Nine Lives

 

The chameleon Trebitsch as Chao Kung

Many people follow the same occupation for most or all of their lives. But one Ignac Trebitsch was quite the opposite as he was, successively (quoting author and scholar John  Lukacs), a petty thief, journalist, Presbyterian missionary, clergyman, councilman in Halifax, a vicar in Kent, researcher for a philanthropist, member of the House of Commons in 1910, oil drilling speculator in Eastern Europe, a defendant in criminal fraud lawsuits, promoter of a WWI scheme against the German fleet, British prisoner for three years, press secretary in Germany, military advisor to Chinese warlords, and Buddhist monk with a small sect following. This chaotic journey across the globe ended with his death in a Shanghai hospital in 1943. 

Born to a well-off Jewish family in Hungary, he began his first occupation, that of a thief of gold watches and jewelry, after they were ruined by a stock market crash.  As religion and politics are the natural refuges of scoundrels, Ignac went to England in the 1890s to begin conversion to Christianity with the Society for Promotion of Christianity Amongst the Jews.  He stole from them, of course, and high-tailed it back to Hungary and Germany where he met his future wife Margaret Kahlor.  Not surprisingly, Ignac abandoned her and their two sons at various times in various countries, even as far away as Java.

In case you might still give our ramblin' man some benefit of the doubt, consider what he wrote in a pamphlet during the Japanese occupation of China:  "They molest nobody...they are kind and helpful to the people..."

In China during WWII he conspired with German agents to install himself as leader of Tibet under the Reich after the untimely death of both the high lamas.  His life ended not as king of the Himalayas, but as a Buddhist monk named Chao Kung (he styled himself an Abbott) with only two followers.

Punch magazine had some fun with the unusual  Member of Parliament

 

 In between being a Christian and Buddhist, he joined the Theosophist religious movement, which is the source of today's New Age culture, believe it or not.  One might, maybe, question his sincerity in any of it.  But he probably enjoyed the wild ride.

De Gustibis

 

Sometimes we keep the same tastes most or all of our lives (like I can't stand celery and won't change that), sometimes they evolve as we mature, and many times they are dictated by current trends and we have to go along with the fads to get along.  Looking back on many of our choices (especially the 1970s fashion above), all we can say is What was I thinking?? 

Tastes in the arts are harder to explain.  I am attracted to paintings and drawings which suggest a story, or tell that story strikingly well (like the illustrations of N.C. Wyeth or Dorothea Lange's photographs).  Implied stories include the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile, the question of what "The Thinker" was pondering so deeply, and one of my favorites, "Sun on Prospect Street" by Edward Hopper:

The quiet may be deceptive.  Something seems off.  What is it?

Abstract artist Rothko is probably more highly regarded in critical circles than Mr. Hopper, but what does one get out of this?

And some people's taste may be much more for the simple, literal and sentimental.   

General Motors long ago said they made a car for every type of customer and every budget.  The target audience for a 1960 Cadillac would have been... a wealthy Batman?

I could never have seen myself, way back, listening to Sinatra and sipping a rye whiskey Old Fashioned.  But there is always something new to discover and try out if you preserve an open mind.  At eleven years old, our cat Blackberry is as curious and flexible as ever; he sets a good example.  Actually, I have learned a lot from him (but probably will not develop a taste for bugs).

  

       

  

Trippin'

 

Like a lot of people, we haven't been too far from home in a while, and when I find out about someplace fascinating it exerts a pull (until the idea of going to an airport sinks in).  What I have in mind right now is the oldest district of the northern German city of Bremen:  the Schnoor.   It was a fishermen's village until the River Balge silted up and disappeared, and like Bruges in Belgium for a like reason, has been frozen in time.  In the late 1950s it was preserved and rebuilt and in 1981 they put the brakes on further commercial development.  And the streets are too narrow for vehicles!

You may remember that this city is famous for the Grimm fairy tale "The Town Musicians of Bremen," but I'll bet you didn't know that decaffeinated coffee was invented here.

Speaking of Bruges (more properly Brugge, its Flemish name), one place we remember there fondly is the very old De Garre pub, which is at the end of a long, hard to find alley off the square.  Above its entrance you will find no hint it is in there; in fact there was a small sign that said "Tacos" (??) when we visited.

The house beer is an amber Belgian Trippel, and is probably the best we have ever had (so, worth a flight to Europe).  But have some respect:  it is 11% ABV (alcohol) and if you have another one, you'll never find your hotel.  But you will be quite happy none the less.

Our Dutch guide, Arjan, without whom we would have never found De Garre.

A world away, another favorite of ours is the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square.  When we went out on the balcony/patio outside its Broadway Bar, there was only one other person  -- very different than when they broadcast "New Year's Rockin' Eve" from there.  It's the best view of the famous ball drop there is. 

So much for cities; let's go to where the sand and palm trees are.  Da Conch Shack is on the Blue Hills beach on Provodenciales island in Turks and Caicos.  It's an old fishing settlement, and seafood and rum are in plentiful supply.  With reggae music floating on the breeze, it's a wonderful spot in the bright sunlight or through the warm night.  We were excitedly told that Keith Richards was there the previous day.  They may say that to all the tourists, but with its funky pirate vibe, Da Shack looks very much like his kind of place.