FROM A CLUBMAN’S CHAIR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20768, 1 July 1937, Page 11

FROM A CLUBMAN’S CHAIR

COMING SLUMP IN SOUVENIRS BRITAIN’S NEW STAMPS Specially written for “ The Tlmaru Herald" by Charles Martin) LONDON, May 20, 1937. A highly interesting little economic survey could be written on the boom and slump in what I may call Coronation knick-knacks. These little souvenirs will continue to sell well for another few weeks, until the last of our visitors have departed. Then the salesgraph will swoop downhill into nothingness. But what a boom it has been! Not since the war have patriotism and loyalty been so “topical.” You cannot ask for the homeliest necessity in a shop without being offered something in red-white-and-blue bearing portraits of the King and Queen. Sleeping Patriotically My outfitter offers pyjamas in tricolour stripes; braces in the same hues and a large silk Union Jack by way of a handkerchief. The latest thing in dressing-gowns is. worked all over with crowns, sceptres and other emblems of royalty. My tailor insists on the new “Coronation blue” as the last word in fashion. Then, of course, there is Coronation crockery galore. Millions of Coronation mugs, plates and dishes have been sold. Millions more will be offered at cut-prices very soon. And that reminds me of a really funny attempt to exploit the national mood of rejoicing. One of those East End traders who are continually "forced to close down" and who “must sacrifice everything far below cost” is so unfeignedly happy about it that he is advertising his loss and ruin in red-white-and-blue, with a border of Union Jacks. Banned Souvenir Of greater monetary value than most of the souvenirs which have poured out of the factories during the past few months will be those which were made for the Coronation which never took place. I was shown one the other day which is already prized as a rarity. It is a cigarette case in the form of a letter. A King Edward VIII. stamp has been faithfully copied, and “the letter” is postmarked: London, May 12, 12 p.m.”—almost the exact hour of the crowning. This souvenir was made in America. It is a rarity because it has been banned in Britain. The reason for the banning is not that the cigarette case commemorates King Edward. It has been prohibited because of the stamp; it is illegal for a private individual to imitate the nation’s stamps. The New Stamps From now on, by the way, your letters from England will bear the stamps of the new reign—unless your correspondents are thoughtless enough to go on using the old ones, of which the Post Office still has many millions in hand. Most people I have talked to agree that the George VI. issue are handsome examples of philatelic art, worthy to start a new page in the collector’s album. But no doubt there will be the same battle of praise and abuse which raged around the first Edward VIII. stamps. Battle of Praise and Blame Not quite the same battle, though—for the two leaders of that artistic controversy have been effectively silenced this time. Edmund Dulac thought the Edward stamps "gruesome and cheap-looking.” Another equally well-known artist, Eric Gill, declared that they were “exceedingly good.” To make sure that at least these two opponents would agree in approving the George VI. issue, the PostmasterGeneral shrewdly invited them to collaborate in the design. Mr Dulac has therefore drawn the King’s head, and Mr Gill has designed the “framework.” So critics will have to find someone other than Mr Dulac to lead the attack this time. The Overseas Rendezvous Dominion and Colonial visitors are enthusiastic in their praise of the friendly hospitality they have found at the Overseas Rendezvous, a temporary "Coronation club” opened for their benefit in Grosvenor-place. No doubt they would be even more appreciative if they realised what a lot of work went into its founding. At a time when all available accommodation in London was being booked up at high prices the organisers of the Rendezvous found it hard to get a suitable home for the club. The place they finally obtained, which now looks so comfortable and hospitable, was an empty house without even electric light. Redecoration, furnishing and provision of civilised amenities all had to be done at top speed. At the end of June, when most Oversea visitors will have gone home, the club will be disbanded. More Efficiency for Students Studious visitors may also appreciate another job of redecoration which has been going forward at a less frivolous London “rendezvous.,’ The famous Reading Room of the British Museum is being not only redecorated, but partly re-built. A new and much more speedy system of procuring books has been introduced, so that research-workers will no longer have to wait Interminably while the librarian finds the books they want on the miles of shelves. Smoking at the Play Our visitors have arrived at the height of one of London’s periodical controversies about smoking in theatres and cinemas. Non-smokers (who have a “National Society” to represent them) are demanding a ban; or, failing that, they want certain sections of the auditorium set aside for them. But—much to the annoyance of smokers—there are still quite a number of theatres where smoking is prohibited. They have to blame the soldiers for breaking the long-standing ban. Reaction Sets In As a concession to men on leave, tt;e Lord Chamberlain (who controls Theatreland’s habits and morals) permitted smoking at revues. Then smoking began to be allowed even at “straight” plays. A reaction against theatre smoking set in seven years ago, and most of the permits were withdrawn. Smokers prp-

tested, and the habit began to get the upper hand again. It is still in the ascendant, but non-smokers are hoping for another swing of the pendulum soon.