The Silver Patrol
" THERE is a story, some grand
I scenery, and beautiful singing; yes, it's a groat show: takes us back to the days of George Edwardes." That was one comment beard in the bar during the interval. it came, as one would expect, from a paterfamilias complete with family, a theatre party of some six or :seven, and it, augurs well fop the life of " The silver Patrol."
The business man who reserves his critical faculty for business only buys the seats, fills the house, and is untouched by the criticism of the bright young thing at his elbow. Sipping her sherry over the tail of a splendid fox, She showed for the edification of all within earshot, and some outside it., how little she wanted to be taken back to the " days of George Edwardee."
" Amazing, my dear—it only goes to prove that if you spend enough money they will fall for any rubbish," They, I took it, referred to my business man and his like. " A fantastically obvious story and such music—no wonder the French say there is no English music." " The Silver Patrol," a romantic musical comedy in two acts, proclaims itself. If you don't like romantic musical Comedies in two acts your course is clear. If you do, you will like very much " The Silver Patrol," which has all the traditional ingredients in story, song, setting and music.
WITHIN ten minutes of the rise of the curtain you have had two musical numbers—" Tap the time with your shoes," with chorus, a pleasant romantic theme song "My dreams they never come true," sung by the " other woman "; the hero has Inherited a lonely ranch—Dream Valley In Parade— been made love to, caught by an angry husband; there has been a scuffle, a shot, and a murder?
The story goes on in the traditional style, and the near burlesque of romance is relieved by some very genuine comedy provided by Gene Gerrard in the role of valet and Devine Griffiths the French lady's maid who chases him.
B. P.
New
G-LT A-1 ..o.•■.}.
I OUGHT to explain (for all who have I written to express gentle surprise or clamorous indignation) that the quotation from G.K.0 published at the foot of this column a fortnight ago underwent a change in lay-out, unpremeditated and definitely disconcerting. I understand that "a wide world sliding" might be suitably expressed in vers libre—but not by G.K.C.
The " awful eyes of Our Lady " caused apparently much misgiving. Someone suggested it should be the "aweful eyes." But come, look at your dictionaries : par:)uffuolu, nd e g a. awe; worthy of
solemnly impressive.
Kiss-capable
IN case you have not had your fill of I Nordic wisdom this small thought from Professor Berman Gauch's book The New Bases of Racial Rrsearch. may amuse you.
" The Nordic mouth is kiss-capable. On the other hand, the non-Nordic's broad, thick-lipped mouth, together with his widely dilated nostrils, displays sensual eagerness, a false and malicious, sneering expression and a sipping movement of the mouth indicative of voluptuous self-indulgence. Talking with the aid of hands and feet is characteristic of non-Nordics, whereas the Nordic man stands calmly with his hands in his pockets."
Chain Gang
As a change from German concentration camp reports read this account of the daily routine of an American chain gang prisoner. The writer is Ben Joe Labray, who was arrested in Carolina for taking a free ride on a freight train. His article is in the March issue of the New York Cath.olic Worker.
" Our trial was a corker. A sleepy judge was called to the county jail and the six non-paying passengers were arraigned. The judge asked a guard from the county road camp how many men were needed at the place. Eight were needed, so we were detained until the local police went out to herd in a couple of the bad boys from the town. The trial got under way and lasted about five minutes—just long enough to have the judge sign commitment papers for us and swear a few times. We had been warned not to tinker with the court, for this would mean ninety more days for our ' contempt.'
Grits
" Ate LL week we work in the gravel pits
in which furnish gravel for the county roads. We dare not smoke, talk or try to take time out, not even for our personal needs. When dinner time comes we line up with our hats held in our hands behind our haelts and wait for the guard to give us the 'signal to ' bean up.' Beans make up our noon meal. They get so monotonous, and I can't eat the dried fat-back (de-larded salt pork) they throw in with it. Every morning means grits, bread, molasses and coffee. Supper means more beans (but sometimes the variety is changed) and the heaviest and soggiest kind of corn bread. After each meal we are
searched for utensils. The way the guards treat the men I can easily see the reason for this search.
"The cell-block in which we Bleep is crowded and smelly. The toilet bevels are in the same room and the beds are arranged two-high and about a foot apart. A corridor separates us from another cell-block in which the trusted men and short-timers sleep. • They at least have more space. The guard on duty is perched on a high chair between the two blocks. He wears sabig weapon at his side and has a shot-gun laid across his lap. Even to get up at night we must yell ' gettin up Captain and he in turn yells 'Git up and git back quick.'
Cracker Box
" yESTERDAY one of the fellows was sick and bolted at his work. He was given a dose of castor oil and put in the 'cracker box' for seventy-two hours. This means going to a. little metal cell out in the yard and living on crackers and water for seventy-two hours, after which time (it's a law and isn't it humane?) he must be given a full meal and another chance to be obedient, One of the fellows who came in with me had to stand all night with his hands chained to the bars. That's what he got for not keeping 'his head down and his pick swingin to please the guard. He and his partner were on the way to a job when they were hooked.
" The only reason I Can write this is because it's Saturday night. This is the only night we can write letters or reed. I'm going to give this to a fellow to pass on to a ' trusty ' prisoner to mail. If this is detected it means I'll get the cracker box or lose the five days I'm supposed to get off for good behavior.
" You shOuld have been here for the religious ceremony last Sunday morning. We were all commanded to sit on benches and bunks near the bars facing the corridor. A group of some variety of Rely Rollers came and sang boisterous hymns and a preacher harangued us for an hour and a half. The men did not join in the singing despite the cajoling of the superintendent, He even threatened them. There was much grumbling over the whole thing and the Super sure was hot. The preacher asked the Super to lead in the closing prayer and this provoked laughter. He said, 'I'm not up on them things.'"
Unquiet Corner
SON,defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor. Despise not the hungry soul. and provoke not the poor in his want. Afflict not the • heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress. Reject not the petition of the afflicted, and turn not away thy face from the needy. Turn not away thy eyes from the poor, for fear of anger: and leave not to them that ask thee to curse thee behind thy back. For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his soul shall be heard: for He that hath made him shall hear him.
Ecclesiastics,