S. P. Androw Photo DR. G. M. RICHARDSON.

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1934, Page 13

S. P. Androw Photo DR. G. M. RICHARDSON.

The Medical Research Council has announcod the inauguration of new arrangements for further combined chemical and bacteriological investigations into the conditions which govern the life and multiplication of microorganisms causing disease. These have been made possible by the cooperation of the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, tho trustees of the late Lord Leverhnlnic, and the Sir Halley Stewart Trust. , '

Accommodation and facilities are being provided at the Middlesex Hospital in the Bland-Sutton Institute of Biochemistry. The investigations will be directed by Dr. Paul Fildes, .F.R.S., who has been appointed a member of the scientific staff of the Medical Research Council. The other workers are Mr. B. C. J. 6. Knight, with a Halley Stowart Research Fellowship, and Dr. G. P. Gladstone and Dr.. G-. Maxwell Richardson, holding Loverhulme Research Fellowships. Tho arrangements took effect on June 1, and the support given by tho co-operative bodies is sufficient for an initial poriod of five years. ■ Dr. G. M. Richardson,, who monies from Wanganui, obtained tho ISSI Exhibition Science Research Scholarship from Victoria Collego in 1927 (iv chemistry), and has recently been working in Professor Chibuall's laboratory at Imperial Collego, South Kensington, on the application of titration methods to problems of plant chemistry. The King of Siam. In less than a week tho King of Siam, who has been visiting England, was saved from blindness, and back in his West End hotel from a London nursing home. When tho King entered the nursing homo ho could read only with the greatest difficulty. Now he is able to read small print with case. The 'successful operation was performed by Sir Stewart Duke-Elder, a brilliant young surgeOn-occulist. Tho King had to rest for a few days, but the darkened blinds had already been dispensed with and in-a week ho was expected to be.about fulfilling his public engagements. Almost • every night until the end of June he had to attend a public dinner. Special glasses are being.made for the King as a substitute for the lens which had to be taken off his left eye when tho cataract which was causing the trouble was removed. While resting he spent a lot of time exploring Europe on his wireless set. , "In Siam," the King says, "the only wiroless station I can pick up is London on: the Empire short wave, so your programmes are familiar to me. But to be able to listen to forty or more different stations in Europe is a novelty." Successful as has been the present operation, the King.has yet to undergo another one. A cataract was deVeloping on the right eye. He is going to the Continent shortly, but he is roturning to London in the autumn and tho operation will probably be performed early next year. Mr. Tom Burke. Once .Toni Burke, the famous tenor, earned £27,000 in a single year. He has been paid. £400.f0r a single night's work. Recently he talked to a "Sunday Express V representative in a tiny, rented: rooni'in South Kensington. For Tom. Burke has now no home of his own. He lias not earned a penny for a year. ■'' •, , ■- , "It is only in the last two or three years that things have gone wrong," Mr. Burke said. "I am thirty-eight. My voice is in its prime. I was famous at seventeen, and in the years which followed made over £250,000. I lost most of it in speculations; "Yet I hav,e not made v halfpenny in the last year! T.havo not a farthing in the world, and must either liveat my father's'house or enjoy tho hospitality of friends. "You. ask lie why this is—listen: It is because I have refused to pander to the stupid ignorance of the British public, who will not respect a singer unless ho comes from some obscure European country, sings with a foreign accent, and has a name which is difficult to pronounce. In short, because I am British. "W.ere I to call myself Tomaso Burkski and sing in bad English I should probably be overwhelmed with work. Walking through the West End tho other night I passed four theatres all employing foreign artists in leading parts. Yet there are hundreds of imp British artists without a meal to eat. . "England has gone crazy over foreign artists, forgetting, that in the wave of nationalism which is sweeping Europe. English' artists cannot get work abroud.' Nearly'-.all 1 lie principal roles in tho •Covcnt Garden Opera House this season are filled by foreigners. Germans who sing in bad Italian are bciug paid fabulous sums to. come to England.

"Two out of every three artists who played in a. recent concert at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of tho British Artists' Benevolent Fund were foreigners! British artists of proved ■worth have had to change their names to become successful.

"Edward Johnson, the famous British singer at the Metropolitan Opera House. Now York, had to change to Eduardo di Giovanni before he was recognised. Another Britisher is known aa Leopold Stokowski, and is now conductor of the famous Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra."

But Tom Burke is not beaten. He is as robust as ever, and he is defiant. "I intend to fight," he says. "I am down, but not out."

In Limeliousc. London's 'Chinatown," many of the children of Chinese father.* and English mothers are giving up their .evenings •'to learning.- Chinee.