100 years ago

BISHOP Boyd Carpenter, speaking at a meeting of the Reunion Society, said health was one of the conditions of national success, and he added to that character.

National strength depended on national character. It would be an enormous gain to this country if we could teach people to walk gracefully and nobly. There were people who had learned to walk, but they only slouched.

There was one thing indicative of an irresolute person, and that was the slithering of the soles of the feet. To step out meant will. In our philanthropy we sometimes forgot character, and in our spiritual zeal we sometimes forgot the body.


50 years ago

THERE were those of us who bought one bathing cap every year or two, got attached to it and wore it until it looked a disgrace (particularly on Continental beaches).

There were others who had a bathing cap wardrobe and changed styles each season, buying not just one cap, but two or three at a time.

This year in the new ranges the smartest and the most expensive (it cost eight guineas) cap had a definite Egyptian air about it. Rather square shaped, it consisted of row upon row of neat frills in black and white, with a cascade effect of black and white “fronds” at one side.

At the other end of the price scale there was a very effective black and white cap which cost 9s 11d.

The cap itself was plain white, but had a side spray of black petals decorated with a jewelled stud. For the girl who fancied a pixie look, for 29s 6d, there was an elfin-type cap made up in layers of rubber strawberry leaves.


25 years ago

TROOPS had driven down Peking’s Avenue of Eternal Peace, scattering crowds of angry unarmed people with semi-automatic fire.

The military took the offensive in the streets and on the airwaves, warning that the bloody capture of Tiananmen Square from pro-democracy protesters was “just an initial victory.” Reports from around the Chinese capital indicated that resistance to the army crackdown on protests was continuing.

Sporadic gunfire was heard in many areas, and many road junctions were blocked by smouldering trucks and buses. Troops in about 30 trucks roared down the avenue towards Tiananmen Square, which had been captured by military units in a bloody assault the previous day.

Estimates of the number of casualties in the military assault on Peking on orders from Communist Party hardliners led by Deng Xiaoping continued to proliferate with no possibility of confirmation. Two estimates, apparently based on official information, referred to total deaths of 5000 and 7000 respectively.