While Dr Elizabeth Tang (Han Suyin) was writing her best-known novel A Many Splendoured Thing she came to my flat in the university from time to time with a chapter for me to read and comment on. In July 1951 she asked for a favour: as I had a spare bedroom, could her friend Dr. Cherry H stay with me while her flat in the hospital was being renovated. I knew that Elizabeth, Cherry and another friend, Dr. AB, had trained together in the Royal Free Hospital in London and come out together to Hong Kong. I readily agreed. It was while Cherry was staying with me that Elizabeth designed and commissioned a tailor to create a dress for Cherry and the following incident took place.
Wed July 11th, 1951
By the time I come home to the flat, the tailor is already there. and Cherry is being fitted. Elisabeth, imperious as always and ravishing in her elegant Chinese cheung saam dress, is in command..
Eliz: ‘Now look tailor you must bring that pleat down half an inch here. You’ll see, Cherry, how much better that will be. It’s the small things that make the difference. The skirt will be very pretty.” Elizabeth’s deft hands are turning Cherry round then back again. Cherry, who is tall, angular, and square-shouldered, submits awkwardly.
Thinking the fitting is finished, I go into the bathroom to wash my hands and comb my hair. However, I then hear Elizabeth’s voice rising in anger. “But tailor, tailor - what have you done? The top is ruined. I told you to cut it round, tailor, not straight. As it is, all the wrong points are emphasised. That line ends at the very one point it shouldn’t.”
She runs her fingers round the dress, pushing here, pulling there, standing back to see the effect and gesticulating. Inside the dress, like a stranded whale, Cherry stands mutely captive.
I am embarrassed for Cherry at this quite indecent humiliation and go out onto the balcony But even there I am not out of earshot. “If only I had seen it at the first fitting” Elizabeth cries petulantly; ”Why didn’t you see that, Cherry?”
”But it was only loosely tacked, and followed your design" mutters Cherry unhappily.
Elizabeth fires back sarcastically “But how can I be responsible if I am not at the fittings. My conception has been spoilt. The whole thing is hopelessly ruined." I hear a defensive murmur from Cherry which is swept aside by more angry words from Elizabeth. Then the the tones are lower and Elizabeth is saying “I’m sorry Cherry, but what am I to do when people don’t consult me all the way through?. The tailor ought to have known better.”
As I go back into the room, Elisabeth has subsided into a chair. Cherry now perches on the chair arm beside her and puts her hand as gently as a leaf on Elisabeth’s shoulder saying tenderly, “Not to worry, Bun. It doesn’t matter” Cherry’s voice is so soft, so caressing, as if she were comforting a small child. It is the muted gentleness of very strong person, loving, forgiving, consoling....
I have retired to the bedroom to get ready for my own fitting. Cherry calls out, with a sharp little laugh "Where’s the next victim?.....Mary!”
I am wearing a blue dress, also being made by the tailor. Elizabeth looks at me in despair and says “It’s very nice except for the collar." I look at her in astonishment as there is no collar. She goes on “I don't know why you must choose blue. It doesn’t suit you, in fact it makes you look awful., doesn’t it Cherry?"
Cherry replies with relish ”It would suit someone I know in the hospital who has black hair and blue eyes, but it makes YOU look insipid.” I am laughing and say “Fire away. I don't mind. Slaughter me...”
Elizabeth’s fingers are again pulling and pushing the material and she suddenly cries “Stand up straight Mary. If you try to look at what I’m doing you throw everything out of line.” “But I wont always have your expertise to rely on” I say. “So. I need to watch so I can do it myself in future.” Elizabeth bursts into laughter and says "That really will be the day when Mary Mather knows anything about clothes!”
Two Chinese Painters
Chinascapes
The purpose of this blog is to celebrate the work of two artists, Tseng Yu and Huang Yun Yu, my friendship with both of them in Hong Kong 1951-2 and with Tseng Uu subsequently in london and paris. Please start by clicking on Backstory then my first meeting with Huang Yun Yu below. After that, wander freely among their pictures, plus my photographs and stories about us all taken from my diary and letters home. These last are still being posted, in random order.
The purpose of this blog is to celebrate the work of two artists, Tseng Yu and Huang Yun Yu, my friendship with both of them in Hong Kong 1951-2 and with Tseng Uu subsequently in london and paris. Please start by clicking on Backstory then my first meeting with Huang Yun Yu below. After that, wander freely among their pictures, plus my photographs and stories about us all taken from my diary and letters home. These last are still being posted, in random order.
