RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30602, 19 November 1964, Page 28

RANDOM REMINDER

IN THE DARK

Blind man’s bluff was, historians assure us, an acceptable party game in the grim old days when hacking was part of Rugby and snivelling children who had not prepared their lessons thoroughly were publically flogged at the school flag-pole. But today it would be frowned upon, particularly should adults indulge in it. It happened this way. A woman interested in renting a property went to get the keys of it for an inspection on a Saturday night. With her went her husband and her brother-in-law. Making up the four was the man with the keys, the son-in-law

of the owner. His wife was there too. But, the key man said, the previous tenants had had the power turned off and they would have to take torches to see their way about. They mustered three. As a rule, inspecting houses is lovely fun for ladies, but by torchlight it loses its full appeal as a Saturday night game. The murky inside of a washing machine does not look the same, somehow. But they went through the motions, looking at the sunroom and the Venetian blinds, and the wall sockets and the cupboards. It was not an easy operation, whenever the party spread and people were demanding

torches because they weren’t sure whether they were in a coal-house or clothes closet. The host said he would have the power restored on Monday and with this in view, he opened negotiations with the M.E.D. But the M.E.D. said the power had not been cut off. Back the poor fellow went to the house, switched on the kitchen light: Stygian gloom still. Just, he said to himself, as it had been. But something this time made him try another switch as well and all was bathed in the warm glow of light. He retired, making a mental note to order a replacement for the burnedout kitchen bulb.