The White Falcon - 04.12.1970, Blaðsíða 6

Page 6
THE WHITE FALCON
December 4, 19?0
Tale Feathers
Refreshing impressions
of an old-new London
by J02 Alan Markow
Last week I went to London on a Recreation
Department tour, along with more than 85 Am-
ericans from the base. My impressions are
presented here as no more than what they are
— first impressions.
London is an old city, ready and willing to
be a new one. The contrasts mesh smoothly
there. Londoners are just a bit too calm to let
change worry them. The generation gap ex-
ists, but it's far more physical than emotional.
The balding, heavy-set, dry-humored Eng-
lishman works side-by-side with a young man
whose hair falls over his shoulders. Even such staid busi-
nesses as banks and fine jewelry shops have at least token
representatives of the long hairs.
When it comes right down to it, a blind man would never
know the difference. Because, despite hair styles and
tastes in fashion, the two generations are essentially simi-
lar — headed in the same direction.
Riots and demonstrations among college students have
not replaced charity drives and an occasional panty raid.
There is no oppressively present national concern over
international politics or national repression. A verbal in-
sult by the opposition party on the Prime Minister is worthy
of top billing in the news.
It is hardly Utopia. There's some crime, increasing
drug addiction, massive labor difficulties.. . and an occa-
sional inability to win the World Soccer Championship.
But in London, a problem is viewed as a temporary draw-
back, not a way of life.
For a visitor, London's greatest problem is the complex
money system. It's like another language — you have to
grow up with it to understand all its subleties. Once you
master pounds, shillings and sixpence and the like, you
have to decode the nicknames. There's a "bob" for instance
—it means a shilling (12 cents). A guinea is one pound and
one shilling ($2. 52).
To add to the confusion, Great Britain is changing to the
decimal system on Jan. 1, 1971, so there are a number of
new coins floating about. They're known as "newpence"
— ten new pence equals two bob, 50 new pence equals 10
shillings, or half a pound. I asked a cab driver what would
happen to sixpence pieces, which would be worth two and
one-half new pence, under the new system. "They 'aven't
made up their minds about that," he told me.
London society is far from classless. There is a defi-
nite servant class, as Karl Marx wrote about in the 1800's.
It's primarily made up of Cockneys, who speak in long
strings of colloquialisms that may as well be another lan-
guage. Onthesurface, that situation is changing too. Ever
since four scruffy Liverpool Cockneys known as the Beatles
made their mark, there's been an infusion of spirit among

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London's poor. Like the middle-aged Cockney chamber
maid I saw in the hotel hallway one morning — she was
quietly singing to herself "'Are Krishna", the hippie chant
from the musical "Hair".
London's Broadway is known as Picadilly — the Bj^
Square is Picadilly Circus. It's the second most
gious entertainment center in the world, sometiml
first. The Picadilly stages are filled with top-notch shows.
Many are from Broadway. Many are original. None are
second rate. The national theaters include the Old Vic
Company, the world's finest classical and Shakespearean
performers. Such world-famous stars as Lynn Redgrave
and Diana Rigg are performing now in Picadilly shows.
Despite the cross-pollination of Broadway and Picadilly,
the English theater, as all of London, remains essentially
independent of American influence. British traditions are
secure and stable — and typically British. It is easy for
Americans to forget how much of their heritage is based in
England. But an American in London soon finds that his
country is not the center of the universe.
In no other country in the world I've visited, is the Unit-
ed States culture so ignored. It's a refreshing experience.
Sons of Italy begin new Keflavik chapter
On Dec. 8, at 7:30 in the party room of the 56 Club there
will be an organizational meeting of the "Order Sons of
Italy in America".
The organization is for all persons of Italian birth or
descent who wish to promote civic and cultural education
of their origin.
The organization is trying to get started on the naval
station and to get people to become charter members of
the new chapter.
AFTV searching for people with tale^^k
If you have ever dreamed of performing on televralBi;
now's your chance to make that dream come true. AFTV
is auditioning people with performing talents. Call John
House, Ext. 4194, between 11 a. m. and 7:30 p.m. to set
up a time for an audition.