AN INTERESTING TRAVELLING COMPANION. The 3.55 express was just drawing out of Carlisle as I settled myself comfortably in the corner of the compartment, and, after glancing through the daily papers, my attention was drawn to the only other occupant of the carriage. I guessed his age at thirty to thirty-five; of business or some professional occupation undoubtedly, by the careful entries he was making in his notebook; clear cut and keen in feature, he looked all over one of the modern progressive school quick to grasp the inventive advantages of the present age. appearing to be interested in a magazine I was actually wondering at the ease and dexterity with which my fellow-traveller was reeling off line after line. 66 Now," he said, "I am at your disposal. First, can I be your amanuensis? Let me type a short letter to a friend for you." I thereupon dictated a short note to my boy at school, to which, by the way, the young scamp replied a few days after saying the relief of not having to decipher my handwriting did not compensate for the absence of the usual postal order. "Truly that is a wonderful machine," I said. "You are quite right," replied my companion; it has been worth its purchase price many times over to me since I bought it about a year ago. It is so simple, you can learn all about it in an hour, and after a few days' practice become quite a fast operator. You can write in several types on the same machine; there is no messy "A good train, this," he remarked, replacing his ribbon to dirty the fingers, as the ink is contained book in his pocket. "Excellent," I replied; then conversation settled down to a discussion of the present unrest in the labour world, in which I quickly saw my companion was keenly interested. Presently he surprised me with the question : "Have you any objection to my writing?" "Certainly not," I replied, "if such a thing is possible, travelling at this rate." "It is," he replied, and the remark was accompanied with a quiet smile of confidence as he took down from the rack what appeared to be a small and neat leather dressing-case. Select ing a key, he opened it, and to my astonishment, lifted out a typewriter. A neat, polished, aluminium typewriter, weighing just under 5 lb., the case having compartments for paper, envelopes, cards, &c. In my astonishment I could only exclaim: "Good gracious! Is that a typewriter?" "Certainly," said my friend, smiling; "it's my Featherweight Blick.' I never travel without it. Now you will see how we write when going at fifty miles an hour." Quickly selecting paper and carbon for manifolding, he inserted the whole into the machine and had started his letter before I realised what as in progress. I am afraid my interest caused me temporarily to forget my manners, for I plied my companion with one question after another regarding this wonderful little machine that he had to femind me of them by saying: "Look here, I have two important letters I want to write to catch the South mail which leaves just a quarter of an hour after we arrive at Glasgow. As soon as I have finished them I will be only too pleased to explain my little treasure to you." Apologising, I at once withdrew, and while outwardly in that little roller constantly revolving; margins can be varied at the right or left hand, and, as you see, it writes equally well on postcards and envelopes." "Do you use it in your office?" I asked. "Certainly," was his reply, "and often take it home with me, unless I know I can borrow my wife's." "Then your wife has one also!" I exclaimed. "Yes," said my companion; "at first we only had one, and we both used it; but I must take my Blick' away with me, and my wife felt its loss so much in helping her through her .social correspondence and household accounts that I had no peace till I bought her one." "Do I know the company's address? Oh, yes; the London address is Blick Typewriters, 9 and 10, Cheapside, E.C., or 369, Oxford Street, W. They will send you one carriage paid on free trial and approval, without any obligation to purchase, if you drop them a line. That's how I got mine, and I have recommended it to dozens of friends since." "Well, here we are at Glasgow." "By the way, I think they have a Glasgow office. Let us see if they give it in the instruction book. Yes, here it is, just opposite this station, 105, Hope Street. Goodnight; I must slip off and mail these letters." As I watched his erect figure rapidly disappearing down the platform carrying the neat leather case in which reposed my new-found acquaintance, the "Featherweight Blick," I realised that it was captains of industries of this kind that were keeping the Old Country's trade flag flying in its proud position. Yes, I did get a "Blick." I have it in my library now, and I strongly advise you to write for their special Booklet No. 56; it will be a revelation to you. When writing to Advertisers please mention "The Review of Reviews." considerable fun at the Christian Social Union and other sentimental reformers, including the Socialists, whose principles are ingeniously, and unconvincingly, exposed in a few paragraphs. Mr., however, professes to find salvation in Syndicalism, or rather in its practical end, which he assumes to be that of co-partnership! There is much sound sense in the writer's criticisms, but there is more of the partisan than of the philosopher in his attack on a number of good folk who are more necessary to a realisation of the co-partnership state than the vast army of solid business men who so far show no disposition even to investigate the conditions demanding some amelioration in the strained relations of capital and labour. PREFERABLE TO STATE OWNERSHIP. This in a manner is admitted by the writer in reflecting on the chances of co-partnership taking its permanent place in business life: We cannot pronounce that co-partnership of itself, unaccompanied by some change of spirit on the part of rich people, would finally allay discontent. But, what is immeasurably important, it would start the reconstitution of society on lines that are sound, business-like, evolutionary instead of revolutionary, and true to the historic practice of English life. Who would not prefer it to the absorption of wealth by the State and the State officials? Who would not prefer it to the recurrence of devastating strikes? Where a working man draws a share in the profits of industry he knows that this share at least is not going to buy some rich man a new car. When times are good he has tangible cause for rejoicing. When times are bad he does not suffer alone. He has perpetually a strong interest against any event which injures the prosperity of his trade. And, in his most rapacious mood, the method he must choose for increasing his share of good things cannot be a method that would involve his own property in ruin. There are difficulties in the path, and it does not lead straight to a heaven upon earth. Like any other institution of society it is unworkable without goodwill. Like any other system its success would depend on character. But we can claim that it offers to Labour a stake in the country, a stake in organised society, and the least dangerous line along which to advance such further demands as Labour may feel constrained to make. These words will be read at a time which, it is to be hoped, will be an interval of peace after the coal strike. The interval could not be better employed than in consideration of those ideas which are here so roughly suggested. PORTRAIT OF W. T. STEAD. A GREAT many people have written to the Art Department of Stead's Publishing House for portraits of Mr. W. T. Stead. Although there are a large number of fine photos of Mr. Stead, the best likeness is that which, reproduced in photogravure, frontispieces the magazine. The Art Department has made arrangements for the photographer to supply, post free, a fine enlargement of this portrait, 12 inches by 10 inches, framed in passe partout (size, mounted, 20 inches by 15 inches) for 12s. 6d. (abroad 14s.). Address, Bank Buildings, Kingsway. One pull, one dip, one push, and fills in a flash. the reservoir fills in One fill suffices to write 20,000 words. When writing to Advertisers please mention "The Review of Reviews." HOMESGARTH. CO-OPERATIVE HOUSEKEEPING IN LETCHWORTH (FIRST GARDEN CITY). IT T is but fitting that the First Garden City should be the birthplace of such an experiment in housing as Co-operative Homes, although it is only fair to say that this new and very interesting departure has outgrown the experimental stage. At Letchworth you have the mental atmosphere necessary for bidding a mild defiance to the merely conventional. People are not so bound down by prejudice, they see more of each other socially than we mortals who tread the streets of a preposterously big city, and new ideas have a more congenial soil in which to flourish. That is one of the reasons why the first co-operative system of housekeeping has sprung up here rather than atsay, Tooting Bec? If you doubt this, become an apostle of co-operation in housekeeping when next you visit Balham or Nor wood. You would not see wigs thrown upon the green exactlythey are not fashionable; but I tremble when I think of the reputations that would be irrevocably damaged, if not destroyed, when the discussion turned upon the taste of Mrs. curtains, the shortcomings of Mrs. realised that the policy of even attempting to put round pegs into square holes was bound to be disastrous. The actual policy gives the fullest play to the wishes of the residents for purposes of co-operative living and association, while ensuring to each one the complete privacy of a separate house. This was sound sociology. It has been successful. In this happy combination of idealism and sound common sense I see the hand of Mr. Ebenezer Howard. It is hall-marked with the particular qualities which go to make up this almost contradictory personality. An upland expanse in Hertfordshire of purely agricultural value has been converted into a "planned city" in fourteen years. Is this not wonderful? A city, not in name only, but in all those conveniences that are required by the most complete connotation of the term-wellplanned roads; residential areas, picked out with all the witchery by which nature and art in harmonious ccmbination can invest them; a factory area with railway sidings and conveniences adjacent thereto; good water supply; cheap gas and electric light services for commercial and general use; and all the things one looks for when thinking of what a city should be. Mr. Ebenezer Howard. in in cooking, and the almost criminal negligence of Mrs. --- in the delicate matter of dusting, or the atrocious colour schemes of Mrs. ! Phew! it would be worse than a mixed discussion of Home Rule, Tariff Reform, and reform of Church procedure. Balham would be rent in twain! Norwood-Norwood, I fear, would be no more; except as a speculative prospect for Macaulay's Australasian. Letchworth is wise in its generation. It does not carelessly become on nodding acquaintance with annihilation by daring to prescribe that what is good enough for Peter ought in reason to be good enough for Paul. The promoters of the Co-operative Homes, from the beginning of the scheme in 1910, fully Mr. Howard's book, "The Garden Cities of Tomorrow," published in 1898, gave the inspiration. What we now see springing up far and near in the varied phases taken by the modern housing movement is the result. Truly this is a dream vision realised! The mind, casually speculating on the bigness of the conception, its huge possibilities for the national health and well-being in the quickening impulse it has given to a good cause the world over, pictures what sort of man as the projector of the idea? Is he a "rough diamond," sincere, but almost brutal in his l l l l l l l l l l l l l l I The NOISELESS The World's Record Car T is not only a matter of pride with us that we hold the World's Record for any car of any size for 13 to 24 hours' continuous running, but more so that we constantly get letters from Napier owners telling us that the Napier does even more than we claim for it month after month, and they can well understand why we originated and maintain our three years' guarantee. May we post the Napier Book for 1912 to you? Read it before you The Napier, the proved Best Car, has been awarded 4 Grands Prix at Great International Exhibitions, which is 3 more than any other six-cylinder car ever received. S. F. EDGE Ltd. 14, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, LONDON, W. When writing to Advertisers please mention "The Review of Reviews." |