VARIED TRAVELS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1931, Page 10

VARIED TRAVELS

LONDON MOUENS

OSTEND'S GRAND PRIX

"The most impressive ceremony I saw when in London was the memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral to the victims of the RlOl disaster," said Mrs. G. D. Greenwood to-day, when telling something'of her nine months' trip abroad to a "Post" representative.

Jlrs. Greenwood, who arrived in Wellingtpn yesterday and will go South to Christuhurch to-night, said that London and all England, to say nothing of France, seemed more moved over the RlOl tragedy than over anything that had happened for a very long time. On Friday, 10th. October, at noon, .all people of any standing or importance in Britain, or indeed in all Europe gathered together at St. Paul's. "I was fortunate," said Mrs. Greenwood, "in having a reserved seat at the edge of the aisle down which came princes and potentates, Prime Ministers, members of Parliament, dukes, earls, bishops, the Lord Mayor and councillors, foreign princes, ambassadors, generals, admirals, all in their ceremonial robes or uniforms. Also, upheld and supported by their friends, were the relatives of the victims of the disaster. It was a solemn but arresting sight to recognise the features of so many great and distinguished people at one time together in the same- place. When the solemn service concluded with the "Last Post" there was scarcely a dry eye in the vast congregation. The Princo of Wales, who came out first, was weeping." "Tho French came, forward 'nobly with their help and sympathy after the disaster. Prom the highest to the lowest all around did their best to help; and they truly sympathised with us in our country's loss. The very peasants brought their sheets, and all they had to bring, to help cover the dead when the bodies were being sought for, and as tho first funeral procession passed through their streets they -wept tears of sorrow and sympathy." AMY COMES HOME. Of Amy Johnson's homecoming, Mrs. Greenwood said it was "one of the most enthusiastic welcomes that was ever given to any individual'in London." On the 4th of August, the streets were lined with a huge- crowd of people who waited for hours for a" glimpse of the girl flyer. "Even more interesting than tho glimpse of Amy was this sight of the patient hundreds of thousands who thronged every street through which she was to pass. They waited for throe hours through intervals of rain, for her arrival was delayed by weather, and to nobody in history had a better'welcome been extended.

Mrs. Greenwood witnessed the centenary celebrations of Belgium during August and September, These were marked by exhibitions in Antwerp and Liege and wonderful processions by day and night in Brussels. "The night illuminations were wonderful," said Mrs. Greenwood, "and the processions were repeated many times with infinte patience and success." THE GRAND PRIX. "To turn to racing, I attended some very interesting meetings both in England and on the Continent. At Ostend the Grand Prix was contested at the pretty "Wellington Hippodrome," and it was so crowded with British and Continental visitors that there was scarcely room to move. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester flew over from Le Tourquet incognito, and mingled freely with the crowd like '-private people" as the x!oyal Family like to term it." Mrs. Greenwood also said that "Hotspur," of the London "Daily Telegraph," had given her' a good notice of her book "Gloaming, the Wonder Horse," saying that "it would appeal to every lover of a good horse," and had also agreed with her that Gloaming's record of stake money might bo beaten as larger prizes-were offered, but it was hardly probable that his record of races would ever be topped. Mrs. Greenwood went Home via the States; and had some most interesting experiences before continuing \pn her way to England. She visited tjie new American pleasure resort, i! Aqua, Calicnte, Mexico, which she thought was and would continue to be a charming place so long as its' visitors ■ were kept somewhat in order and under restraint. That would hav-e to be done, she thought, or there would be too many hold-ups at the border of California by the Prohibition and Customs officers, who have complete control and can detain at theii1 will any one they please and for as long as they choose. . ANIMAL ACTORS. A visit to the zoo at Lbs Angeles was another interesting experience. "This- is a private concern," said Mrs. Greenwood, "where all sorts of animals are trained to become actors in the talkies. This 7,00 is not arranged on the lines on which most places in Los Angeles and Hollywood are planned; it has not got ornamental-cages or large gardens for the pleasure of the public. It is a workaday place where wild animals live with their keepers and where they learn the first lessons of trust and love and loyalty. The whole zoo is an object lesson to the world of what can be done with animals by affection and kindness, and it shows that' almost a soul can- show through the eyes of a lion and that even a tiger may have affection for a human, while what can one say about a chimpanzee that has no mischievous tendencies, is obedient, playful, and affectionate?" The lion which is used as a preliminary on the films as he turns his head from side to side and roars is in this zoo, and was shown to Mrs. Greenwood. An experience which.she would not have missed for anything but which she did not wish to repeat was the entrance to an Indian "Kiva" or meeting house, as the guest of the Ramon a Supper Club, Los Angeles. A barbecue supper preceded this event, and for the first time women were allowed to enter the kiva and watch the dancing and listen to the oratory of the braves.

Mrs. Greenwood's novel, "The Splendid Horizon," a tale of New Zealand life, has been accepted.by Messrs. Heatli and Crariton, Ltd., England, and is to be published about March or April.