Tales from way back when…
At the races
THE LAST day’s races on Saturday were again very well attended, and Georgetown’s fashionable ladies vied with one another in their efforts to be “the most chic and charming.” Lady Renison, wife of the Governor, wore a simple off-white linen dress with small navy blue design and black accessories.

Miss Ena Luckhoo looked smart in a dress of black polished cotton, made with a square neckline at back and front, with appliqués of white roses around the skirt, just above the hemline. Her accessories were red.

Mrs. Evelyn Mohabir was in a smart blue ribbed cotton slim dress with a plunging V neckline at back and front.

Mrs. Hilary Gomes wore a dress of pink embossed faille, with pink accessories.

Miss Joan Newman wore a white linen sundress cut along princess line, topped with a tiny bolero and white shoes and bag.

Miss Zena Sankar was in sky blue figured cotton, with white shoes and bag.

Mrs. Terry Lee wore a pink flowered sundress of polished cotton, with matching bolero and calypso slippers.

Mrs. Jean Crossland chose a cream linen slimmer, with appliqué at the neckline and pink sandals and bag.

Miss June Ann Persaud was in white multi-coloured dotted cotton, with a lace inset at the neckline, emerald green shoes and bag.

Miss Valerie Wight went in white dotted peacock blue cotton, cut along the H-line with white shoes and clear plastic bag.

Miss Estelle Forsy the of the Steward’s Box wore rose red faille made with a two-flounce skirt and close-fitting bodice.

Pretty Maria Lopes wore a plain cotton frock, with a pleated skirt and fashionable calypso sandals.
(Guiana Graphic: February 28, 1957)

Good Samaritan beaten
THE TALE of how a Good Samaritan was beaten as a reward for his good turn was told to Magistrate D.P. Debidin yesterday morning.

The Good Samaritan was Zainool Baksh.

He saw a man named Ulric Alexander lying in the street gutter.

Baksh decided to lend him a helping hand.

And when he had pulled Alexander out of the gutter, he received a couple of cuffs for his kind deed.

Yesterday, Alexander pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Baksh. But he could give no reason for his ungrateful attack on Baksh.

“Have you ever read the Bible?” Mr. Debidin asked Alexander.

“Yes,” Alexander replied.

“You know the story of the Good Samaritan?”

“No,” Alexander confessed.

“Here it is, this man taking you out from the drain in which you fell, and you beat him up,” declared Mr. Debidin.

“Ah was a lil sweet,” was all Alexander could say.

He was fined $10.

(Guiana Graphic: March 21, 1957)

Catholics celebrate centenary on March 24
SUNDAY March 24 will be another big day for Roman Catholics in this colony.

On that day, the priests of the Society of Jesus will be celebrating their 100 years of work in B.G.

The first Jesuit Priest to have arrived in B.G. was father James Etheridge, with two priest companions, on March 24, 1857.

A Centenary Committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Edward deFreitas to go into the question of the celebration, and what form the memorial should take.

The Committee has suggested that there should be a Chapel for St. Stanislaus College, a St. Ignatius Altar at the Cathedral, and a Jesuit Scholarship at the University College of the West Indies.

It has also been disclosed that there is the possibility of another Catholic College in British Guiana.

Bishop Guilly said that he has been trying to get another religious community to set up the new college, but so far he has not been successful.

It was stated that Fr. E. Moriarty, S.F.M, who had just returned from Canada, explored the possibility of obtaining personnel to staff the new school.

He approached five different communities, but not one of them could at the moment send either priests or nuns.
(Guiana Graphic: March 4, 1957)

For the sake of $2
-A good harvest
YEAR AFTER year, there are cyclists who fail to take out bicycle licenses on time, and the revenue authorities are forced to take action against them.

The harvest  of bicycles seized yesterday was quite good when the police started operation ‘Round-up’ and seized a number of bicycles in the City.
(Guiana Graphic: March 20, 1957)

Razor blades and combs
REPORTS OF persons operating as barbers using razor blades and combs have been disclosed at the annual general meeting of the B.G. Barbers Association on Wednesday.

Agreement was reached at that meeting to lead a deputation to the City’s Public Health Department, asking them to
stamp out this practice of those persons who carry on this trade on pavements and under houses and trees.
(Guiana Graphic: March 22, 1957)

Rare coins
MR. T. GOOLAB of La Jalousie Front, W.C Demerara, has in his possession four British Guiana coins dating as far back as 1836.

They are: One one-eight guilder, in the reign of Claudielmus, dated 1836; one two pence silver coin, struck in the reign of Victoria, 1838; one four pence silver, Victoria reign, 1838; and one 24-cent silver coin, Victoria reign, 1846.

(Guiana Graphic: February 21, 1957)
W.M. Green
-For the fourth time

MR. W.M. Green was yesterday given a fourth term as President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.
He was elected unopposed.

Messrs. H.L. Steele and Lt Col C.M. Bernard were elected vice-presidents unopposed.

Mr. E.S.Stoby, 1956 vice-president declined office.

The post of honorary secretary went to retiring secretary, Mr. E.S. Evelyn.

Mr. John Jardim was re-elected honorary treasurer.

Other members of the Council returned at the elections are: Messrs. H.P. Bayley; P.S. D’Aguiar; G.W.E. Cooper; P.A.W. Howe; L. Psaila; K.L. Wishart; H.E. Boon; E.S. Stoby; and J.Adamson.

Nineteen persons were nominated for membership in the Council, and only 17 consented to stand.

Mr. J. L. Sam was unanimously re-elected  honorary auditor.

The President was re-elected  on a motion by Mr. H. E. Bayley, who said that he did not think it necessary to say anything in support of his nomination, as they all knew very well that Mr. Green had done a magnificent job.
(Guiana Graphic: March 2, 1957)

Mittleholzer’s new novel reviewed
THE NEXT edition of the BBC’s weekly Sunday evening ‘Caribbean Voices’  at 7:30 pm on March 17 will be devoted entirely to criticism and discussion on : ‘A Tale of Three Places’, the latest novel by the most prolific of our West Indian writers , Edgar Mittleholzer of British Guiana.

The programme opens with a review by Marghanita Laski, and closes with a discussion.

Those taking part in the discussion have not yet been named, but we can be sure that they will have a lot to say of interest to all of us in the Caribbean.
(Guiana Graphic: March 13, 1957)

East Bank people are happy
– Dem. Co. to sell them land
THE PEOPLE in the Ruimveldt–Alexander Village area, just on the southern edge of Georgetown, are now a very happy lot.

Because they will be given a long-hoped-for opportunity to own the lands on which their homes now stand.

They received the information six days ago.

The present owners of this 35 acres of land told them in a letter from Mr. P.H. Gibbings, Director of the Demerara Co. Ltd: “We are prepared to sell it to you.”

The decision is the result of negotiations between the Company’s representatives and the Ruimveldt-Alexander Village Lessees’ Association, headed by President, Mr. Jai Narine Singh.

Mr. Singh, who is an overseer of the Company, told the Graphic yesterday: “This means so much to the people here. It gives us a new life. We now have better security.”

There are about 350 houses with families totaling about 5000 people in the area.

The main question of price is yet to be considered and determined, but in the meantime, Mr. Singh said the Association will hold a public meeting on Tuesday afternoon at 5 o’clock at the Hindu School compound to discuss the matter.

(Guiana Graphic: March 18, 1957)

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)