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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1950-11-16, Page 3How Koreans Keep Their Homes Warm Korean hutite life, can best be understood by living in a Korean Rotate, SO come with tate to the {louse of Ilyun, a young manwho has seen the life of the city, but is not ashamed of the mad -and -thatch dwelling of his parents in a anomie lain village back of Seoul, We passed through a yard filled with great jars, any oue of theta large enough to contain a man, Instead, they contain the winter's store of kimisht--a mixture of fish, onions, garlic and red pepper. "Here we are," said Ilyun hap- pily, and opened a low handsomely carved door .. , Ile introduced me tc his old white -clad father and mother and his pretty sister. Then he invited me to take a seat, There was no chair. We sat on the floor. The. autumn air had been chilly outside, But now a delightful warmth began to pass up through Inc. It seemed to be coming from the floor! And then I became acquainted with one of the cleverest inventions of man since the age of fire began. It is the heated floor. America and Europe, for all their ingenuity, know it not. The Chinese have somethiltg like it—the kang, a heated brick divan. By living on the top of the kang and stepping down from it upon the cold floor as rarely as possible, one may keep reasonably warm. But the Korean invention has gone the Chinese idea one better. The entire floor becomes a kang. Who has not suffered with cold feet and hot head in an unevenly heated room? Since hot air rises, it would seem elementary that the heat should come from the floor— and from all parts of the floor, not just from a register in one corner. This very obvious fact seems to have struck the Korean and no one else. And the Korean has very simply solved the problem by run- ning the hot smoke from his kitchen stove under the floors of the other rooms to the far side of the house where at last, its heat exhausted, it is allowed to escape through a chim- ney. By using what we throw away, he keeps his house warts. The flgor is raised from the ground a foot or two and is made of stone slabs cemented together so that no smoke can rise into the room. The stones absorb heat easily and hold it well. For comfort's sake, the entire floor is covered with resilient oiled paper almost as thick as a thin carpet—and much easier to keep clean. On this spot- less silklike surface cushions are placed for sitting, or beds spread at night. Cooking the usual two or three steals will furnish enough heat to keep the floor warm all day, and only a blaze of pine needles at retiring will store enough heat in the stone floor to last till morn- ing.—From "Key to Japan," by Willard Price. "When I was single I had lots of theories on how to bring up chil- dren, Now I'm married, I have four children — and no theories." SECTIONAL FURNITUR P your living quarters are b so crowded thatyou've be- gun to think of having enough space in the same way you dream of acquiring a million dollars, here perhaps is an answer to your problem. Cut down on the amount of furniture you try to jam into your dwelling. This sounds, on the sur- face, easier said than done. A certain number of furnish- ings are essential to daily liv- ing, no matter how mueh you may try to pare your belong- ings to a minimum. The answer lies not in elfin - illation, but in combination, By creating furniture that can serve dual purposes, inoderu designers have made it pos- sible for even one -room apart- ments to look attractive and uncluttered. If your living zoom must serve as your bedroom, too, there's a versatile desk - SAVES LIVING SPACE Versatile furnishings are the spice of one -room living. This mir- rored vanity swings down into desk, L-shaped section or room serves as a bedroom by night and a den by day. All furnishings are White oak with driftwood finish, part of a new 64 -piece group Aressing table which may! 'give your home a lift in both efficiency and beauty. The center section of the desk top lifts up to reveal a mirrored vanity s e e t i o n. 'When the lilt is• closed, the nluttez' of cosmetic needs is tidily concealed. Another versatile piece is a drop-leaf table with draw- ers that fill the space,• usually wasted, between table top and floor. Here table linens or other items may be conveni- ently stored. Flexible seating arrange- ments are also a good idea for a crowded home or apart„ ment. The trend is away from big, cumbersome divans that consume many precious, hard -to -spare feet. Now sec- tional pieces are available which may be pushed to- gether to form sofas, or sep- arated to use as individual chairs. "Not Fit For A Knighthood —My Father Was A Grocer" The world has never celebrated the centenaries of day -dreams — even those day -dreams that have charg&d the hearts of thousands with emotion. Yet it is just one hundred years since a schoolboy wrote to his aunt from a wretched Dotheboys Hall in the slums of ,London, "This school will lead me nowhere but I shall study here, And I shall learn how to become a great actor . , ." His name was John Henry Brod- ribb. Born in 1838, his father was -an impecunious grocer, often shut- ting up shop lest the shelves should 'be cleared by the bailiffs. The schoolboy began his career as an underpaid shipping clerk, but the day -dream remained. And thou- sands remember him affectionately to this day under the immortal stage name he chose for himself— Henry Irving, writes M, Reynelle in "Tit Bits." Audience of None His was one of those success stories which even now is an in- spiration. He used to rise at 4 a.m., brealcfast on apples and bread, read and re -read plays by candlelight until dawn, and then march five miles to his work. At the shipping office his cronies, knowing his idio- syncrasies, scooped out a hollow in a packing case. Here he crouched for as many minute: as he could spare, studying Shakespeare. On barely 12s. a week he scraped and saved for, elocution and fencing classes. When he at last ventured to present himself before a famous theatrical producer, and explained his ambition, the latter jeered. "Go away, boy. I never saw anyone less suited in looks or character." ' Happily at last one old actcor recognized the spark of genius and gave him a letter of introduction STAINS—HOW TO REMOVE THEM STAIN WHITE COTTONS OR ANY WASHABLE LINENS ONLY COLORED FABRIC BLOOD For fresh stain, soak in water. Wash in warm suds. For stubborn stains, use salt water solution We cup salt to 2 cups water), Do not use hot water first. Sponge with cold wa- ter. Wash in lukewarm suds. CHEWING GUM Rub with piece of ice and scrape off gum. If stain re- mains, sponge with carbon tetrachloride or other sol- vent. Chill with ice; scrape off gum. Sponge with carbon tetrachloride or other solvent. CHOCOLATE OR COCOA Dip fabric up and down in •Wash in lukewarm hot water. Wash in hot suds. Use carbon tetra - suds. Bleach any remain- chloride to remove any ing stain with hydrogen grease spots caused by peroxide. Rinse well. cream. COFFEE OR TEA Pour boiling water from a height of 2 or 3 feet through stain, If stain is not removed, bleach with hydrogen peroxide. Rinse well. Do not use soap first; it may set the stain. Sponge with warm wa- ter. If stain remains, apply warm glycerine let stand 54 hour, and rinse well, Wash in warm suds. CREAM OR Soak in cold water. If ice Sponge with cold wa- ICE CREAM cream is fruit or chocolate, ter. Wash in lukewarm treat as such. 'Wash in suds. warm suds. Rinse well. EGGS OR MEAT MICE Soalc in. cold water. Wash Sponge with cold wa- in hot suds. Do not use ter. Wash in lukewarm hot water first; it may set suds. stain. I'RUITS OR FRUIT TUICES Pour boiling water from a height of 2 or 3 feet through stain. If stain is not removed, use hydrogen peroxide. Rinse well, Do not use soap first: it may set stains. Sponge with cool wa- ter. If stain remains apply warm glycerine, let stand a few hours, and rinse well. Wash in warm suds. GREASE Rub well with soap and AND OIL wash in hot suds. If stain remains sponge with. car- bon tetrachloride or other solvent. PAINT Scrape off fresh paint and wash in warns suds. 1f stain has dried, soften first with oil, lard, or veseline; then sponge with turpen- tine or banana oil, Wash in warm suds. Sponge with carbon tetrachloride or outer solvent. Wash in Luke• warni suds. Same method as for cottons and linens. SCORCH Moisten and expose to Can seldom be re- light. Repeat several times, moved. Brushing with Bleach with hydrogen per- fine sandpaper may oxide if necessary. Rinse improvewoolens. welt. that secured him his fast part at the age of eighteen. He had only four words to speak and when his cue carte lie blundered so badly that the audience rocked wall laughter. The audience at the old Suther- land Lyceum never guessed that they had seen the first perform- ance of an immortal. Years later, when he owned and ruled the great Lyceum Theatre in London, Irving was the first actor to be knighted. "I'm not fit for it," he said, at first refusing the honor; "my father was a grocer." But if his first appearance was unpromising, his second was lament- able. Ife•forgot his lines entirely( When he launched himself in a one-man shote in a little theatre Scotland, not a soul caste to see ]tits. in Dublin, he had no sooner set foot on the stage than howls of execration rained from the gal- lery. His first part itt Londpn also was a failure. For years he barnstormed around the Provinces, painstakingly learning his craft, When the Lyce- um yceum theatrical impresario, Colonel Bateman, at last offered him a love role, the production flopped within twenty-four. hours. Eagerly Irving told Bateman he knelt/ of a drama which might re- place the failure. "It's called 'The Bells'," he explained. "The central character is a Polish Jew—a con- science-stricken murderer." "Ridiculous!" retorted Bateman. "The public doesn't pay to see Polish Jews." Faced with the alter- native of closing the theatre, or of producing "The Bells," however, he chose to keep open doors. With cheap scenery and poor re- hearsing, the play that was to give Irving the first great part of his career was put on. Few critics at- tended the first night. The opening act was played to an accompani- ment of coughing and chatter. Then, quite suddenly, the atmosphere be- came electric. The theatre hushed. A dramatic critic sent an urgent messageto his editor to hold the presses. Later, when he turned in a column of ecsatic praise, the editor refused to print it. "Print it," said the critic. "Our paper will gain a reputation for truth." The rest is theatrical history. All London flocked to the Lyceum and talked of the unknown actor who was making hardened playgoers shiver, tremble, and cry out in fear and horror, The play eventually enabled Irving to rent the Lyceum and set up as actor -manager. Soon he met Ellen Terry and engaged her as his leading lady. For years there was hardly a production in which they did not appear together, When they toured the Provinces, mayors and alder- men came to the station to welcome theta. When they went to America cheering crowds gave then a Broad- way welcome. Irving always wanted to share his success. At the summit of his career he gave away money as fast as he earned it. An old actor once begged itinifor seats. In the envel- ope with the tickets were two £5 notes. An actress who had lost most of iter charms tremblingly asked for a post in the theatre and was told she could look after the cats. "You've already taken on three women %to loop after the cats," his manager interposed. "Fine," said Irving, "You can bee the woman who looks after tate women who look after the cats!" With equal generosity he endow- ed cabmen's shelters and beds in hospitals. It was said that 200 old actors and actresses lived on the batik -notes he sent then every Friday. Ruined by Fire Simultaneously he. lavished for- tunes on his theatrical productions, making them as brilliantly dressed and spectacular as possible. Until, one night, his scenery warehouse caught fire. Within an hour the great stocks of stage settings, rich costumes and curtains, swords and ' jewellery were consumed to ashes. The blow crippled Irving financi- ally. Though he continued to act there he had to surrender his Lyce- um lease, Despite this, veteran playgoers still recall his lavish pro- duction of "Becket," at Drury Lane, in 1905. Touring with this play at Bradford, a strange thing happened to Irving. As Becket, after being 'stabbed by his persecutors, he had to utter the words, "Into Thy Hands, 0 Lord," as the curtain fell. On the final night Irving acted with a strange fervour. As he spoke the words, "Into Thy Hands . , ." and fell before the stage altar, sobs could be heard over the theatre. But when the curtain rose for his call the great actor lay still. The rising curtain was hurriedly lower- ed. Within a few hours Sir Henry Irving was dead. When he first entered the theatre, actors were classed as rogues and vagabonds. When he left it, they were members of a respected and enviable profession. Diamonds Are Real Portable Wealth War scares, inflation and devalu- ation are causing one of the biggest diamond boosts in history. When choice stones come up for auction private buyers often bid 30 per- cent. more than professional tra- ders are prepared to offer, They do not do this because they are carried away by the subtle sparkle of this queen of gems. Nor because it would look well set in a ring or bracelet. They buy at almost any price be- cause they know the value of dia- monds is less likely to go (Iowa than the price of any other com- modity in the world. Why is this? Because practically all the dia- monds in existence are mined and sold under the auspices of one business concern, the Diamond Cor- poration. Soft Gold: While gold is a soft, unstable commodity, changing its value with currencies and the needs of coun- tries, all the problems of the dia- mond world have been solved by a control as hard as the carbon of which the stones are made. The Diamond Corporation care- fully grades all the rough -stones mined and sells them at a care- fully established price. Brokers cannot haggle, and they in theirturn must pass on the pre- arranged prices to their clients, the diamond -cutters and polishers. The diamond market is never flooded, To keep the value of the diamond high alines are deliberate- ly closed, even though stones worth trillions of pounds may lie .untouched in the workings. If they were taken out too soon they wouldn't be worth so much. Inherited Skill In time of war diamonds are the only convenient way of carrying half a million pounds around in your pocket. That is why so many refugees from holland, traditionally famous for its diamond experts, were by no means penniless when they reached England during the war. Amsterdam has been the Euro peau headquarters of the diamond - cutting industry since the middle of the fifteenth century. Jews driven out of London and Lisbon by religious persecution found sanctuary in Holland, where they introduced the art as taught to then by their Eastern fore- fathers. Those Jewish refugees, wlto po- pulated the teeming streets of Am- sterdam's Jodenitock kept the art of diamond -cutting as a racial pos- session until they held it almost at a world monopoly. A Family That Was Really "Odd" Probably the oddest family in history, a mother, father and seven sons, lived in Ipswich, Suffolk, in the reign of William III. Every event, either good or bad, happened to this family on an odd day of the month and each one of the nine members had something peculiar about his or her person. Even the letters in their Chris- tian names added up to an odd number, The husband was named Peter, his wife Rabah and the boys were Sglonon, Roger, James, Matthew, Jonas, David and Ezekiel. Father had only one leg and another only one arm. Solomon was born blind in the left eye and Roger lost his right eye in an ac- es had his left ear pulled off inhanad, quarrel and Matthew was born with only three fingers on his right Jonas had a stump foot and David was humpbacked. The odd thing about Ezekiel was that whilst the rest of the fnt'niiy here it x 5i,.,rt, lie was six feet two inches tall at the age of nineteen. The oue thing they all had ice common was red hair, Yet their father's hair was jet black and tltear mother's as white as show. In 1701 Peter, the father, fell into a deep savepit and starved to death and his wife, who refused to cat after the accident. died five days later. The tall Ezekiel enlisted as a grenadier Inst was drowned in 1723 with his brother Solomrnt whey they were crossing the Thames. Tltis tragedy brought au end to the odd fancily of Ipswich, for just tett years earlier, in 1713, the strangest event of all had happen- ed. The other fibre brothers had all died at different places 011 thesame day. Set A Camera, Caught A Thief The pretty girl tourist was sit- ting peacefully in the pavetnrnt cafe of a Parie thoroughfare watching the smart crowds pass by. Ott the table at which she was siring were her handbag, a cup of coffee, a camera and a book of travellers' cheques she had just then heel. counting. Along the boulevard pavement sauntered two men. As they passed the girl at her outdoor table they glanced at her handbag and the travellers' cheques. They moved closer to the table, their suddenly one of them brushed against her. He murmured "Par- don. mademoiselle." She looked up at him, and as she did so the second man grabbed the cheques and they both ran off. To an observer, it was a well co-ordinated theft, and it didn't look as though anyone would ever catch those two running nen. But the girl Itad other ideas. She seized her camera, got the feeing Wren in the lens, and clicked the shutter, And as she did so one of the men turned round. She took the film to the police. They developed it and there was a perfect portrait of the thief. With- in a short time he was picked up and confessed. Later his confeder- ate was found as well, It was a case of setting a camera to catch a thief, and shows how a little quick thinking can some. tines upset the careful calculations of crooks. There have been other examples of camera - catching. Quite recently a thief broke into a stare and trade for 'the till. Just as he was open- ing it, however, there was a sudden flash of light and an alarm bell rang. He made off. A few hours later the police were on his trail and arrested him. The flash of light had been a camera flash bulb which had been fixed by the store . owner to go off if anyone tried to rob the till. The camera, too, was focussed to photograph the incident. In a U.S. factory tate workers° private lockers were Constantly be- ing raided by an unknown thief. A similar device was rigged up oat a shelf, set to take a picture when a locker door was opened. A perfect picture was obtained, and the astonished expression or, the crook's face in the incrimilat- ing snap made even the police smile, "How's your daughter getting on in California?" "Fine. Got a steady job as bridesmaid to a Hollywood star." DRIP PROOF CANDLES .MAKE CANDLES DRIP - PROOF BY SORKIN& HEM IN A STRONG SALT WATER SOLUTION FORA FEW NOURS.DONOT WIPE ON REMOVAL JITTER I'M TAKING WOODYS SCOUT TROOP ON A H1105 AND YOUha STIWINO IIOME.THH AT'a 14 HARD fHOUoH WORK WITHOUT PLAYIN I4URSIIMAID To r--�••' JITTER s4asltts By Arthur Pointer ALL RIGHT GANG, WE'LL PITCH CAMP HERE... Poon JITTER, HE'D Lova THIS 1 BUT HE'D BE IN THE t �' WAY.IWAG SMART > �' TO MAKE HIM n-oa"r STAY HOA