RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current Events (By Kickshaws.) All this denial of anti-Jnpanese fronts makes one wonder what was at the back? * «< » It is claimed that New Zealand has shown a shocking neglect of wool research. Hair, hair. * # * We note that the Wembley authorities are claiming damages from the news reel companies who photographed the Cup Fiual. Whatever happens it is positive that there will be negative results. * ♦ « "Lift Attendant” writes: "One day this week I kept a tally of the total journeys made in my lift during a period of one hour. The total height amounted to no less than 3,650 feet. This means that every day I climb Mount Everest, and, of course, down again. Can any other lift traveller beat that? Possibly other workers, in their daily job, put up remarkable performances whether in height, distance, or in the repetition of a movement.” [Readers perhaps may care to give facts and figures or comment on the performance before a cable is sent to the camp on Mount Everest that the climbers have been forestalled.] » * * One reads with surprise that the prospective autobiography of Mr. J. H. Thomas was booked ahead for the high figure of £20,000. One does not wish to belittle the work that this individual has done .or hie country, but it seems incredible that the reading public would be eager to subscribe so large a sum to be able to read Mr. J. H. Thomas’s opinion of himself, which is always an excellent one. As autobiographies go, of course, the sum mentioned i.. not outrageously high. It is an open secret that the redoubtable Margot thinks she has been given an excuse fo a grievance if she cannot raise at least £20.000 on excerpts from her past. Mr. Winston Churchill was willingly paid almost twice that sum for a biography on one of his more famous ancestors. His other historical efforts ha~e also brought him in cash well over that total. There is, however, a difference between the famous Duke of Marlborough and Mr. Thomas. Possibly the Irish will flock to make his book, not yet written, the huge success that his agent hopes it will be. It is a curious fact that readers of autobiographies subscribe to make a fortune for an autobiographist, not for what he is worth to posterity, but for what he did in the past and never revealed. It is this that gives value to autobiographies that otherwise would have been without any value at all. We love to be taken behind the scenes by Margot and to buck across the crest of wordy waves created by Winston Churchill. Even Mr. Lloyd George's contentious opinions on the Great War became valuable for this reason. One American publisher willingly offered the widow of Sir Henry Dickens £lO.000 cash for the unpublished "Life of Christ,” L his famous ancestor. In contrast to this Mr. Gladstone willingly paid Mr. A. Tilne £lO,OOO to sea that what should not be published in the mass of papers he left behind was not published. No doubt many publishers would have been only too ready to have offered treble that sum to ensure that they w’ere published. Poor old Pepys lived before his time. His autobiography has made thousands for posterity, but nothing for himself. To-day publishers would have fallen over themselves with cheques for £50,000 for full rights.

The suggestion on the part of a bishop that the Church set up matrimonial agencies would certainly give official blessing to a very flourishing type of business. One has only to read the "ads.” in almost any newspaper to he amazed by the number of “lonely widows,” usually with money, who are anxious to find a mate. One marriage broker in Berlin in an interview admitted that he arranged at least 10,000 matches a year—"and I still believe in love,” he added. It will be seen, therefore, that the demand is there. An idea of the sort of people who make use of matrimonial agencies may be had from the fact that on the list of one agency that does business in a large way in Europe there were several beauty queens, men and women of the nobility, young novelists and two attractive film stars. The women on the lists varied in age from 17 years to 70 years, ‘he men from 25 years to 75 years. Curiously enough, men in good positions were in greater demand than men with money, but no

If we are to believe the considered experience of matrimonial agencies, gentlemen still prefer blondes. The male clients, it seems, prefer girls coming from the families of busmess men. A man who is a good tennis player, likewise a girl with that ability, usually gets there before the others. Both men and women seem anxious that their partner shall be good at games. Women, it seems, show a decided preference for the dark-haired type of man. Doctors, lawyer's, and engineers head the list as desirable busbands. Although matrimonial agencies are run on business lines, it seems that the customers are genuinely looking for love. In one instance fate played a curious prank in a matrimonial agency. A young divorcee registered under her maiden name at an agency. Several men were introduced to her and finally she became engaged to a doctor. The woman subsequently confessed to the agency that her new husband was none other than her old husband. When they met they tea Used the mistake they had made, and decided to embark once more on marriage together. ♦ ♦ * "Could you tell me if the pyjama girl’s murder case happened in Albury or Albany in Australia?” asks ‘A Reader.” [iSlbury.j “ ‘The Dominion’s’ reference to Loute N. Parker’s Disraeli in '25 Years Ago reminds one of Louis N. Parker s play of Drake and the accompanying lines put into the mouth of Drake. In these days when the Empire is up agaln.-t big propositions and losing its S h’-P' ping, Wellington in particular, without a word of protest, perhaps you might consider them appropriate for publication,” says “R.D.” We have opened the sates of the sea. We have given you the keys of the world. From this day forward the British merchant can rove where he will. And no man shall say him “nay.” Our labour is done. Yours is to begin. Mon puss away, but the people abide: See that ye hold fast the heritage wo leave you. —Louis N. Parker.