1939-12-05 — Page 24

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

December 5, 1939.

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The

Hongkong Telegraph.

Tuesday, December 5, 1939. Wyndham St., Hongkong Telephone: 26616

THE PAX "pecial to the Telegraph" Ia used by the "Hongkong Telegrapa” to Indicate news which is strictly copyright under Le provisions of the Telecommual.

1936. Buch OWI A Calons Urdinance,

bears the indication "UP is recolved in Hongkong on the date of publication by the United Press Associations, who re- serve Kiltights and forbid repablication, alther wholly or in part without previous arrangement.

A Grim Warning

SUNDAY'S disastrous tire in Shanghai Street is but another oblique, but nonetheless grim rominder to Government of the slum problem in Hongkong-a problem which, the authorities have casually announced, is to be ignored "for the duration."

The appalling loss of life in this latest tragedy cannot in any sense be laid at the door of the or others who worked so hard and despairingly in attempting to rescue the trapped inmates of the two tene- ments. The blame for this lies solely with the Government which allows buildings of this nature still to be in existence in these days of modern, fire- proof architecture.

Charity Supper Dance And Cabarete brigade

in aid of

Chinese Refugee Relief, and British Local Emergency Funds

under the auspices of

THE HONGKONG CHINESE WOMEN'S CLUB

at the Peninsula Hotel

on THURSDAY, 141⁄2 DECEMBER, 1930

from pan. to. 2 am.

Price $6.00

(Mah Jongg and Bridge for non-dancers)

(Please Reserve Your Table at Hongkong or Peninsula foi tla)

LONDON STUNNED! THIS LETTER MEANT MURDER!

Why did Count Dunf baffled Scotland" tumous crime-busier trapped greatest mystery.Thrill romance deenched dramaljajaja

You are hereby authorized by my Government to deliver an additional #1.000.000 in ourranag. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY IS IMPERATIVE.

Count D.L. Dusi for THE GOVERNMEN

THE

SAINTIN LONDON

GEORGE SANDERS SALLY GRAY

David Burns-Gordon McLood Athene Seyler » Henry Oscar. -

“SHOWING WITH

THE WARNING

TO-MORROW

"

AT QUEEN'S

THE

For years past the authorities, both through the cruel school of Experience and from warnings by competent critics, have been told that the type of Chinese tenement houses so prevalent in the congested native arcas both on the island and the mainland, are a menace to health, life and property. It is true there have been improvements in the more recent tenement erections, but in view of Sunday's disaster, it is pertinent to ask why Govern- ment has not thought fit to con- sider more seriously the in- herent perils of dwellings such as those in Shanghai Street and the adjacent areas in Taumati.

This is the worst fire disaster since the West Point explosion, and its gravity is not the whit lessened by the knowledge that

it may possibly be reproduced in a dozen parts of the Colony at any time. Such a dangerous possibility cannot be ignored by Government, which should forth- with, assume its responsibilities and introduce emergency legis- lation capable of obviating re- petition of such a tragedy.

Pleas that the question is too complex to permit an immediate solution do not impress us. The lves of Hongkong residents have a greater meaning to us than the vested interests of a fow landowners. Government must co-operate with landlords, if necessary, to give effect to proper measures for the aboll- tion of thear living death traps. The authorities must go to the extent of saying that not only cannot one-way tenement: blocka be built in the future, but those already in existence must be pulled down, and new and safer buildings erected. Until this is done, in conjunction, of course with ameliorating measures against overcrowding, catas trophes such as that of Shang- hai Stroot can; and may occur any day.

"NO W

I

SHALL

CATCH

IT ! "

The Strange Story of the

Hater Who

Didn't Mean It

La

OVING your enemies is -heaven knows—a diff- cult (and, to my mind, a rather hypocritical) job, but hating them is a dangerous

onc.

Consider, for example, the pathetic case of the man who became known as the Arch- Hater of the twentieth century. I am speaking of Ernest Lis- sauer, who wrote the Hymn of Hate, possibly the most famous war poem in history.

The passionato poison of this eple of Prussian acid, you feel as you read it, could only have emia- nated from some blond German lighting man with eyes blazing blue with hatred and muscular body taut with actual experience

the field of battle."

in

But Ernst Lissauer was a kindly, naive and preposterously fat man with visionary eyes, fingers that delighted to play Bach, and a mind whose thoughts fell naturally into verses. WHOSO

Yes, Lissauer was a lyrical poet who nursed a tender muse under-

the framo nenth

of a man- mountain. His face was as round as the moon. He had three chins.

He was a lovable person.

1014

THE

war came. Lissauer awoke one morning to read that

his beloved Germany was at- tacked. That meant, to him, not the Kaiser, not the landed wealth nor the economic treasures of his country, but that Goethe, Schiller,

were in danger. To the re- Cruiting omcel German poetry must be defended!

But the recruiting sergeant sent the man-mountain liomo again. Nature had not intended him to be a soldier,

Bo Lissauer sat down at his deat and poured out war poems, most of which had a life no longer than that of the average cartoon.. But the seventh one he wrote took on.

This Hymn

ymn of Hate against England," Stefan Zwelg written,"

'was not by a long way most blood-thirsty of the Ger

war poems; it was only poetically the best.

man

Newspaper after потарарег copied it. It was printed on post- cards, publicly recited all over Germany;

J

Hate of the hammer and hate of

the drown,

Hate of seventy millions, choking

down,

We love as one, we hate as one. We have one for and one alone-

ENGLANDI

י,

THIN the Gorman War Once realised that here was a piece of superh propaganda ready to their hands, and the poem was incorporated in army orders. It was oficially recited to soldiers wherever they assembled in military formation: Army newspapers p order..

In the schools the children sald it over and over again mechanie ally until they bad learnt it by heart. Before long seventy mill-

by STUART FLETCHER ·

lion people could recite Ernst Lissauer's "Hymn of Hate."

Lissauer, the visionary poet, who had never been in England, knew nothing of politics, understood nothing of the causes of the war. but had just rushed like a great sentimental ox into a situation which he was possibly too great- hearted to understand, had re- leased a wave of hatred which was finally to break on his own head.

Meanwhile, the Kaiser decorated him with the Order of the Red Eagle.

WHEN peace came the professional haters in Germany hid their own less successful martial outpourings behind Lissauer's bulk, pointed accusing Angers at him, and dubbed him "Hate Lissauer."

The poor hater was so hated that he had to leave Germany and live Few would print his in Austria.

uruc. plays verses. His

were cessful.

On the outskirts of Vienna he wandered in the dreamy woodland where Haydn and Schubert had wandered before him, writing, in

GRIN AND BEAR

"Of course she's uni

Stefan Zweig's, words, "a series of plays and prose works and excep- tionally beautiful poems, rich and pure in quality-but they passed unnoticed."

When the Nazi revolution took place you might have expected a return to favour for the poor man, even against his will. But no His The man writings were banned. who had been outlawed because he had been too German was now out- lawed again because he was not German enough.

LISSAUER was a broken man. He died (just ten years ago) In Vienna, completely lonely, !n abject poverty. He had come to long for dunth---

Even recantation had not helped him. He had written: "I know now that my poem would have been better expressed as a song of love for Germany than hate for Eng- It hurts me now that my land, name is associated with ideas of death and destruction.

looks to me,

to me." he had added prophetically, "as if a new war the ana

final annihilation

would

mean

of Western culture."

Bo this sorcerer's apprentice who played unwisely with the dangerous nagle of bute and taught the formula of hatred to seventy mill- lions of his fellows, letting loose an emotion which he could not con- trol, ended by hating himself.

IT

By Lichty

unhappily married--but the little fool doesn't

realize it!!!

A Look Through The "Telegraph”,

50 YEARS AGO

Dec. 5, 1889. Smokeless powder has proved a huni- bug, as it will not retain it normal explosive quality under prolonged gld- Kervice. Such is the verdict of the Engilah Department.

• din- Wiegert, Protonsor Paul tinguished Gorman, figures that 7 conta worth of food will keep a strong man in good form from day to day and shar we would all be healthier without. underwear or overcoate.

The recent order of the British Admiralty directing that ail the sub- sidized merchant steamers intended for use in time of war shall strip thers- selves of yards has been complied with by all the subsidized vessels sailing out of New York.

•

During the building and decoration of the prescat Parliament House in dis- London, the Queen expressod approval of the robing room to Mr. Harry, the architect (father of the late Primate of Australia). At which Mr. Barry said: "I am very sorry, your Bajesty, because I like it, and there's an end of the mattor." And he walked off.

25 YEARS AGO

Dec. 5, 1914. The Press Bureau announces that H. Majesty the King travelled to France last night on a visit to the British Headquarters._1_.

that

We have sometimes thought of run- ning a daily record of the wins, negligences and ignorances of divinely ordained institution the Hong- kong Post Office, but charity, and want' tho many of space forbid. Among minor masterpieces of system on which one might congratulate it, is the con- dition of affairs that obtains on mali day at the registered letter and stamp, counters.

To save the crews of warships struck by mines or torpedard by submarines, sinco other warships have been pro- hibited from going to their assistance, the Adiniralty will supply swimining collars to the oflrors and men of the fleets. The men are instructed that the collar shall be carried on their person when they are awake and kopl instated near each individual when he in asleep.

10 YEARS AGO

i

Oalo, Dec. 6, 1929. The Nobel Committes of the Storting has decided not to award the Pesta Prizes for 1028/20.

-

Officers and members of St. Andrew's Society observed St Andrew's Day by thx laying a wreath on the Cenotaph morning. These prezcat **UMPIN the entrance to the Hongkong Club and walked to the Cenotaph two-doop. The wreath was laid by Mr. A. H. Ferguens, the Chieftaint,

Thons present, In addition to the Chieftain, ware Mr. R. M. Dyer, Mr. D. Wylie, fr. R. Sutherland. Mr. E. M. Brydon, Mr. P. Tod, Mr. E. E. Groix, Mr. K. B. Morrison, Mr. A. Ritchie, Mr. H. I. Forsyth; Mr. P. W. Kamuy and Mr. G. Duncan.

5 YEARS AGO

Paris, Doc. 5, 1924. Although France has no 5-lateral treaty with Rusis, the two nations aro agreed upon a common policy for the protection of the posco in Europe, de- clared M. Laval," the French Forelan | Minister, when speaking to the Cham-

bar of Deputies to-day.

He urged President Nieles of Gor- many who had alrmed his will for peach, to join Franes in her Eastern Earepoan policy and urged Germany to re-enter the Langue of Nations,

Berlin. The revelation that International Jowry had made a pence offer to Ger many, on, condition that the German Government changed ite' polley regard. Ing Jews, was made by Here- Vrisk, Minister of the Interior, in spssch at Chemnitz to-day, err-Frick added that the offer: was not worth consider- ing. The Jaws. In Germany had no ressan to complain of: unjust,tront-

ment.

**

The two Far Eastern oxpress liners Scharnhorst and Gneisenau "at: prumant under construction for the Norddeuts cher Lloyd, will be put-into- servips; in the'"pring And autumn of 1985 respec- tivaly.