POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 100, 30 April 1941, Page 8

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment

BY PERCY FLAGE

There is one thing about prohibited businesses—they are usually extremely profitable. *■' * * One more treaty of non-aggression south of the Pyrenees and Germany will be ready to strike. *■-..*-.' ♦ Elsa Maxwell: "Women who think of nothing but clothes bore men because they havea't time co be nice to them." * * ■ •♦ However the farmers in Otago are feeling about it, the wethers are not bothering about the weather—and so on. LARGESSE. Stalin very rarely receives foreign diplomats, so to Moscow correspondents his conference with Matsuoka was a surprise. But it had evidently been planned, says an American war, correspondent, for Matsuoka had brought with him a present (a priceless 13th century hand-embroidered screen) for Stalin as well as one (an antique gold and silver embossed lacquer box) for Molotov. * * » LIGHT RELIEF. Dear Percy Flage,— . An English epitaph: In this grave in hope of Ziori Does lie the landlord of the Lion; His son keeps on the business still Obedient to the Heavenly Will. And an Irish limerick: An Irishman by name McSweeney •Drank in Paris a pint of Martini; So the Paris police sent this wire to his niece: "Nous regrettons McSweeney est fini. CONSTANT READER. * *. ♦ BIG ORDER. Dear Flage,—Enclosed is a copy from the Birmingham "Weekly Post." Some order, some speed. M.S. Factories are working full pressure to complete the largest order for Army battle-dress eyer placed at one time:* 9000 miles of serge; 10,000 tons of wool, 200,000,000 brass buttons, and 9000 miles of lining are needed to complete 5,000,----000 battle-dress and 6,000,000 trousers. After passing through the hands of 60 girls in ten minutes the uniform is complete. * * ♦ . HUGE NEST. A huge century-old nest, nursery of many generations of storks in the village of Mikhailovskoye, where the Russian poet Pushkin lived in exile, recently crashed to the" ground. Built in a 200-year-old pine tree the nest reached a height of sft. A solid structure with thick walls of twigs, sticks, and rags, firmly cemented with mud, it had for its foundation » cartwheel which for some reason had long ago been placed in the tree branches. Wheel and nest tog^er weighed over 7001b. (Contributed by Marco Polo.) * * * . , EXCLUSIVE* CLUB. A cuHous club has come into existence in London. It is small in numbers, with about 200 members, and it is one of the most exclusive in the world. It is the London Diamond Club, and it is designed to provide a centre for cutters and merchants who have been driven away from the Continent and have found a home in London. They are fast developing a dia-mond-cutting business in England. More than half the members are Belgians or, Dutchmen. Many are refugees, some still wealthy, and some almost penniless. One may hear strange stories of romantic escapes from the advancing Germans with diamonds secreted in queer places. One man, for instance, told of how he left Antwerp with his family in two cars, carrying a fortune in stones with him. For ten weeks he trekked from place to place, through Paris to Bordeaux and St. Jean de Luz before he could get passage to England. With all his wealth he was often unable to rent a single room, and eventually he had to give his cars away. * -if » LIGHT THE FIRE. Autumn is waning fast, The winds are blowing cold, As to the ground they cast Dead leaves of gold. Winter is drawing near, The restless-winds sing low Of evenings chill and drear, Of distant snow. Sombre the city lies, Its starry lights grown dim, Dark under darkening skies, / Of menace grim. Draw down the window-blind, The sheltering curtains draw; Let firelight, warm and kind, Chase gloom and awe. Though whispering winds sob low Of coming cold and dearth, Beloved home fires still glow, And light the hearth. A* ** ♦ . MAY DAY. Probably for the first time in history war will interfere with the* ancient customary welcome to spring in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere—the May Day celebrations. Many and varied are the quaint customs of May Day, but the most interesting and picturesque is the Maypole dancing, which, contrary to general opinion, is not confined to the English village green but is to be found throughout most countries of central Europe, holding pride of place, perhaps* in the Tyrolean villages, for here all the inhabitants of a village, attired in colourful national costume, take an active part in the celebrations. The Maypole with its ribbons or floral, garlands «is a relic of ancient - tree' veneration and represents the hawthorn, or May tree, which, in bygone days, was considered to be such a harbinger of good fortune that it was an essential feature of every garden plot.

In many parts of Germany on May Day branches of the May tree are set outside stables and cowsheds to ensure a profitable year with the stock; likewise, the Swedish peasant places a branch at each corner of his field to encourage a bountiful harvest.

The birch tree plays a prominent part in the May Day celebrations of the Slavs of Carinthia. A procession led by the "Green George," a /figure clad in green birch leaves, makes its way to a river or pond where "Green George" is ducked in the belief that the coming season will then bring rain to make green the summer pastures.

A similar custom is to be found in many parts. of Russia, where "The. Little Leaf Man"—in this case a small boy—decked out in green leaves makes a round of the village followed: by his playmates. The inhabitants of the nouses at which he stops are asked for food, and when sufficient is gathered for their needs the "Little Leaf Man".. is sprinkled with water and the merryI makers enjoy a picnic in the spring : sunshine. ! HUNK.