1947-07-19 — Page 7

NARCISSUS TIME. IN LES AVANTS

FREE ON THE

BOSON OF NATURE"?

FAR FROM THE SORDID

COMMERCE OF THE METROPOLIS!"

Fybniy

"ONE FRANG CÁCH

Lew's

PERSON, MSLEU"

HOLIDAY NOTEBOOK

IN SWITZERLAND

KATHLEEN COURLANDER INTRODUCES A NEW

SERIES OF ARTICLES WHICH

WILL TRACE THE EVOLUTION OF

T

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1947.

"GOOD MORNING.

SWISS

MISS

Fact

THE SWISS NYE BEVAN, I PRESUME"

#Constart in All Countries/

Dissatisfaction In Communal Life

By "CANDIDUS"

HAT the cost of living in Hongkong is utterly fantastic is illustrated in a hundred- -and-one ways. It may be argued that the present Inflation is world-wide. but that does not make the burden any lighter for the individual. There are, however, several aspects peculiar to the Colony which all add to the problems of what may be formed the wage-earning class.

One of the first of these is the question of transportation. Very few workers live within easy distance of their work. In other days, ferries, rickshas. trams and buses were available in sufficient number to cater for the entire com- munity.. Fares were molerate. Today, not only have the coats of transportation increased from one hundred to several hundred percent, but, with the exception of rickshas, it is nothing short of a physical feat to gain access to a tram, ferry or bus. People stand for long periods, hoping. that they will sooner or later be able to get near enough to a tram or bus in order to reach their outlying homes after the day's work,

đ

FOR thousands, the very thought of going home for a mid-day men is entirely out of the question; and from the cheaper restaurants to the more protentious establishments the price of a mid-day meal, has no relation whatsoever to the absurd "Price Index" which is so regularly published in the Press.

To repair a pair of shoes costs, on an The average, three times more than prewar. cost of clothing is from four to five times as high. Rents-scandalous! Room rates in hotels and boarding houses have soured to unconscion- able heights. As much is demanded for a cubicle In Wanchai as would have secured a decent-sized room in the City before the war. As muen is demanded for a hotel or boarding house room would be charged for a small suite in any of London's leading hotels. And so it goes on, in one of the most vicious circles ever known.

THE GUILDS

OF THE CITY OF LONDON

as

And week by week, that ridi- culous, and entirely misleading Price Index is published.

the wax fat on people whose work keeps the Colony going.

Dr Wests

Wests TOOTH PASTE

Outlasts natural bristles more than 2 to l

• Cleans teeth 60% better

• Waterproofed....... anti-soggy Sealed in glass

• Guaranteed for a year

Trade Inquiries to L. D, Soymour & Co., Inc. 43 French Bank Bldg., Hongkong

BAUXITE PROSPECTING STARTED IN MALAYA

Prospecting for bauxite -the ore from which alumi». nium is obtained-has begun at Pengarrang Headland on the Johore Bahru side of the Johore Straits, just opposite Changi, following the renewal of permits for Aluminium Laboratories Limited, a subsidiary of the large Canadian company, Aluminium Limited.

Mr H. R. Hose, representative j "This was in the area in which in Singapore of Aluminium La- we had permits to prospect," he said. "They didn't get very far there boratories Limited, told a re however. They built a road and THROUGH the silvered een- Nearly

porter Chat after developing, started stripping but did no mining. A century later the special events as well as participat- The heyday of the City.Com- turies, the famous Com- Drapers entertained 200 diners in- ing each year in the Lord Mayor's pantes existed in the 13th and 14th

mining, shipping and accumula-

"They alro but plers and mined panies have threaded cluding 40 women who sat in a Show, held still cach November centuries, but when the 18th- and

industri No wonder there is dissatis-ting a stock-pile of bauxite at a very small quantity of bauxite at on alienated their way into the history of Meciul dining-room; the guests of when a new Lord Mayor of London 19th centuries, with the

honour and The women were served comes into office. Medieval

faction in almost every Telok Mas, near Malacca, the Tanjong Rutaala, brought significant Lon- revolution,

land." the City of London, symbolical with "brawn and mustard, capon doners expected much on these se changes to Britain, and the rise of phase of communal life-ex-Japanese during the occupation of the wealth and power

Two stock-plies of bauxite ore, one con- boiled, swan roasted, pike, venison casions from the City

Companies Industri

Industrial cities in other parts of cepting, of course, the pro- started exploration in south east

fairly large one at Telok Mas and -centrated in that famous

ronst. jeliles, pastry, and seldom were they disappoint the country began, the function of fiteers, the racketeers, and all Johore. quails, aturecon, salmon, and mustry, the City Companies began to follow the square

unother, smaller one at Tanjong mile of Britain's metropolis,

Rumania, are now under the control Although their functions have so the Livery were provid- adopted a special form of display different trends. With the change

of the Custodian of Property. vd four sirloins of beef "cut and kept it. for centuries the from hand to mechanized manufae changed in the process of time throughout the ox, six sheep and a

Fishmongers,

for example, cory ture, they censed to be Craft Guilds. and many of their fine Halls alt. Forty gallons of cards

structed a large model ship to wel- They devoted themselves to other musicruc

come back Edward I from His Scot purposes for which they were well were destroyed during the air supplied for the meaf and

tish campaigns, while, when the adapted. raids of World War II. they was provided by minstrels.

When on election feast was held young Richard I was crowned, the continue to flourish, participat- the new Master and Wardens were Goldsmiths built a turreted ing in every event that concerns offered garlands" consisting of un from which wine flowed for the City of London. Their open velvet cap with silver badges freshment of the crowd and leaves traditions aro respected, their and much ceremony accompanied of gold were blown upon the King, while an angel descended and pre- henevolence appreciated as they

senied him with a crown. colour the sombre Hapestry of City life with their pageantry. The City Companies, known also as the Livery Guilds of London,

their presentation.

Companies' Plate

were

not obylous. the host. These Companies inci-

It was due to the localisation, of dentally were often called upon to

various London trades in particular entertain distinguished guests

districts. Thus when all the men of Soper's Lane (now Queen Street) met, their meeting place was the rendezvous of grocers: tailors lived in Birchin Lane, busket-makers Pudding Lane and shmongers

Thamox-oldė.

Meeting Places

position in

Castle

The Grocers had an island of spice trees which were seen in Lord

of business

from Aaracter."

Her dress days a matter of great disagree-

in thus came into being in the City of hold a sceptre in one hand, and in Jaylors cr

ne

in

12

Company

common-sense.

Baritone

Wants Slim

Sopranos

cer-

1

Both

Up To Grade

these accumulations were mined from allenated land by the Japanese. The Custodian will have. to walt until all claimants have been dealt with before he can dispose of the mines and stock-plics.

"The Malacca stock-pile," sold Mr. Hess, "is probably up to the grade which the Japanese were shipping to Japan before Japan's entry into the war."

Aluminium Limited, the holding company in Canada, owns about 40 subsidiary companies altogether throughout the world, including Alu- minium Laboratories Limited; and Aluminium Union Limited-the inst being interested in the sale of alu minium in Malaya and the For East and Pacific zone as a whole.

POOR FISH GET FOOLED

I am told that as much as a thousand dollars a month is paid Importance Of Rank for bathing huts. Never was TODAY there are between 70 and there a form of more despicable 80 Companies, self-contained nouveau riche than those who societies

and profes exact "key money" before they sional men, bound by ceremonial will let a room or dwelling. observances and presided over by

an-Those who pay are not entirely Masters and Wardens elected

Members of Britain's blameless; but in many cases, nually.

found Royal Family are T these banquets, there was a Mayors' processions during the 17th

when they agree to be bled

Baritone Robert Merrill hopes their Freemen; the splendid show

of plate-still century, and the Mercers

sovereign on record to belong to

sheer desperation over-rules the fat ladies with beautiful are referred to vaguely in Anglo possessed by most of the Com Charlot"

grew more elaborate

Company was Edward III who was

Control may be voices are gone from opera for- Saxon chronicles. They were panles and loving cups were pass the years passed. I

passed. The central

difficult, but surely something ever. formed from voluntary associations ed round the tables Instead of the figure in this chariot was "a bout a member of the Mercers' Guild.

Merrill, 29, single and curly- element in them was the trade-usual-custom-of taking-wine-with-ful young gentlewoman of good The Companies attach great Im could be done to protect the

education, and portance to rank, often in Bygone public, religious

haired is one of the younger performers at the New York aatin, fringed with gold, ment. By an order, drawn up

reign, VIII's

there are overscas.

coronet un her hair was a golden As their

ers, school building was erected for 700 Metropolitan Opera House.

"Wo hear the fatties may be com- medieval set with emeralds, diamonds

Companies the Mercers, boys. A school for and ma

400 girls was Fishmongers. days strengthened the Companies sapphires, and from her shoulders Grocers, Drapers, sought permanent premises,

neighbourhood ing back," he explained, "now that

the war is over-but we singers co and hung a crimson velvet robe. Sho Goldsmiths

Haberdasherchant opened. also in the

fine schools and both these

are Saltars,

Many famous men tainly don't want it to happen." Cloth flourishing. Vintners and

heroines, especially Unattractive on London a series of beautiful Halls the other a shield with the Mereers

educated at St Paul's workers. The youngest of. the have been where the Companies' finest posses- arms.

School; among

John heavyweights, Merrill said. are 'them are slons were on show. Some of the

inany minor companies is the City Churchill, Duke of Marlborough and pain in the larynx to any singer.

"Other

don't sometimes men Repeatedly the Companies lent of London Solicitors' noblemen's THESE Carly voluntary associn- original premises were

realise this," he said. Their wives Samuel Pepys, the noted diarist,

they tions had a religious background houses, and until World War II the the Government money for various which was granted a Livery on May ancestor of Mr Winston Churchill,

Hall of the Merchant Taylors

Lo was schemes of adventure, and gradual- 24, 1944. Fraternities. Hat of and were known

Buffer. They

think never stop

The only artificial fishing, worm in the series which follows. Barry and in modern times, Field-Marshal take them to the opern, and the older in existener. Bu out of ly from the City Companies, others

Lord Montgomery.

suffer, joo. singers that we poor

manufacturer to members The

attend the U.S. assembled at

teas Peak will deal with these oversees

of Manufac- church, manastery, or hospil, the the total of 35 Halls, during 1940 originated which traded

the Guilds in nine articles; covering, in ́ There are many other famous How do I feel it I am singing a saint of which they adopted as their and 1941, 17 were destroyed and 15 and brought much wenith lo

Cily. Notable among these are the turn, the Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, charitable institutions

to a fatty? I with every note, National Association

|turers' regional meeting in Portland, fund damaged.

also count her wrinkles?" patron, and from a common

Oregon, was Hugh Loud, of Detroit. Throughout the centuries, the Hudson Bay Company which Im- Fishermongers, Goldsmiths, Skin-by the Company. Sir Kichard they paid subsidles to provide altar

on ported furs from Canada, and the ners, Merchant Taylors, Vintners, Gresham, three times Master of the singing alongside such Met nifties as Merrill said he wanted to keep

His product, which "looks like the lights and services for the de- Companies spent much money

pageantry, on stoging

for East India Company,

and Clothmakers.

Company

obtained grants from the ceased.

Lily Pons, Rise Stevens, Patric Mun-real McCoy," he said, "and is better Crown to the City of London for The livery of the Guilds ._still

the four Royal Hospitals-Christ's Fel, Nimi Benzell, Dorothy Kirsten, than the real McCoy has been in- rist Blanche Thebom and Liels Albanese. troduced on the shelves of sporting worn by the Liverymen.or first-

Hospital (the famous blue cont rankers--was influenced by the

"If I had to choose between two gonds stores in America to meet the school), st Thomas's

in Hospital

take needs of fishermen who "like to go Jobes or gowns with hoods worn by

Southwork, Bethlehem and Bride-sopranos," he said, "I would different

the beautiful girl with an excellent fishing, but dislike the early morning monks, Until the Re-

Gresham well. Sir Richard

one with a chase of angleworm hunting,” formation in England those liverles

Also King's merchant or agent in volce over the ugly were parti-coloured in bright hues.

are made of Flande

an office in which he was super-super tone."

Merrill hopes that the Met, when The nightcrawlers red and blue, or red and purple

by: his 50л, Sir Thomas but after that period they became

it starts importing talent again, will red or brown plastic and are pattern- Gresham. If was Sir Thomas try some of the same.

ed-after-the-regional breeds of the more subdued. There was a

ESPITE the fact that the Chapel The Mercers, unlike the other who became Mayor of London four

Gresham who founded London's

United States. They're about five the tinction between those who might and Hall

never been a times. It is recorded Mercers' Cily Gullds. have the. of

"When Rise Stevens plays Royal Exchange and Gresham Cal- King wear the gown and hood, and those

Henry

earthwornis, tiile role in 'Carmen' and I play the inches long and are resilient and hose Company, senior

London's trading Company and did not, even banquet when of

lege. The Royal Exchange was, In who were entitled only to wear the City Guilds in order of precedence, in early days, obtain Dowers from wife, Catherine) praised the great those days, a meeting place for both part of Escamillio," Merrill said, "it"stretchy like regular

were hood. These original hues are re-

burning with were blitzed in on enemy, air raid the Crown, for the supervision of fires which

cedar and

wood. th English and foreign merchants, perfumed tained still by the Guilds as their during World War II, the Mercers persons of any trade in the City of cedar "colours."

wishing to Impress are rejoicing that their collection of London. The Mercers were, as the Mayor

Mercator)

Technical Education threw Mercier

of (from

£00,000 worth clement fine pictures, stored--

safety namo subordinated

bunds on the Bres. to the m- during the war, has been

and

Incidentally Richard Whittington ng from the inception of the Company

A FAMOUS Institution which their fluence of the trade and they be to them. They дте

work City Companies have helped to carne craft

guilds. As they in many of these.

of them, traded in remote underlood much rebuilding paintings as they are many

City creased in wealth and power they able in the accommodation that re- parts of the world. However, trad- in London; he rebuilt the church in found in recent times is the began to organise their trades and mains to them. This collection of ing, as with other City Companies, the parish of St Michael, Paternos and Guilds of London Institute for

and "mysterica" as they were pictures contains a portrait of Sir was not carried on in the City of ter Row, in which he lived and the

from the French Thomas Gresham by Holbein, London.. and formed

Thecally the religious

dig

1.

shows

The Senior Company

By BARRY PEAK

tored implics, a body of merchante."

another by the same orlist, of Sir com-

dis-

genet times.

Sinnding Amid the biltzed

cera' Hall, one senses the enormous Although their loss that has occurred by air

rald

the

to

Lord

famous

that at

*1422.-

the

the

advancement

maintained

Was

Bongo

love

is a pleasure. Just to look at that only they're not gooey," he said. Stevens makes you wish to sing."

Loud :admitted that the artificial But this is not quito the feeling nightcrawler is a mean trick on fish,

elgarette To them, it must be like when Carmen, the sllek

biting

walks out on the stage weigh-Into a wax apple,

around 250 pounds, Cheered When She Foll

has

Tiny Atom Bombs Help Research

"I played "Carmen' onco with a of technical also Newgate Prison, he repaired education. From this. has evolved fatty, Merrill said, "and almost col- I could hardly wait conduits at his own ex- the, Department of Technology, lapsed a hmg. City

Department thia

to come. 1, almost- the for the end pleto

to prevent outside Lionel buckett. An interesting -Dick Whittington: pense and contributed handsomely Through

the stopped singing and cheered. after competition. The Masters of the painting in the collection is that.of

the rebuilding of St Barthoin- Institute is connected with all

Britain she was finally stabbed."

University of Pittsburgh pro- Guilds and their Wards drew up Sir Richard Whittington, here of HERE it is Interesting to note that mew's Hospital, the Guildhall and chief technical schools in

But even if the Met keeps 1ts the ordinances, controlled thet standard the old London tala and one of the the Great Companies of the Mer-

Library of the

glamour girls--instead of getting rid fessors are working with minta- of workmanship, the weges

of greatest City, magnates in Plante- chants of the Staple and the Mar. London. He died in orporation of, and with many of those overseas.

The Guilds of the City of London of them, as sume critics have, aug ture atomic bombs in an effort cs 80 centuries Mercers During the journeymen, the number and treat

chant Adventurers of England were, have been elected either Mayors or are doing a great deal to dasist the gested-Merrill

- ខ

hia to develop now fuels for fet- ment of apprentices, and exercised

advancement of.

and problems. ruing offshoots of the Mercers and the been elected eith

Jearning, of London. Jurisdiction over all domestic

They Mayors

through their efforts three famous "I, personally, will give $1,000," he propelled, aircraft and rockets. pules. Royal Charters, were grant of what was once the historie hier growth of foreign trade and English founded and maintained some

commarcels attributed to them.

Their research, an outgrowth of great work really the

educational Institutions. technical colleges and schools, have said, to any composer writing a suc ed to them, equipping them with -corporate rights.

best-l:nown school been founded. Over £1,000,000 has cessful opern, in which the baritone secret war worle, also may result In damage; on the floor, semi-circular were precursors

camo to an end In Tudor times, they

· Fellowship-

Baritones, it seems, neven fare too new metallic alloys capable of with City and Gulkis of the East India with which they have been connect been spent on those Institutions, the gels; the girl," marks painted in white Indicate the Company and other: famous trading ed is St Paul's, founded by Dr John chief being the

South well in operas. In the words of the standing the high heat generated in NE of their functions was to en- spot where the Freemen of

they're villains, Jet engines, Colet, iast Dean of St Paul's Cathe the Companies of later times.

Kensington College, in

There

also

who never courage social fellowship, and Company sat when

dral before the Reformation. the

fathern, or just good cy3 Master pre-

Directing the hardling of the Uny tion with the Royal associa-bitter Merrill; what were originally simple feasts sented, the

the. Com- of

bombs, which may explody, upon It was by Royal Charter in 1393 father, Sir Henry Colet, was

ence and the

School of seem to get anywhere. developed as time passed, into mag- pany to Mr

do contact with ordinary air, are Dr Churchill.

"Take me," said Merrill, “I Section nificent banquets that were

held

Although Mercers' Company as power to purchase and

history traces the exis- camu a Corporation and received been the first in be styled until the outbreak of World War II. tence o

hold land Mayor,"

and Technology. These and other Kirsten, Alda' with Thebom, nit | Maron.co

Traviata with Albanese. But Sarma of the early accounts of these far back as the reign of Henry 1. In uid or the support of the poor. St Paul's School was opened in educational Institutions give young

Bikewers loned lows before the baring the query time some other, man gets the ments will produce results unlimited

long this. £38 on a notable-banquet wie es gan order of the Intrusted the Company with the Great Fire of London in 1080, the Mercers, with other great City:

direction 1⁄4 of exceddingly important "the Mercers robuilt it, and ire Companies, play the part of "od swans were provided at 38. id. each, af St Thomas of Acon was founded, charities - and in course of time,, maided on that slig until about. 40. fathers of the future... two geese at eightpence, 4b capons and fought for the Faith in the Holy they willed much property to the years ago when the school Was at sixpence, 10 copies at threepence, Land. Later the order was morged Mercers.

transtérrad, to the healthtar. Helgh-. 48 partridges at fourpeace, and 18 In the Order of the Knights Temnd of the most patriotic deeds bourhood of West Kensington. Hero dozen larks at fourpened in addition plara and had headquarters in the Was performed. -by-Sir Richard 10 acres of land were bought from to many other birds, restoring Holy Land and Cyprus,

Wngton, the famous poor boy the revenue of the school and a new

ONE

an

"Lord"

His entothe

Sclence of tho imperial

that, the Fraternity of Mercers be- eminent Mercer, and is said to have, Mines, as the En Sucia' with. Pons, sing Faust' with Gobbard, Stegeman and Dr Leo 8.

of.

NEXT WEEK. The Popperers And

The Grocerse

catches one or two kisses from in peace and war, and certainly fin“.

the leading lady in "Carmen" |portant in the field of synthalle or-

"But just which I'm gotung to ganie chemistry fest base, her complained, -"some- ja avanz obe allps her, the knife.google. *Park of the programme · Isl-being.

So you can judge for yourself, sponsored by the US Navy De- The life of a baritono is generally partment. "A grant" ban" been given cad

Tiho university by the department, v