CHARLIE CHAPLIN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 299, 12 September 1921, Page 5

CHARLIE CHAPLIN

TUMULTUOUS WELCOME IN LONDON ' '■ ' : i ' ADMIRERS OVERPOWER ' POLICE By Tcloifrauh —Press Association —Copyright (R-ec. September 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 10. Charlie Chaplin has arrived in London and was accorded tumultuous receptions wherever he appeared. He was accorded a municipal welcome at Southampton, the Mayoy saying the town had - welcomed kings, queens, and princes, and it was now its privilege to greet the King of Mirth. After representatives of the kinema industry had made speeches, Charlie gave autographs to crowds of admirers, and entrained for London, Here, the excitement exceeded all expectations. Waterloo station was packed with patrons of the pictures, of all ages and sexes. It required the strenuous efforts of mounted and foot police to maintain even a semblance of order, though the platform was purposely kept clear. Charlie’s fellow travellers rushed his saloon and hustled him along the platform through an army of kinema and journalists. , Charlie is a dapper little man, with a pale face and happy smile, and wore a grey coat arid bowler hat. When he realised the immensity of tho crowd beyond the barriers, he greeted it with his famous smile and tho twirl of his bowler at which all the world laughs'. As he emerged from the barriers there was a frantic Tush to shako hands. Some women managed to kiss their idpl. At first Charlie was immensely pleased but obviously was relieved when safe in a motor-car, though he was practically flung into a seat as it moved off. Scores tried to‘mount the car, but the police prevented them.® So Charlie made a triumphal progress along York Road and Westminster Bridge.

Another great crowd was outside tne Ritz Hotel. As the car drove up there .was frantio cheering. Through the din Charlie was heard to say: "Words fail me to express my thanks for the great welcome the people of London have given me." The body of police trying to keep back the boisterous admirers was now overpowered. There was a desperate struggle on the steps before the police succeeded in getting Charlie safely, inside the hotel. The crowd continued cheering until Charlie appeared at a first floor window and broke up a big 'bunch of carnations, which he threw to tho crowd. There was a wild struggle for the trophies, then Charlie blow a kiss to the crowd and disappeared. Since, though he described his welcome as glorious, the wonderful King of Mirth seems disappointed that there was little prospect of a rest during his holiday, if the reception to-day is an indication of the ordeals to be endured throughout tho trip.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. | z