1947-08-08 — Page 7

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1947..

The old buccaneers

VERY time you pick up a paper, these days you sco something about dol- lara, You can't smoke because tobacco cosis dollars; you can't drink because whisky carus dollars; you can't have even a slice of dry toast for your breakfast without being told that to buy it we had to barrow dollars.

What are, these almighty dollars that govern our lives? And who invented the things? Well, I will tell you. It was the Germans. Nobody. would ever have heard of dollars if it hadn't been for them.

needed 'em, too

BERNARD WICKSTEED

has Fun Finding Out about dollars

But to revert to the child- Before hood' of the dollar.

revolution the British the colonists in North America did their financial reckoning in £ s. d., but as they had hardly any British coins they used Spanish dollars for their cash

In the year 1616 they dis- covered silver at Joachimsthal, in Bohemia, and from it made coins they called Joachimstha- transactions. lers. The Joachim part was dropped and thaler became the silver

name coln.

German for a

English people couldn't pro- nounce thaler so they said "dollar," and that's how it all began.

The

name dollar

spread to Spanish pieces of eight, these in turn spread to America, where they circulated among the colonists.

Origin of sign

IF you've been following, you are now in a position to understand why the sign for a dollar is $. The S originally B and the two strokes indicated that it was a contraction for "pieces of."

WO9

Pieces of eight, as you know were the favourite booty of buccaneers, who used to bury them in out-of-the-way places, and, oddly enough, the dollar of today has inherited the same tendencies to premature burial.

There's a hole in the ground at Fort Knox, Tennessee, that contains enough buried gold to make 20,033,000,000 dollars (£5,233,250,000). This is two thirds of all the gold that the world uses for men.

SIDE GLANCES

After their declaration of in- dependence, the Americans dropped sterling nitogether and

inade dollars the official unit

of currency. This might not have happened if one of their early plans had not miscarried.

To the rescue.

THEY were in such a flx with wrote

their money that they

ANOTHER

11:0

trouble about youthful dollar when it was sowing its wild oats was due to the fact that it led a double life. It was not only tied to gold, as it is now but it was tied to silver as well..

No nation had even tried this be

Americans You took U.S. silver dollars to the fore and it took the West Indies and changed them for nearly a hundred years to find out

that it didn't work. the same number of the larger

brought The end of the experiment began political TOWS Spanish ones. Then you these buck' to the American mint, one of the biggest which was bound by law to melt since the Civil War and produced an

astonishing character called William them down and remint them for you Jennings Bryan, who led the Demo- as U.S. money.

cratic Party for 30 years and during that time lost every election fought.

The sliver in 100 Spanish dollars than 100 mode a good deal more

American ones

made a good proft.

he

In one of them (1800) tre travel- ye olde spivsted 10,000 miles, and made 000 speeches, demanding the return of for the dollar to its double life.

Tire mint worked overtime

years, turning out nice now dollars

that went abroad as fast as they were made. The only coins left for

the Americans to use themselves

Poker chips

the sup- doing, this he won

the silver-producing port of were the ones too old and battered States in the west, and with the ex- to be worth melting down.

ception of Colorado they have voted solidly for the Democratic Party Those were the days when we ever since, though the allver dollor lent

the money to

Americans, hasn't been a major political issue We lent them for nearly 50 years. Honestly, we did. ht

And they millions of pounds,

Roosevelt was a Democrat and it didn't always pay us back, either. was this traditional support for

Individual States of the Union forgotten cause that helped to keep

him in office, used to borrow money and then pass a law repudiating the debt,

to an English man, of all people, and offered him U.S. citizenship if would come over and be their first Minister of Finance.

His name was Dr Richard Price, and he replied that he was too old. and that anyway he didn't want to leave England. Had he not been so old and fond of England he might have taken on the job and persuad- ed. the Americans to use pounds instead of dollars, which would have made life a lot more simple for us.

The man who did work out, the details of the new American colnage Gouverneur Morris, better was known as

France ambassador to

Не during the French Revolution. had a sharp tongue, and once sald Washington DC. would, be a perfect city if only it had a few houses, amiable women and well-informed men.

There still is a shortage of hauses, The American dollar had a most unhappy infancy. It contained less silver than the Spanish dollar and this led to what people today would called a nice little fiddle.

By Galbraith

COPIL VINT BY MZA AFRVICE, INC. V. SA, REI, IL, B. PAT, OFF.

"You'll have to excuse me if I seem a little nervous today-

I have an appointment with my own dontiat this ovoning?"!

The

DAB

AND FLOUNDER

by Walter

His was a

spartan school

by CHARLES WINTOUR

HILI MOUNTBATTEN insisted that all boys should

was educated at one of the tought a craft most unorthodox progres- give schools in the world. For six years, from 1933 to 1939, he was a pupil of the famous Dr Kurt Hahn.

ease the State passed another law this dollar is that although it's back-he appointed Kurt

had fairly

do the same.

0

be

HIRDE

His numbers were down to 73; among them was Prince Philip.

It

is odd to remember that the future Consort of Princess Elizabeth have been educated in Germany If Hitler had not expelled bio headmaster.

contribution would

7 URT HAHN's own

was a fanatical insistence on the cult of physical fitness.

Inbour

to

othletic

"

In Salem, he wrote: "all boya ran Dr Hahn now put his educational slowly for 400 yards before break- theories to a more rigorous test. Immediately after the 1914 war fast, preferably on their toes. All He joined forces with his day-school

Elgin Academy, I own a silver dollar. I won it Prince Max of Baden set aside, part boys skipped in the morning and did neighbour,

system State of Mississippi, for one, did in a poker game at the Washington of his great castic at Salem on the press-ups at night. Many climbed institute

a rope every day. All the year standards for every boy to reach at this with two loans totalling Press Club, where they use them shores of Lake Constance na

German public school to be run on round there was, at least four times various ages. If he passed the test $7,000,000 and when a bondholder for chips. But money Isn't every entirely new lines. As headmaster a week, a big break from 10.30 to ho won a Morey Sports Had for went to court about it and won his thing, and the thing I like about

Hahn. Prince 11.15, when all boys practised based on a German sports badge for which the Salem boys had competed unorthodox jumping, running and throwing. making it illegal for anyone else to ed by two-thirds of the gold in Max who

The boys at Salem also carried out in Germany. the world, the Americans have still educational beliefs himself, insisted

Buch af The Moray badge went beyond If we had that money now plus thought it necessary to engrave on

from the first that fees should be heavy physical

cinder track and the German bodge in insisting on Interest it might provide us with it in tiny letters tho saving clause: graded according to income of the bullding

expedition tests such as walking, enough American films to last at "In God we trust." Did somebody parents. Some parents paid £200 a harbour,

£30. He also The fame of Hohn's methods be- climbing, animal watching, explor others only say "All others cash?"

came world-wide, particularly after ing, sailing and riding; it his boys won the Public Schools demanded certain training conditions Challenge Cup at the White City requiring self-discipline during the for three years running. The school training period, such as not smoking which started with four boys grow and drinking.

It was under this Spartan regling to a size of 420.

educated Philip was In 1933 Prince Philip of Greect, that Prince

of his as te then was, left the private during the formative years preparatory school at Cheam, where life, he had been for three years and went to Germany to take part in the strange curriculum of. Salem. He was 12 years old.

least six months.

year:

What irritates me most

about HIM... (about HER)

Some Hongkon g married couples list each other's faults

HE

Idea

the

Wives

has

SAY...

HE

SINGA

On

also

DRINCE PHILIP probably worked both in the local blacksmith's power shop and the boat building yards

But with Hitler's advent Kurt Hohn, who was of Jewish descent, was arrested and charged to run the school's own kitchen.

with being a Communist (although,

round the Moray Firth. Ho helped

in fact, he had fairly Conservative garden. He sailed small boats on political views). Hahn was released the Moray Firth, one of the fay boys allowed out in all weathers without after Prince Berthold of Baden had an adult. He learnt forestry, seme- the intervened with President Hinden-

thing about the arts and inter- national affairs, burg on his behalf.

•

an +

phrase washes, he moves the similar days) that ghastly that in comes popping up. "Well now, and mantelpiece to make way for those

And he studied with a fisherman's looks he is what have we been up to today?" bottles of bismuth.... rather like Clark It has reached the point now of a

smokes a cigarette without

son on one side of him and a rich To watch horrible Gable.

fascination for me. I removing it from his mouth, so that

and man's heir on the other, for Hahn's FAHN then left Germany HAHN him playing out know It's coming. I have little hets his speech is inaudible....

came to England. With the school still charges fees according to details of with myself as to the exact moment

backing of a powerful group of inc

of Income, as Prince Max laid down. the part 19 a and place in any one evening—but . HE has at least

Hahn's whole doctrine was found- two dressing-educationists and philanthropists----- nauseating

gowns, but always he returns from who included the late Lord Tweeds- ed on the ex- 1. still squirm when it comes....

need to develop perience-to any

sense of responsibility one like me who IIE walks round with a duster towel, which I bave to disentangle Richmond, former Master of Down- and rather Ites Clark when the furniture has been dusted from the bedclothes.

Ing

Prince Philip's College, Cambridge and Mr It says much for Gable,

five minutes previously....Ugh!. HE can't stop looking at himself Claude Elliott, then headmaster of character that he not only played HE

lone HE dumps mall articles (tiny in the mirror. If there's one thing Etonic leased Sir Alexander- prominent-part-in-the-life of the can't leave things alone.

lighter, watch marriage has taught me it's Even if I leave a book open when I screws, parts from

that Gordon Cumming's Country house school becoming captain of cricket at Gordonstoun, near Elgin, in and hockey but WAS eventually Weeks later, HE Jots things down,

be I come back and find it closed. He's pens to be

head boy of demands efficiency expert or other convinced

school there.

Gordonstoun. too tidy and that's worse than not wanting them again. ha being tidy enough..........

to know why he cannot put things him that Men of Action down without them being shifted lessly writing notes to remind them to get things done. My husband Д week throughout breakfast...

of is always in hurry for carries this theory, to the point RE says "Haven't heard a word"

loses the notes when I have been talking for meals, but goes off to do a job in lunacy-and then

the garden several minutes.....

meal La

HE will insist on putting dead

the bath clad in a very damp bath- j mulr, the late Admiral Sir Herbert in the development of personality.

stop reading for a moment or two, springs) in any odd spot that hap- men are valner than women.me Northern Scotland; and started his appointed

HE reads the paper six mornings

HE has catchphrases which served.

handy.

when

thu

ore end-

he repeals week ufter. week. HE hates the house to be untidy, matches back into the box....

drops his razor-blade For example: "Well now, and what but-he

HE always goes to sleep every after dianer have we been up to today?" Six wrappers on the bathroom floor, he evening Immediately days a week (to me all dismally splashes walls and floor when he

Skeleton Crossword

CLUES ACRONY

Appropriato for clothes, One ot

at can't quita completo the water TAIL

9. You

can

make thi

Dionty out

pt soup.

11. Moulding of

cereal and confection.

1. Without

7.

Two s.Inor

count

16 NATL.

found in

17. In which you might

tako

atape to become, a general (two words).

18. Compinte change in tree..

29. Hot štud, but doesn't sound is

22. Detach from tea olla.

25. Chain kad praia are two kinds mg of thehi,

20. A short month, sheed it will

gralect your dress,

4. A have more than a hundred

hore in Pragico.

A. Windsor loses colour,

6. Do they cause

the weather

"that makes you gloomy?

9. ale dads a henry weight quite

emy, the fooi, · ·

10. furladly written cooz-book Y.

132 Fruit - that, begin in. North:

ALTICK

13. “Nit pati” (anag),

27.- Olve the girl what's left of the : 16. 1 qut away from an American

SEAT CLUES DOWN

Wangled coke anothur wayang Dow that loss of this catiso à

3. Sometinies

jol motimes

mid-state

19. You get more money, when

you come to the hill,

21, fa, has balk the day, jo keop

KO WATIILOR DENI

of the 'unpaid "debk" wa

22. Number_bio_performa,

Husbands SAY

SHE has tkil- as weeds. To blazes with this kind SHE will not shake the milk ness on the brain. of tidiness. Give me choos and bottle before pouring the milk into

the lea.... But tidiness does comfort....

SHE SHE ask silly questions. When

thinks she has a sense of not mean put-

save บริ from ting

household come in wet she asks: "Is it rain- humour. Heaven tools where

women with an imaginary sense of Ing?" When I put out my

TAZOI: humour... tannos find soap and strop she asks: "Are you SHE doesn't know the colour of them. Tidiness going to shave?" She will rouse mo

Dut

of a sound

mean you still awokes, and ask: "Aro• Upstick which suits her best. The

needles

Ta the garden

rows we've had about this.... docs not

SHE never replaces corks or stop- uprooting asters SHE puts my evening clothes as

far back in the tallboy as possible. PA

pins and SHE leaves She talks to me when I'm listening to the radio; she always says "Don't stuck in the furniture.... bo late" when I go out, (BUT-she SHE leaves cigarette ash clso- brings me a cup of tea 305 mornings where including the

hat.... of the year)....

IN, the skeletun. Crossword, 'the 1 black squares and, cluo- num« bern have to be filled in, as well as the words. Four, black atuares and four clus numbers have been. Inserted to giyê youĝu start.

The black situares fornF A KIM- metrical patterni ;' tho Lope matches the bottom hair; and the two sides "ortcapund." So you can. All la twelve more squares at once- to currennand with those given.

Since 27 Across is the fast Across clue, it must be a seven-letter word. Therefore 2.Across, the first word Acro, "malaht,niro- bë i severi- letter word. The pallion ·or 22 Across in given and since there is only one word between 2 and Across, 2 Aerese must be the word. on the left-hand; siều vf the puzzle which balances 2 Acrous,

cumpleto

In this sexy.. ynu yan -the puzzle as you solve, the, elura

LAST WEEK'S · KOLUTION

1

brim of my

SHE is the most efficient house- SHE forgets I'm a demobbed cook and catering N.C.O. In the Service wife. The home is spotless

and/

we were always taught to try to highly polished, with never a thing. make

man

to

The Gordonstoun school boat showed he had'the makings of a soller,

TRAINING

DOMESTIC WORKERS

This Pussy Lived In Style

Lily, an heiress cat, has died in New York after, eating her away through a U.8.35,000

Icracy. The London headquarters of

Minister:

a meal look appetising. She out of place. Everything is dona the National Institute of House- seems to think that sufficient food with clockwork regularity and pre-workers was opened recently by for a hungry

cision. Meals are cooked and served Mra Attlee, wife of the Prime is all that is

faultlessly and punctually. Friends needed,

SHE is always right....

extol her virtues, and marvel at the SHE

says. in her pained, la beauty of our home. How nieu" "If credulous voice--"It's vanished.... we could "live" in it, sometimes.... I put it, there myself....Whero can it have gone?". . . . .

SHE' would be perfect IF-chó | did not perch precariously on

scating! edge of chairs instead of herself aquarely and sensibly on

them....

SHE poliaties the floors until the rugs allther from east to west and my feet allp from me. And then la convulsed with mirth.........

SHE Imagines she knows

aome thing about politics. For example, sho is stupid enough to bleve but stop....If I start on this ever finish..

Berce, with the children SHE

unnecessary and not when it is force enough when they really do nerve-it....

SHE imagines she's suffering from Insomnia when, in fact, I'm the one who sleeps badly.

Time Institute will establish Д diploma for skilled domestic workers, capable of ranking with the diplomat of other professions. This will be awarded to students who qualify, at

'other domestic workers able to satiafy the examining board,

Clamping Down On the end of training courses and to

Tardy Brides

Penalties for unpunctual brides were inscribed recently by the parich church of the British villingo of Bilston.

She spent her fast nine years in a cage callng much, de- Hosales as crab meat, turkey, and cream, · provided from money left her by her Inte spinster mistress, Milis Analo Hanscho. URINA

Death camé through old Hero: and sudden lack of 'crib mest and turkey, because | Lily's funds, rad dal six months ngo.. Since then, she had lived mostly on parify-stripped chop bones from the table,

The Institute.cannot, of course, enforce standards of conditions-and ways, but has laid down certain desir body. The cource for those over 18 able standards; Resident workers will normally last six months, and should have a working week of 40 will include housecraft and home hours, and non-resident workers one budgeting, cooking, laundry work, of 44. Employees should have one erfis, health education and the care Hereafter, brides who keep the fun day and ono

ane half-day of each of children end old people, and some clergy waiting to perform wedding week, with a fortnight's holiday with general education. ceremonies will be charged five pay for each of the first five years shillings In addition to the regular after gaining the diploma, and three wedding fee for every 15 minutes weeks a year afterwards. they are behind Ume. If more than 20 minutes Inte, they will be requle- ed to wait until any succeeding wodking line, been Associated Preon.

1:

· A course for younger girls will last nine months, to be followed by work 1:in a selected household with "half" a Training schemes will be carried day at the Institutoench work. out by local education authorities to Training will be free with the performed the standards and syllabus of the ordinary allowances paid for Govern». Inalliute, which will be the examining / ment training schemes.