People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 12

People and Their Doings .

Professor Salmond had a Good Record in County Tennis : Students Respected His Sensitive Nature : A Biography From Earl Haig's Diaries.

pROFESSOR SALMOND’S academic distinctions' obscured the fact, as far as his obituary notices were concerned, that he was a very good tennis player. In the decade from 1896 to 1906 at Ashburton he and the late Percy Cox were at the head of the county players, and were partners in the first doubles pair of the county. Mr Buchanan, of Harper, Pascoe and Buchanan, was just coming up the tennis ladder at Ashburton wlien Professor Salmond was at the top, and lie remembers him as a very good all-round player, particularly strong from the baseline, but one who did not spend much time in tournament play. Mr W. Goss, of Christchurch, often played against Professor Salmond and remembers particularly a fierce forehand drive. Professor Salmond in late years had played occasionally during holidays, and always impressed the younger generation as a very stylish player overhead with great accuracy in his volleying. S? 'pilE ACTOR-MANAGER seems to be returning to the West P2nd theatre, though in a more restrained and selfeffacing mood than in the days of Beerbohm Tree, and this is all to the good of the theatre, says a London correspondent. Leon M. Lion has put on and is himself acting in a thriller by a country clergyman, “ C.1.D.,” at the Playhouse. Owen Nares has just begun his first venture in management at the Vaudeville with an entertaining light comedy in which he plays the part of an Egyptologist, who comes home to get a divorce from his pretty wife but is persuaded by her to stay a few days in order that she may convince her sister of the desirability of marriage. Ivor Novello is presenting and playing in his own play, “ Murder in Mayfair,” at the Globe. Gladys Cooper and Raymond Massey are in joint managership at the St James’s with “ The Shining Hour.” one of the big hits of the season. Jean ForbesRobertson is now running her own company at the Royalty, where she is playing the chief part in Pirandello’s “ As You Desire Me.” Nancy Price acts in as well as produces the plays she is presenting in her gallant effort to establish a People’s National Theatre.

ARIES record ingr conversations with soldiers and statesmen—including Mr Lloyd George, whose scathing indictment of those responsible for the slaughter at Passchendaele has just been published—were left behind by Earl Ilaig. Only a few people are aware of the contents of the diaries, but in the spring of next year the whole world will be able to read Lord Ilaig’s story. The former Commander-in-Chief’s trustees have allowed Mr Duff Cooper full use of the records in his task of compiling a biography of the famous soldier. The publication of the biography is not being speeded up in view of Mr Lloyd George’s attack. Tn his will Lord Haig stipulated that his diaries should not be published until 1950 unless it was considered necessary in the interests of truth. The diaries as such will not be published until the year specified by Lord Haig and the decision to allow Mr Duff Cooper to make use of them was made before the publication of Mr Llovd George’s memoirs WWW PRINCE Ernst Rudiger Starhemberg, Austria’s Vice-Chancellor and Leader of the Heimwehr, is to be the hero of the novel Mr Michael Arlen is now busily writing in Vienna, to be called the Portrait of a Young Man.” He is only thirty-four, and in spite of all the criticism and hostility which have been excited by his name, rank, and striking personality, Mr Arlen has chosen him as the most distinguished type in Europe of the young politician of noble familv. By King \ ictor Emmanuel of Italy, ' Prince Starhemberg has just been honoured with the Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, the highest Italian decoration which any foreigner can be granted. The defender of Vienna against the 1 urks in 1683, the Vice-Chancellor’s ancestor bore the same names, Ernst Rudiger w w w ]\JAURICE CHEVALIER is not going to marry Kay Francis—so he says. He arrived in London recently—in a soft felt hat! But he had his famous straw with him, oh. yes. He always carries it. “You've started that, too.” he said, with his famous smile, when a reporter called on him at his West End hotel. “ They made a terreefic fuss about it in Paris. But Kav Francis is a charming woman and a fine friend, but marriage—no! No question of it!" And he went on to talk of his house in Cannes.

J>ROFESSOR SALMOND was one of the

gentlest and most sensitive of men. and it was noticeable that the students who have slight respect for university professors’ feelings when they are in ragging mood, generally spared him the shaft of their wit. How deeply he could be hurt, yet how quickly the hurt could be healed was demonstrated several years ago when a student sent him an anonomyous letter criticising the manner of his lecturing, and complaining that his lectures were difficult to take down—a most unjust accusation as Professor Salmond’s deliberate delivery, and his apt illustrations, permitted the average student to take very full notes. Labouring under apparent distress the Professor read the letter to the class and then went through it carefully, justifying himself at every point. & JT WAS a mean letter, and it had wounded the professor deeply. A student at the back of the class wrote out a disavowal of any connection with the letter or the sentiments in it, and expressed the confidence and loyalty of the class towards Professor Salmond. This was passed round, signed by everyone, and handed to him. His usually solemn face immediately lit up with such pleasure that the students laughed and clapped their hands. Such was Professor Salmond’s lovable simplicity. It was commonly supposed that the perpetrator of the letter, by the way, was not one of the ordinary students, but a rather eccentric rolling stone, w ; hose thirst for knowledge had brought him late in life to the University lecture hall. sS? sS? CIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star” of December 8. 1874) Grahamstown, December S. —The Advertiser's correspondent reports that Mr Mackay had a meeting with the Natives yesterday. He informed them that he had interviewed the Government, and had full powers to settle all matters affecting Ohinemuri. After a discussion, it was decided i unanimously, says the correspondent, that j the gold should be given up. and that the I land should be placed in Te Hira’s hands l as trustee for the tribe. There were no dissentients to this.