LAST FOUR MONTHS

Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 16

LAST FOUR MONTHS

GERMANY BEFORE THE WAR MISS V. BARRON'S EXPERIENCES Most interesting of the experiences of Miss Vida Barron abroad were the four months she spent in Germany—months immediately prior to last September. Addressing the members of the Travel Club yesterday, she maintained that she did not wish to speak of Germany —it is impossible for long without references to its political regime—but the bulk of her address was taken up with the recounting of experiences, mainly pleasant, in Bavaria. Always, however, there was the ominous undercurrent of the Nazi control. Salzburg, with its music and its associations, was the centre of Miss Barron’s recollections.

Mr W. R. Brugh presided at the meeting. Hostess were Mrs Black and Mrs May, and a welcome was extended to Mrs Gibson (Sydney), Miss Elliott (Auckland). Mrs M'Farlane (Nelson), and Mrs Nicholls (Mahono); also to Miss Haggitt, who had returned. PORT OF CALL. Kingston. Jamaica, was an unusual port of call in which Miss Barron was very interested. There was a good deal of poverty there—-the administration, she .believed, had been far from perfect —but what impressed was tho large number of edible things which grew in that climate. Nature had even provided, in case of necessity, a castor oil plant. The most vivid memory she brought away was that of a bare-footed tap dancer, who gained the necessary effect by holding beer bottle tops with his toes!

In France there was nn entirely different attitude towards foreigners to that prevailing on tho speaker’s earlier visit 10 years ago. Then it had just been a condescending tolerance, a “ How lucky you are to be in Paris ” feeling. But last. March there had been greater friendship and a feeling of solidarity. Travelling was made difficult about that time, because there was nn certainty about plans. However, Miss Barron had decided to go to Italy and thence to Germany. Italy was full of Germans, who were not liked very much by the people however their respective Governments might be in accord. BAVARIAN .MEMORIES. In Germany the autobahnen were magnificent roads, carrying more than five cars abreast. If they came to a valley they did not go down and then up again; the valley was bridged. They had been laid down for eternity, and the expense must have been great, but. of course, they had been built with a form of conscripted labour. Near Salzburg Miss Barron’s party was put up in a village which was of considerable antiquity, but all the bouses were quite new. The cow and the pigs, however, still had a place in the new house; a room to themselves just off the kitchen. Despite this, everything was kept spotlessly clean, and it was hard to realise that there were animals in the house. In Austria it was possible to have whipped cream, although, of course, this was unheard of in Germany proper. There it was only possible to got skimmed milk. They spent a very pleasant evening in the bar of the inn—not like an hotel bar here, but a place where a pleasant evening could be spent. Some Bavarian farmers were there, dressed in the national costume, .and these thev persuaded to sing and dance. All Germans were ready to sing on any pretext. They sang some exceptionally daintv 11 lieder ” in a strong Bavarian dialect. “ You wouldn’t understand that. T suppose o’’ 0 ’’ inquired a German friend.)ami to their negative, “ Perhaps it’s iust as well.”

Miss Barron was very pleased to get back to England. She found a very different attitude from that of •February, when there had been almost a defeatist spirit abroad. In August the people were calm and resolute, and she was very glad she had been afforded the opportunity of being in England and Scotland during that time. There was a willingness for sacrifice, and, knowing Germany as she now did, the speaker knew, that it was to prove a very necessary attribute so that England might get through the next few rears.