“SMOKING FORBIDDEN!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 804, 26 October 1929, Page 28

“SMOKING FORBIDDEN!”

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE HOLY OF HOLIES STRANGER WHO GOT IN Let a medal of finest gold, engraved with all kinds of beautiful laurels, he struck at the Mint instantly, and the following stirring words placed upon it: For Valour. To the heroic stranger who walked bravely into the London Stock Exchange, smoking a cigarette, and stayed there for five minutes. August 14. The gallant deed was performed recently, writes a London “Evening News” correspondent, and should surely receive its reward. The only difficulty will be -the presentation. For when the hero was cast out of London's, financial holy of holies, still smoking his cigarette, he forgot to leave his name. It was just noon when the stranger pushed open the door of the Stock Exchange and sauntered in. He glanced around him with a friendly interest. So this was the Stock Exchange, eh? And those busy folks were the brokers—the men without hats, all talking to one another about shares and things. Well, well, well, well. He strolled around, full of curiosity. His hat was on his head. And why not? He could keep his hat on, because he wasn’t a member. He puffed his cigarette placidly as he wandered round. A cigarette allows one to observe things in comfort, does it not? The brokers weren’t smoking, of course, but then they had some work to do. It was only when he started gazing up at the roof that the members really noticed him. And even then they could hardly believe it. A stranger in the Stock Exchange? Why, the thing was impossible. But it was so. And when they had got their breath back they raised that stii-ring cry which proclaims the presence of an intruder. “Waiter, 1,400!” they cried. The waiters hurried up. In the centre of an amazed mob of members, the man was questioned. Yes, he was a stranger. What was he doing there? Why, he was just having a look round. Was there any -harm in just having He was escorted out, with a solid phalanx of stockbrokers behind him. But he was not perturbed. He just lighted another cigarette and walked modestly away—the Man v.-ho had Penetrated the Fastnesses of the Stock Exchange, and did not Wish to Boast About It.