The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1944-05-25

Inc 6rlUOlLS are STedL peOpte
for restoring and preserving
buildings instead of Increasing
or undermining. I have found
that the British care little a.
bout size, not desiring to lhave
the biggest" of many things as
we do. For example: London has
no skyscrapers. Not because the
British architects couldn't de-
sign one, but because London is
built on swampy ground, not on
rock like New York. In London
they point with pride to such
buildings as Westminster Abbey,
where England's kings and her
greatest men are buried; and
St. Paul'S Cathedral with it's
famous dome; and the Tower of
London, which was built almost
a thousand years ago. ALI of
these buildings have played an
important part in England's
history. They mean as much to
them as our Mount Vernon or
Lncoln's birthplace does to us.
Although you read in the pa
pers about Lords" and "Sirs",
England is still one of the
great democracies and the
cradle of many American lib
critics. Personal rule by the king
has been dead in England for
almost a thousand years. Today
the King merely reignS, bus
does not rule or govern. The
British people have great af-
lection for their monarch. but
have stripped him of practically
all political power. Today the
power of the king has been
shifted to the Parliment, the
Prime Minister and his cabinet.
The House of Commons is the
most powerful group and is ell
ected by all adult men and wo-
men in the country, much like
our Congress. Today the House
OF Lords can do little more than
add its approval to laws passed
by the House of Commons. Many
OF the titles held by the Lords
(such as Baron, Duke" and
.Earl') lnave been passed from
father to son for hundreds of
years. Others are granted in re-
ward for outstanding achieve
ment, much as our American
colleges and universities give
honorary degrees to famous men
ana women. I've heard Jokes
concerning a lot of powerful
commons. While in the House of
commons, they are given a title
whenever they get too powerful
1or the others. In other words,
when a Commoner gets out of
control they say, We'll make
him a lord and then he'll go to
the House of Lords. Sometimes
I think that would be a good
deal in the States.
I've found that the best way
to get along in Britain is very
much the same as the best way
to get on in America. Make the
most of it and like it. I was
quick lat first) in discovering
differences that seemed con-
fusing. Like driving on the
wrong side of the road, having
money based on an impossible
accounting system and drinking
warm beer. But once I got used
to them I found that they be-
long to England, just as base
ball and jazz and coca cola
belong to us.
The British have theatres and
movies (Which they call cine
mas as we do. But the great
place of recreation is the pub
A pub or public house, is what
we would call a bar or tavern
The usual drink is beer, which
is not an imitation of German
beer as our beer is, but ale,
(But they usually call it beer or
"bltter'). There is not much
Whlskey now. Wartime taxes
have shot the price of a bottle
up to $500 and higher, only
nave gotten to say two pounds
or two quid. which is the slang
for a pound note. The British
are beer drinkerS-and can hold
it. The beer is now below the
peacetime strength, but can still
make a mans tongue wag al
both ends.
Machinery in the British Isles
Is very small in comparison tt
ours. British railways have din
ky freight cars (which they cal
goods wagonS"), not because
they don't know any better, but
there are SO many small town.
and villages so close together
small cars allow quicker hand.
Ling of freight at tine Thousand.
OF small railway stations. Jus,
as an example of size I woulc
say that any of the local trans.
fer trucks that are semi-trailel
affairs would carry half agar
as much as the ordinary good!
wagon.
British automobiles are littl,
and low powered. That's becaus,
all the gasoline has to be i'm.
ported over thousands of mile;
of ocean. Secondly, they have
system of taxation whereof,
you pay a license fee accordin1
to tine horsepower of the We,
hlcle. would saw that a %,