DOWN A FIRE ESCAPE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18761, 27 December 1930, Page 4

DOWN A FIRE ESCAPE.

LAWYER AVOIDS SPEECHES. UNPACKED SILK HATS COMEDY. Beside the feast of oratory and the flow of hospitality which marked the recent visit of the British and French Judges and lawyers to Canada and America, says a correspondent of the “News of the World,” there were many humorous incidents that will cause a laugh in the Temple in London when they become known. The whole party were in a dilemma about wearing their top-hats. They took this fashionable headgear 5000 miles, and up to the time of the correspondent’s message there had been no need to unpack it. The opportunity seemed to have come when President Hoover invited the delegates to a garden party at White House, Washington, and it was intimated that they might wear any attire they pleased. The word went round among the British and French visitors that now was the opportune occasion for the morning coats and silk hats. The President got to hear of the delegates’ intention, and he caused a message to be sent that he intended to wear white flannel trousers and a blue coat. The visitors could not garb themselves after this as if it were a Buckingham Palace function, and as it was very hot they went along in perfect agreement with the President’s idea of suitable clothing for a sunny afternoon. It is against the rules to take snapshots in the White House grounds. A leading barrister was rebuked by an attendant for snapping the President in the latter’s sight, but Mr Hoover insisted on posing for photographs in that case. The rule, however, was strictly observed afterwards. Sir William Bull, the portly London solicitor and formerly member of Parliament for Hammersmith, who acted as anouncer through the pilgrimage, had a thrilling experience at Chicago. In an endeavour to escape the flood of oratory at a public dinner he passed through an emergency exit. Finding himself on the iron stairs many storeys high, and failing to reopen the door, he had to struggle down the fire escape to the street. Mr Justice Wright had a surprise at a Washington dinner when he found himself seated next to a Mr Wrong.