fact is, Jim only one."

treat without comment or publicity.

tours faces King George VI. In the secluded home of thele aristocratle aggravated me much yesterday An American countryman, entered] Nowadays all ́ibis la changed.

next year or two, and the holiday ancestors and seeking a closer con- that I went into mourning again for the Women's Exchange in the big Sovereign can only obtain that

ho has just had this year will in all nection with communal democracy in my first husband." One would like town, and called out to the woman privacy and relaxation which he re

probability be his last for some time these open? Can

It is not much to ask for à man to come. It is to bo hoped that natural to hear Jim's version of that story. clerk, "Is this the Women's Ex- badly needs at times by courtesy of

Another creatures of the air foresee forth-

vicar reminded

* change?" "Yes,”. “And be you the his subjecta. A firm und, popular

who lover spares himself and who everyone, from the Prime Minister coming danger from their mechanical parishioner that he had not been to woman?" "Yes," "Then I'll not] Monarch is more than ever essential

has the hardest and most responsible to the least of his subjects, will see serial rivala in the shape of mun- church to hear the new organ, "Is trouble you any further. I'll just for the British Empire, and to ensure post in the world, one, as Earl that he enjoys the real and privacy

it well worth hearing?" asked the keep Maryl"

"this" "n" fit and healthy occupant of Baldwin-so-truly says, from which wilch hö hus so well caired. A Nature Observer

man, "Oh yes, John, "It is quite the

the Throne is imperafive. No mo- there is no release bui ́death.

Frink Bardon

COMING SHORTLY!

FORSAKING ALL LOVE

TO CONQUER ALL MENI

GODS COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN

GEORGE BRENT

26 BEVERLY ROBERTS

SATIN MAINE – LOEZJELIMAN

· AJARE 34MET 1 Roggen ding mat Perban

tho

mado war?!

HO

·F. L.-8.

A

33 French watering place. 32 Nol scored off the bat,

34 Find out!

DOWN

1 Perfect example of encouraging one of the househoki to keep on playing the giddy goat.

2 Fix. 3 Agony of men in the wrong.

dern Sovereign can be this unless he obtains at more or less regular intervals a period of complete rest, and change,

d

HATRE

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TRBON ENW PT FUN ELBIAMESE U E LATER

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