DAME SYBIL THORN DIKE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20757, 18 January 1933, Page 2

DAME SYBIL THORN DIKE.

RECEPTION AT HAY'S, LTD. Dame Sybil Thorndike was guest of honour at the International Poster and Eailway Exhibition, held at Hay's, Ltd., yesterday morning, when by special invitation more than 200 visitors assembled to pay homage to the great artist, and to hear a short address on the British Empire. Dame Sybil, introduced by Dr. Eobinsou Hall, was wearing a becoming frock of buttercup crepe do chine patterned in brown and henna, and a widebrimmed brown straw hat, and her bou-

quet. presented by littic Helen Burgess, toned with her frock. ] Pink hydrangeas and sweet peas, with tamarisk and Japanese maples, were arranged artistically about the In her address. Dame Sybil said that the complete churches of different periods buried on top oi' one another !in the* Xorth of England, -which she had seen on a recent visit, seemed typical of the British Empire. Saxons and Romans had left their mark just as the Phoenicians had done in Cornwall and the Italian and French in other parts of England. The British had assimilated characteristics of other races and gradually many foreign influences had permeated the British people, so that they might be said to be '•'missionaries" to other nations. The pioneers had freely intermixed with other nations, but had retained their own characteristics while assimilating others. It was pleasing to a Britisher, visiting the Dominion for the first time, to see how they had developed national feeling and were yet bound by strong ties of kinship and tradition" to the Homeland. There "was not much use in the modern world for a mother who clung to her children until they became like lambs without an idea of their own; the home links became stronger if the children learnt to stand on their own feet and develop their own personalities, she said. So England had treated her colonies as a wise mother, and was rewarded by the strong links of Empire throughout the world. Perhaps the strongest link in the chain was tho Christian faith. Tradition and Christianity, a paradoxical union, had been

the moans of binding the peoples together. " She advised her hearers to study van Loon's "Story of Mankind" to obtain an outsider's viewpoint of England. Quoting from Shakespeare's "Richard II" sho said, "England is renown d for Christian service and true chiv-ah-v " and the old British traditions had'been carried by tho pioneers from the 3lothcr Country to their newhomos across the seas. Dame Sybil complimented Mr Hay on the exhibition and recalled a sight ■which she had seen on her travels, of a track' of railway winding through the barren desert opening up communication with people of other lands. In moving a vote of thanks to Dame Sybil. Mr Hay said that the problems of the future were international, and it was vitallv important that tho young people should know what was happenin" throughout the world. He hoped to°arrange similar lectures for students after the schools had reopened.

Record entries have been received for the annual show of the Canterbury Gladiola Society, which will be' held in the old Art Gallery on Thursday and Friday next. Exhibitors from Dunedin and the North. Island will be competing.