AUNT DAISY brings you the WEEKLY CHEER BUDGET

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 34, 3 February 1939, Page 17

AUNT DAISY brings you the WEEKLY CHEER BUDGET

© GREAT AFRICAN FALLS

HE Irish pavilion had a charm all its own-and more flowers than any other. Outside there were shrubs and ornamental bushes all round it, and big window boxes of flowers on the shallow baleony over the fine entrance. It was a two-storied building with the name "Ireland" in large gold letters in front, and flags flying everywhere. I was told that thousands of Irish exiles have made Glasgow their home, and that Irish goods have a tremendous sale there. Map of Ireland The first thing one noticed on entering the building was a. lovely bed of growing flowers extending right down the middie. Their fragrance gave a real distinction to the whole pavilion, which was rectangular in shape, and covered 6,000 square feet. The end wall which faced one on going in, was.covered with a tremendous map of Ireland, _ showing how the new industries have spread and progressed throughout the country during recent years. | had no idea that there were so many industries in Ireland-sugar refining, mining and quarrying, manufacture of leather goods, glassware and all kinds of things. HE various exhibits were arranged in bays, all round the pavilion. One of the most interesting was that devoted to racing and steeplechasing, and the great Dublin Horse Show, with a gallery of photogravures of famous Irish horses which have won important flat races as well as steeplechases in England. The Grand National has-been won by Irish-bred horses on twenty-six occasions between 4900 and 1938. There were pictures, too, of Irish horses which had won the Derby and the Two Thousand Guineas. It was quite home-like to look at the bay showing a diorama with farmers delivering milk at a creamery; and at the one with dairy produce-butter and eggs and cheese and bacon! Lace and Linen Of course, there was a -wonderful exhibit of Irish lace (Limerick, rose needlepeint, and run lace), besides linen, embroidery, and poplin, for all of which Ireland has always been famous; and the newer Irish woollens and handwoven tweeds were proudly displayed, for they have now achieved quite a high place in Paris and Londen fashion houses. Another bay was devoted to the ancient Irish art of church decoration, showing beautiful studies: of saints in stained: glass; a silver casket made to hold the -gospels, all -chased and carved and with jewels inseta truly wonderful thing; lovely enamel work; embroidered church vestments; finelywrought metal work.

This exhibit was a revelation to most people, and inspired a high degree of keen and reverent attention. Another exhibit which commanded interest (even rivalling the church decoration) was an ingenious working model showing the whole process of manufacturing "pot still whisky." I had thought that potatoes were used in making Irish whisky! I found that was quite a wrong idea. Anyhow, | came out of that pavilion with a mental picture of Ireland as a country full of flowers, racehorses, lace, church -art, whisky and bacon! Modern Lights 'ANADA had a fine pavilionthe largest in the ‘‘street’’ called Dominions Avenue, and different because it had no windows! The idea was to

show the efficiency of modern interior lighting-very interesting indeed. There were no visible lamps or bulbs of any kind; it was a perfect example of "concealed" lighting. Moreover, the hall itself was kept rather subdued, while the exhibits were brilliantly illuminated, which emphasised them very well. The timber work in the building was of Canadian spruce, and Douglas fir, and yellow birch; and there was a special exhibit of timber, to show not only the range of Canadian woods, but also the uses of them, This included a wonderful suite of furniture in some lovely silky

wood, which aroused a great deal of interest, and had previously been shown at 2 British Industries Fair. Another interesting exhibit was a section of a bungalow built of red cedar, roofed with red cedar shingles, and panelled with hemlock. Timber is very fascinating, don’t you think? But my most vivid memories of the Canadian pavilion are the map and the "Mounties." There were four of the world-famous "Vounties" on duty, answering all sorts of questions put to them, chiefly by charming girls, thirsting for information! And .indeed, one could not wonder at their interest in Canada being thus stimulated, for these men are quite magnificent. As for the map-it was on burnished copper, and one of the

largest in the world-600 square feet in area! There were always crowds of people round it, because by pressing. different buttons you could light up different sections o7 the map, each showing a separate feature of Canadian. life. There was a.-real fascination in pressing these ~ buttons-one would fight up all the mining centres, another the cities of 25,000 inhabitants and over; another the universities, or the aerodromes, the power plants, the vast prairies, the manufacturing centres of fifteen mitilion doilars output and over!-the

broadcasting centres; and, of course, the outposts of -the "Mounties,* and so on. The most important aspect of the map was that it. brought before people the fact that Canada, from being orginally an agricultural country, with its vast wheat-grow-ing prairies,.is now also. one of the most important mineralproducing countries of the world. Our guide (NOT a Mountie) told us that Iast year’s minerals formed twenty-three per cent. of Canada’s exports. Canade’s Fur Of course, there was a grand display by the fur-trading industry; and another important exhibit consisted of a leaden casket contain-ing-2 small quantity of radium, which is refined from deposits. of pitchblende found in the North West territories.

Big exhibits by commercial firms © were also interesting (my own > favourite washing machine in stainless steel was there working calmly and easily); besides many and varied kinds of canned goods; and dairy produce. Altogether, the Canadian pavilion was of a very high standard. WONDER if I am the only person to whom the exhibition revealed how very vague and incomplete was her knowledge of British occupation and interests in Africa! I know I gained more information about British Africa than about any other part of the Empire. There were no less than three whole pavilions from which to learn-the South African pavilion; the pavilion shared by Southern Rhodesia and Hast Africa; and the West African pavilion. The most spectacular of the exhibits, and one which attracted most people (even though it cost sixpence to go in!) was a reconstruction, or working model, of the Victoria Falls; in the Southern Rhodesia section. Jt was very realistic-even the heat of the country was provided, and most of us found it a bit overpowering combined, as ‘it was, with the damp and the steam. The Amazina Falls One walked along slowly past the Falls, in single file, both admiring and enjoying the whole spectacle, as well as acknowledging the cleverness and enter--prise of its promoters. The model of the Falls was 120 feet long, and the water rushed down at the rate. of 25,000 gallons per minute, falling fourteen feet. The noise of it was most cleverly amplified by loudspeakers, and was almost deafening. So you can just imagine how real it seemed. We got quite wet with what we thought was spray, but- was’ really.

an ingenious arrangement of steam to represent the great columns of spray which are visible for more than fifty miles from the réal Victoria Falls. By some clever method of aeration, the water seemed to be foaming and rainbows were reflected in the steam, Then by a sequence of chang: ing lights, a whole day at the falls was represented. First came the dawn, with clouds passing across a dim sky, and dark blue shadows showing between the great hills in the background; next sunrise, when all changed to a delicate pink; then full daylight, with the rainbow on the spray; and after that sunset-a glorious gold. Finally, this faded into the soft blue of the tropical night, and stars began twinkling in the sky!

It took about five minutes for all this to take place; and then you were expected to pass out of the little pavilion, and make room for the next crowd. I forgot te mention the model of the great bridge just belew the Fabs, over which a little train crossed every few minutes. The real bridge is four hundred feet above the water, and yet the railway carriages get drenched with spray! After this exciting exhibit, rm afraid the rest of the Southern Rhodesia pavilion didn’t make much impression on r> though I remember a display of asbestos, and one of tobacco, besides some mural paintings of maize produce tion and citrus-growing, and a fine picture of the fiunder of Rhodesia, John. Cecil Rhodes.