THE LONDON WE MISS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3145, 27 November 1922, Page 8

THE LONDON WE MISS.

Where skies are nearly always blue, and the link with war-torn Europe very weak, the exile has often good reason to congratulate himself. "Why should lie yearn for the London he has left?' Yet London is very dear even to those who saw it only during a few hurried week-end leaves during the war. Memories of that city are often reawakened after years by a mere bar of music of a printed word One thing we miss is #ie London restaurant. Meals in the open on a tropic night under the palms, with the sea heating on the reel- what more could man desire? ISut there are few that would not exchange the languor of the South, in spite of all its vaunted romance, lor a night in some favorite haunt in Solio or Piccadilly. Hero in South Africa a white-clad coolie presents the menu at dinnertime. He will not discuss with you for two or three minutes the manner in which you would like your chop done, lie silently lakes your order. and eventually brings you a plate of Food. It is an utterly soulless affair. The human touch of the London restaurant is sadly wanting. ■• And then there is the roar of the London trallic. the first welcome home of the wanderer. When the boat train rumbles into Paddington or Waterloo it greets him like ;i great chord of music, wonderfully soothing. And when he drives into the street, thick with slush though it may be, it is a very pleasant sound, and not to be compared with the cries of the ricksha boys or the creaking of ox-wagons. Theatres are sheer joy after Colonial productions. Not the actual play, but the atmosphere that prevails nowhere but in London. Here in South Africa \'c\v people who take seats in the%talls dress for a play. Programmes arc free, and chocolates may be bought after 8; X£t we yearn for a night in "town." whether we he as far South as Cape Town or as far East as Singapore. Historical London makes the strongest appeal of all. Quaint streets, queer little shops:, ancient houses, names on walls that take the mind back hundreds of years —all these are lacking: and the strangest mosque or pagoda cannot replace them. Lucky Londoners! In your daily round you pass unnoticed places that are shrines in the memory of many :>, poor exile. (hit when we .return- as we surety shall —we shall appreciate the city of mysterious appeal as we never did before.