BROKEN WICKET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20838, 21 September 1937, Page 4

BROKEN WICKET

WEARING OF THE GREEN SPORT ON THE SCREEN (Specially written tor “ The Timaru Herald" by Charles Martin) LONDON, August 26. When E. A. McDonald, the Australian and Lancashire bowler, who died so tragically as a result of a motor-car accident, was buried at Blackpool, a broken wicket and bail were placed on the coffin. It was an appropriate way to mark the end of a. fine sporting innings. This inclusion of relics which remind mourners of the life work of the departed is not uncommon, of course, at the burials of distinguished people. When R. B. Cunningham Graham, the Scottish writer and traveller, was buried last year there were placed on his coffin hairs from the tails of three of his favourite horses. Comic Opera At Funerals Favourite hymns and even well-loved secular songs often accompany the last rites. Music from the Gilbert and Sullivan operas was played at the funeral service of Sir Henry Lytton, the last of the Savoyards. Another occasion when mourners heard secular music was at the service for Robert Loraine, the actor. Selections from the incidental music written for “Cyrano de Bergerac” were played. Music from the operetta, “The Du Barry," was a feature of the memorial service to the German actress, Anny Ahlers, who died during, the run of that piece. Old City Companies The recent presentation of the honorary freedom and livery of the Cordwainers to the Prime Minister reminds me that many distinguished members of these ancient city companies—descended from mediaeval guilds—have never had any practical experience of the trades concerned. When the Worshipful Company of Grocers sat down to lunch the other day the guests Included two Archbishops, several Bishops and many wealthy business men, but none who had served behind a grocer’s counter. The Master of the Company is a stockbroker. The Grocers were originally Grossers, or dealers in merchandise in bulk or gross, which perhaps explains the absence of any representative of the retail trade. Though many of the Goldsmiths, the Fishmongers, the Vintners, and the other Guilds are still connected with the craft they represent, many have been elected because their fathers were liverymen, or because the members wanted to honour them on account of distinguished service to the nation or community. * Green Dress Clothes H. G. Wells, in “Things To Come,” pronounced the doom of trousers and forecast a return to kilts and to the long flowing robes of ancient days. A French male fashion expert, looking into the much nearer future, foretells some startling changes, not so much in design as in colour. Dress clothes for men. M. Andre de Fouquleres told the French Tailors’ Society, will soon be blue, grey, brown and even green. This reminds me that in the Men's Dress. Reform Party Coronation competition, from which British tailors held aloof, the second prize was won by an evening costume of dark blue chiffon velvet jacket and trousers, light blue silk shirt and dark blue cummerbund. Colour for Men Reports of banquets, it seems, will one day read like this:— “The Mayor, resplendent in a suit of emerald green, with a canary coloured shirt, took the chair and introduced the chief speaker, Mr Blank, whose nigger brown suit and shirt of a delicate pastel shade afforded an interesting contrast to the garb of his Worship.” Perhaps the women, finding competition with the men too much of a strain, will complete the reversal of the present order of things by wearing only black and white. This advocate of coloured clothes for men also has ideas about umbrellas. Gamps will go gay, even more so than the men's dress clothes. Bright colours are indicated, particularly reds and yellows. Cinema Helps Sportsmen Not only educational authorities are making increasing use of the cinema. Sportsmen as well as schoolboys are learning much by going to the “pictures.” The film of the Louis-Braddock fight, for instance, was closely studied by Tommy Farr. Then there is a big demand by rowing coaches in Australia and other parts of the Empire for films of English eights at practice. Last year’s Oxford president, J. S. Lewes, who incidentally, is an Australian, is an enthusiastic cameraman, and believes in the value of such films in the rowing man’s training. Lessons From Perry Fred Perry, after turning professional, made a series of films —the first, called “Tennis Tactics,” is now showing in London. Mostly in slow motion, this admirably illustrates the fine points of the ex-champion’s technique and court strategy. These films should prove invaluable to tennis players, both beginners and the more experienced. Perry himself has learnt from his own films. He could tell very little about his footwork until it was revealed to him by the cinema. He did not know that he could hit targets cr s’ und motor horns with a tennis ball struck by a racket until the producer asked him to perform these feats before the camera.