A TRAIL OF CHIPS

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 13

A TRAIL OF CHIPS

In “The Kruger National Park” (Allen and Unwin) C. A. Yates writes of observations extending over 20 years. In the park are 500 lions which, though they may look quiet to the passing visitor, raven and kill for food in the manner ordained by Nature for them and the other carnivores: while the more pacifically feeding animals live under the constant menace of being ruthlessly seized. Occasionally, Mr Yates makes one feel sorry for his lions. They work so hard for their supper and yet when shot sometimes prove to have been under-nourished. He cannot help according a certain “savage grandeur” to the lion. The rest of the carnivora, in the daytime, hide themselves in their lairs in the heart of the bush, whereas the lions proudly and openly flaunt their grim majesty in the sunlit spaces of the forest, sauntering or reposing in calm dignity where every creature that passes by can behold them. Before advancing Man the King of beasts habitually retreats, according to the author, and only attacks when he is shown some sign of fear. The dusky ladles of the bush-veldt have been known to show great boldness in dealing with lions. Once, when one of the latter happened to have killed a buck In the vicinity of a kraal, the woman courageously drove him away f/om his prey in order to secure the meat. Decidedly, life qan be very hard for a hon. * • • In “Samuel Butler: a Chronicle and an Introduction” (Duckworth), R. F. Rattray produces this sentence by his subject: We can spare a good deal of « Han i se t,” put if the part is totally excised—even though the Hamlet be Mr Irving himself —the play must suffer. Typical! • • * ■ Stories of famous musicians abound in the sketch of the careers of two once-famous Douste sisters by Edouard Garceau (Muller), Jeanne, whose husband is the author of the book, made a notable debut at St. James’s Hall at the age of five. Later Gounod paid tribute to the talent of the sisters by presenting each with a coronet of white roses.

Of Gounod it is related, that he was bullied by his wife.

Madame Gounod, nee Zimmermann, was a big woman, who could never have been mistaken for an amiable one. She was both dictatorial and a scold; consequently poor Gounod .spent the hours away from his work in placating his irascible half.

Of Adeline Patti Garceau says that when she was quite young Rossini heard her sing her part of Rosita in his opera “Il Barbiere di Seviglia.

Patti, as she invariably did, introduced numerous additional cadenzas and roulades -Which were not in the vocal score and for which Rossini was-not responsible. Rossini was protuse in his admiration of the lovely and unique voice, as well as the flawless execution. Finally, with an assumption of complete innocence, he blandly inquired: “And who is the composer of this opera?” So this should be interesting reading for many. * * * ~ .. The twenty-two unpublished letters written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning have been sold in New York for £BOOO. * * * , Charles Graves in “The Price of Pleasure” (Nicholson and Watson) says that the film “The Private Life of Henry VIII” cost £BO,OOO and returned £1,800,000. The falcons flown by Henry cost forty guineas. The wolf-hounds cost a guinea a day each, with an extra guinea each day for the attendant. You may remember the horses ridden by the courtlera and their long flowing tails. Nowadays horse’s tails are docked, and there was great difficulty in securing what was wanted. What Mr Korda had to do was to send someone to the slaughter houses and buy the tails of dead racehorses at ten shillings a timet He bought twelve ln The‘ fighting cocks which appeared in the banqueting scene cost eight guineas each. Another entertainment item Is A. 63 for beer for the workmen, who often had to keep at it until 4 a.m. and badly needed refreshment.

Films have cost £250,000 and have returned a handsome profit. The first of the mammoth films was David Wark Griffith’s “The Birth of A Nation. * * * Though a diver cannot go deeper into the sea than' 300 feet, and a submarine’s depth record is 383 feet, Dr. William Beebe, with his specially designed "bathysphere,” has managed to get down to over 3000 feet under the surface. The Bodley Head are shortly publishing his book, “Half a _ Mile Down,” in which he describes his latest experiences and discoveries. In this book Dr. Beebe also gives a general account of the history and development of diving. * * * Messrs Collins are adding to their Illustrated Pocket Classics, “The Way of All Flesh,” by Samuel Butler; “De Profundis” and “Salome,” by Oscar Wilde; “The Stolen Bascillus,” by H. G. Wells; “Barlasch of the Guard,” by Seton Merriman, and “Masterman Ready,” by Captain Marryat • ♦ * A new novel by Martin Boyd, author of “Scandal of Spring,” is published by Messrs Dent. “The Lemon Farm” is a further study of the awkwardness and beauty of youth, a theme of which the earlier book showed Mr Boyd’s deep understanding. Other novels on Messrs Dent’s summer list are “Willows of the Brook,” by Philip Keeley (author of “Comer Shop”), and “Men in a Hurry,” by Mlle, Juliette Parry, translated by Miss Beatrice de Holthoir. * * ♦