IN ADVERSITY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18721, 18 June 1926, Page 17

IN ADVERSITY.

"THOSE AMAZING ENGLISH." (moil CUB OWK COaEESPOHDBKT.) VANCOUVEB, May 19. England's usual method of smiling under misfortune,' and "muddling through" under adversity,.was cleverly delineated by the Montreal "Daily Star," the editorial writer of which enterprising journal, under the caption Those Amazing English," had the following arhcle: ". A titled heiress, cousort of the cousin of the King, fries sausages for volunteer workers with a culinary skill that wins her fame. A Duchess, scion of one of England's oldest and proudest families, .takes, her stand on a busy street and sells newspapers." "Strikers and police engage in a friendly football match with the wife of the Chief Constable to open the game. Scores of women bring their perambulators and babies to' take part in the strikers' parade. obey the behest of their union and themarch in a body to the Government headquarters to place their services'at the disposal of the authorities for the maintenance of law and order. In the very. heart of lower class London a picked team of County players battle with au eleven from far Australia—in a game of cricket." "What does it all mean? Does England not realise her ' peril, or is she uninterested in, the outcome? Premier Rhodes, of Nova Scotia, a visitor in London, watching the strike at close quarters,' sees the levity and the noncholance and the smile and fears that the farce may degenerate into a

tragedy, I "Scratch below the surface, and another picture is rovealed ..hidden normally by this vory reserve, this 'smile' of "England. Britain V mightiest warship and escorting, cruisers lie at anchor, but in constant readiness, in the Clyde. "Bigguns towards strategic points in Hyde Park, and while they look no different to.- the trophies of war, the gunners are not far away with their ammunition. Has the little joke gone too far!.. England gives swift orders for the assembling of a convpy with all the might and circum- i stance of war, and it parades through the city streets—a spectacle for the crowds which they understand. The men who are keeping order are boys and civilians in 'plus, fours' arid flannols, in business suits and black coats, and the only uniform they wear is the armlet, the only weapon they carry the policeman's baton. Yet they direct traffic, disperse crowds, arrest the unruly without show of concern, and ( England knows that the machine-guns and the Hood, the artillery and the ( riflemen, are behind them if ever they are called upon. To avert such a calamity the prayers of millions go up daily.. . . • . "No wonder a great American newspaper, is anxious about the outcome when boys in 'plus fours' are keeping order in this 'revolution.' It was a kindly thought to offer help—a most ueiehbourly act—but Britain has v a way of settling those little domestic matters off her owa bat. ... , "So the sausages and the 'plus fours, the football match and the perambulators, the 'flannoled fools at the wickPt ' make up 'revolution in England.' "After all is this not the better way? It is effective in results, for England 'muddles through.' " j