LETTER FROM LONDON

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2307, 27 November 1925, Page 11

LETTER FROM LONDON

I LONDON: October 22nd. 1925. The Locarno Laurels. Mr. Chamberlain returned to London yesterday with his Locarno laurels thick upon him. Everyone is showering congratulations upon him, and if ihe tact cf Mrs. Chamberlain really prevented a break-down in the Con. ference —well Mr. Chamberlain has promised her a new dress for he' share in the negotiations! No one grudges Austen the diplomatic triumph he has won. All his life his pub'ic career has been overshadowed by the reputation of his more brilliant father Sven in real life, however, the tor. toise often Wins from the fleet banning hare. The general feeling is that while the pact marks a beginning rather than an end it foreshadows a new era for the distressful state of most distressed Europe. Much is hoped from the further Conference which is to be held in London and from those larger negotiations for dis. Armament which America is waiting to set on foot. Another Ambassador! The Prince, on his arrival in London, saw it again after his long absence in annood in which it Is too often seen-—■ dull and drizzling with rain, but that may have made it seem more homelike. At any rate, there was no doubt is to his genuine pleasure in being home once again. There was equally no doubt, as to the genuinenea of the enthusiasm which the great ‘ crowds showed their loud.throated cheers and shrill cries of welcome. It was noticeable when the Prince detrained at Victoria Station and proceeded to inspect the guard of honour that he limped slightly; otherwise, although there was a somewhat strained and tired look in his face, as was only mat. ural after the strain he has undergone, he seemed in perfect health with a finely bronzed countenance, he result of his sea voyage home. The Prince has not lost all his nervous mannerisms, but he has filled out a little and seemed more than six months older than when he left these shores. There is a pretty story about his home.coming. When he drove along Victoria-street with his < father and brothers the absence of Queen Mary was remarked. A workingclass woman provided the explanation ‘‘Speeds she’s gone strainght to the Palace to get his tea ready” she sur. mised. His “First” Budget. Mr. Winston Churchill Is already giving thought to what his friends riguificanty describe as his “first” Budget. The financial statement he submitted to Parliament last spring admittedly disappointed some of his friends and admirers. But his champions point out that he had then been but a short time in the saddle and 'hat he was given little time either to jffect economies or to give expression to that financial “imagination” which his father was beginning to evince when he “forgot Goschen” and threw up his post. So far as Economies are concerned Mr. Churchill has achieved his desire of having a Cabinet Committee to help him to over, haul Departmental expenditures. It is not. as strong as it might be but Mu Churchill is particularly glad to have ‘‘roped in” Mr. Ba’dwln, Lord Blriten. head, Sir William Joynson Hicks and Sir Philip Cunliffe-Llster. Princess as Witness. There is every probability that the prosecution of a Sussex magnate will take a sensational turn as the case proceeds. One of the witnesses is likely to a picturesque and romantic figure—a young foreign Princess of very great charm. Other well-known poplo who may figure in the proceed. Ings are a leading authority on dog. breeding, a Harley Street physician, and a well-known diplomatist. Good Winter Sports.

Last year all the Swiss hotel pro. priotors-and the odd old women who make a living selling Swiss curios at winter sports resorts, looked ' down Uheir noses and declared the winter the "worst on record.” There was very little snow and it is an accepted truth that winter sports lose much of their charm without it This year, however everyone is optimistic. The rainy weather which precedes the snow has already Etprted three weeks before its time, and hotel proprietors while condoling with their "summer” guests, are secretly rejoicing as so good an omen. Meanwhile, all the music shops in Switzerland are busy building mechanical pianos for Winter Sports hotels. The latset instument is a kind of mechanical organ which incorporates drum effects and so makes jazz music for dancing possible. Every hotel has to have one because i Swiss band refuses to play untiringly as does an English band. Changed Days. The War has made revolutionary changes in the British Army—quite ipart from new mechanism and battle tactics. Though it certainly has not destroyed the Army’s fighting tradl. tion, it really seems to have uprooted its military tradition. Take two incidents witnessed to-day during a brief journey up to town. Outside the Chelsea Barracks, I saw a Guards officer actually carrying a bag. That would have been unthinkable before 1914. As soon would you have seen a Harley Street specialist pushing handcart! Then at Charing Cross there were four privates and a sergeant of the Royal Air Force travelling with their curious equip, ment who bade each other adieu on parting at the station. Old Swets will hardly credit what these smart young soldiers did. They shook hands Just like ordinary clvles! Soldiers of the Bobs and Buller epoch wiuld as soon have been seen kissing each other. The Great War may have done many things, but assuredly It has not “Prussianised” the British Army. Ethel M. Dell. 8 , Ethel M, Dell, who has just finished 1 i new book, is loss known on the per. sonal side than any other living auth-

ei of equal fame. In the books of reference her address is given as c/o her literary agent. Since 1912, when she achieved fame with “The Way of an Eagle,” Miss Dell has written 15 or IB novels, Mrs. Savage, as she is In private life—she married Col. Savage D.S.O. is a quiet, gentle, charming lady, passionately sincere in everything, including her books. She once said to a friend in reply to a question ”1 never write unless I am inspired.” Miss Dell, who has adopted a girl of seven years as her daughter, at one time lived at Guildford with her sister Miss Ella Dell, in a house that had some of the characteristics of a fortress. Her home now is at Ewhurst, and she takes the greatest precautions against intrusions from strangers. It was once suggested to her that her stories should be filmed. “I think not,” she said. “On e misses the spok. en word, and the spoken word is everything. Don’t you think so?” she added characteristically in her gentle way. Cross Channel Contrasts, A very old friend gives me his im. pressions of a first visit to Paris since just before the War. What struck him right away was the amazing industry and prosperity across the channel. From London to Dover, with the exception of the hop gradens, H was pastureland everywhere. From Calais to Paris, there was not an acre but under intensive cultivation. There were no signs of the War, even at Abbeville and Amiens, and Wimereux’s pretty British cemetery’ was the solitary reminder visible. Paris is still the same old Paris. At last the police seem to have cowed the Parisian taxi, driver to the law, but the Paris traffic is probably half as fast again as London's owing to the. absence of many ‘buses and all heavy traffic on the main streets. Americans Unpopular. Taxis are everywhere, but, curious, ly enough, there are few private cars in the central areas. My friend estimated that in taxis Paris outnumbers London by two-to-one, wheeas as in private motors Loudon probably out. numbers Paris by flve-to-one. For private visitors the Paris hotel is an abomination, and, except for buslnes or special reasons. Paris is a good place, to avoid now. .. Preference is given to Americans, touring companions, and regular French clientele over all strangers, who are as likely as not to be ordered out of booked rooms to make way for the others. Yet Paris detests the Americans, not only for political reasons, but personally. The present American invasion is a lower middle-class one, and quite fails to maintain that tipping prodig. ality so much appreciated in the real dollar kings. Loin Clotlis ami Ennui If an American and an Englishman bail the same taxi, three.t/o-one the Paris driver now chooses John Bull. The theatres and cabarets are going stronger than ever, but the old music, hail turns give place to spectacular revue, in which practically ah clothes aid discarded. Yet there is.an air oi innui even when stagy ladles appeal in loin moths, perhaps due to the way modern rasiuons have accustomed people to revelations of the female divine. Greek is the great draw at the Palace, and holds the stage for hours, but the Folies Bergere stages a revue of old Parisian irreverence. One scene shows a nude woman on the Cross, with courtesans and satyrs as acolytes to the devil in a mock religious service. As my friend says “ the same old Paris!" Decorated Sausepans. A kitchen tashion, writes a woman correspondent, whrch has just caugut on in Paris is almost certain to come to London before very long, it is the vogue or cooamg utensils of all kinds, kettles, sausepaus, frying pans and oasins —in gaily patterned enamel ware instead of the sombre blacks and blues to which wg ary accustomed .One of the most attractive designs Is in a black red and white check, but uhere are dozens of other patterns earned out in the brightest colours, in Paris, where there are hundreds of young couples living in small .flats, in which the kitchen does suras a sitting.room, these patterned eooking utensils are eagerly bought, because they turn thette humdi um things into entertaining decorations, xt has been possible for some time to buy receptacles for groceries, spices, and other ingredients in patterned enamel but it is quite a new idea to make actual pots and pans in the same way. Deceiving the Hen. To the scientifically minded rather an interesting vista of speculation is opened up by the recent report that hens ary to be encouraged to greater output by continuous radiance of electric light in their roosting places.

The generally accepted idea seems to be that the hen is deceived by the light into working longer hours than usual! Such is not wholly the case A far deeper, and vastly more inter, esting underlying caus e it to bo found Actually, stimulation of the egg-pro-ducing “machinery" is effected by ultra.violet rays. These powerful rays actually give the tiny life germ latent in each egg an impetus of a remarkable nature. Not only is it made extraordinarily vital (resulting, of course, in stronger chides), but all the vitamines held in the white ana yolk.of the ©gg are flushed up to their fullest vigour. Thus the extraordinary chicken is born from an egg from which it ha s received extraordinary nourishment, and, in several recorded cases, a phenomenal strain results. Chickens reaching tour times ihe normal size in two days have been hatched in this way. And they are not even born violet. Viennese Music For Fond on. The growing popularity of the waltz is making dance bands and music publishers look around for newj waltz tunes, because America, though Importing jass music by the bundle, I cannot send us really good waltzes. I The result Is a new demand for Vlen. nese melodies. Vienna la the borne' of romantic music and the modern

school is as original as ‘at any time before the war. One of the compos, ers whose songs are now being played for Londoners to dance to is Ralph (Benatsky— most of the songs being love ditties which, when translated Into English, always sound ao amazingly foolish. The music, however, is ideal far dancing. Our Fishing IndustryWhile a drop oi nearly 100,000 tons of fish is recorded last year in our own fishing industry, the import figure of foreign landed fish has now gone past ti.o three million pound mark. The enormous increase a the numbers or pmpbises infesting certain salmon fishing and plalce.tishlng areas in responsible in some degree. Some time ago a representative was made to the Ministry of Agriculture on this score. It only elicited a rather cynical reply, that the Ministry was not aware of any method of effectively combating the increase. Yet, in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean generally, men are to be founu who have made for. tunes from porpoise catching. Value of the Porpoise. When it is remembered that a singly porpoisy can be concerted into a sound blacksmith’s apron, a few hundred pairs of leather bootlaces, and half a gallon of clock oil, It seems passing strange that no one pursues the industry. Clock oil, for which ony pays sixpence for a few drops, is the only oil in the world that cannot be frozen or liquified by extremes of cold and heat The only source of its supply is the white jaw fat of the porpoise. A Film Romance. “Sons of Britain,” a film privately shown In London last week-end, is the second production of that somewhat amazing young man, Mr. A. E. Jones. Not a year ago, on mss that twentylive pounds capital,- he betook himself to the North Sea fishing fleet and turned a camera handle. Lashed to a mast; alternately bruised and froz. en by flying spray lie worked through, out the terrific storms of early February' and made a startling film. It had a long run in Loudon ancj was applauded by the critics. Mr. Jones who is our only British film producer allied himself at. first to an impractical writer. Together they were to found a sort of Gilbert and Sullivan partnership of the films. Penniless, both of them, they stood one miserable night watching a crowd leaving a cinema in Poplar. “Their pennies will someday make our fortune” said practical Mr. Jones. They have certainly carried two films to maturity. No More Colds. A friend of mine, a well-known barrister, was telling me a fortnight ago that while shooting in Scotland ho had paid thieo visits to Edinburgh and had been inoculated against colds. During the legal term he said, a bad cold in the head might cost him £2O a day and had no one occasion cost him £l5O, when he had been prevented for appearing in an important case. His course of inoculation was the very latest and the most expensive devised, but ho assured me that the guineas expended would be saved over and ever again if he escaped colds throughout the winter. Last evening I was due to dine with him. During the afternoon his wife tele, phoned to say that unfortunately he was “not well." I asked what was wrong, and she unwillingly admitted that he was in bed with a bad cold In riie head. His London physician has explained that Inoculation lu Edinburgh is a preventive only of colds in Edinburgh, but that; a london cold needs ojiitc a different serum. It would seem that a commercial traveller visiting a hundred towns would have to have pumped 1- nto him as many different brands of serum. Some of us would rather have a cold.