By Commander Stopford C. Douglas, R.N., Deputy-Chief Inspector of Life-boats.

Broadcast by Sir Gerald du Maurier and Miss Mabel Terry-Lewis.

[This duologue was broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation from London on Sunday llth September as " The Week's Good Cause."] PRELIMINARY announcement by B.B.C.

Announcer : I want you to come with me to a small house overlooking the sea in a small fishing village on the iron coast of Cornwall.

If it were daylight you would see out of the window—on your left a small harbour suitable only for fishing vessels ; on your right a life-boat house with a long concrete slipway. It is in an exposed position, but it is in the best place possible under the circumstances, a rocky promontory giving it some shelter from the prevalent south-westerly winds. It being 10 p.m.

on a winter's night, you see nothing but a few flickering lights from the harbour.

The houses are mostly in darkness. In these parts the country folk—with none of the distractions of a large city—go to bed early, unless duty compels them to venture out of doors. And it sometimes does, as you shall hear. I want you to imagine a young couple in the small house I have just referred to.

He is an ex-Army man minus a leg, she his devoted wife. Their day is ended, and he is just putting down Ms book in readiness for bed. She has gone to look out of the window. She is speaking.

Listen : SHE : Jack, what an awful night.

Just listen to the wind and the sound of the waves. I'd hate to be at sea on a night like this, wouldn't you ? HE : I shouldn't know much about it, as I should be deadly ill for one thing, but sailors probably don't mind —they think it is much safer than being on land with chimney pots flying about.

SHE : But I never remember a storm like this. Listen! Oh, what awful lightning ! HE : I shouldn't stand so close to the window, darling. That was a bad one.

SHE : Just imagine how frightened one would be on board ship—the anxiety and responsibility of the Captain and officers.

HE : Pretty awful, I agree. Who wouldn't sell a farm and go to sea ? SHE : Hulloa, what's that tiny light over there, do you see ? (Sharply) Jack ! it's getting bigger ; it can't be a steamer's light, it's a regular flare.

Jack ! I believe it's a ship in distress ! HE : Steady, darling. Let's have a look. By gad, I believe you're right! Rockets ! Have the Coastguards seen her, I wonder ? We'd better do something.

Eing 'em up. Tell the police.

Let the Life-boat people know. Phyllis, ring up the Coastguards, quick! Tell 'em there's a ship in distress ! (Pause.) Hurry up, darling '. Poliuan 24.

SHE : (Telephones Coastguard.) It's all right, Jack, they've seen her already and are calling out the Life-boat. (Two maroons are heard.) What's that ? Hulloa, there's a shot HE : No, darling. It's a maroon.

There they go. That's the signal for calling out the Life-boat. But there's not much need for it. The men have been hanging round the Life-boat House all day on the chance of something turning up.

SHE : Look ! You can see the people running. The Life-boat House is all lit up. See the slipway! We'll be able to see her launch.

HE : I might be able to do something if it weren't for my infernal leg. I'm no sailor, but dash it all, I could do something to make myself useful— anyhow, I could give those—what do you call 'em ?—stout fellows a cheer.

SHE : Look ! There she goes ! She's afloat! Hurrah ! Jack, they'll be all right now. Those men won't leave them to drown, I know.

HE : You bet they won't. What magnificent men they are ! It's lucky they've a motor in their boat, for it's a dead beat to windward. Even so it will take them most of the night to reach her, and I don't suppose they'll be able to get the men off until daybreak.

SHE : Well, Jack dear, it's no good your waiting up, then ? HE : Well, I'm certainly not going to bed. When they come back we'll get some hot grog, and you can make some of your wonderful coffee, and fry some eggs and bacon. Yes, that's a good idea. (Thoughtfully.) You know, the Life-boat Institution is a wonderful concern. All run by voluntary contributions too. It's time I sent them a cheque. It's only a night like this that makes one realize the work they're doing.

SHE : Yes, do let's send them something.

Send them a cheque to-morrow.

HE : No, I'll do it at once. Where does one send it to ? SHE : I think the address is 22, Charing Cross Road, W.C.2.

HE : Oh, Lord, how do I remember all that—(slowly) 22, Charing Cross Road—I know. 22 is twice eleven, that is two cricket teams ; that means good discipline, good training, good team work. That's necessary for Lifeboatmen too (laughing). There's good Pelmanism for you. Now how do we remember Charing Cross Road ? SHE : I think I can help you there, Jack. The Cross. What does it stand for ? An act of sacrifice—self-sacrifice.

" Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend." Isn't that the spirit of the Life-boat service ? HE : You're right. It is. And, by Jove, I've just remembered. There's a better address which gives us the right word—Life-boat House, Charing Cross Road. Yes, I remember that now all right. I'll write my cheque now, and we'll start collecting tomorrow for the Institution.

This appeal was helped by another and unexpected appeal which was made immediately before it. The evening service at St. Martin's-in-the-Field was broadcast the same evening, and the Life-boat Duologue was given as soon as the service was over. The service was conducted by the Rev.

H. R. L. Sheppard, and at the end of it he said : " I am bound to refer to to-night's collection which is to be devoted to the Girls' Club of St. Martin's, but I do not make any appeal to my listeners, as I know that Sir Gerald du Maurier, later in the evening, is making a very special appeal on behalf of one of the finest institutions in the country, the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

We want your sympathy, but I hope that your financial support will go to the Life-boat Institution." The Response to the Appeal.

Responses to this appeal continued to come in for the following three weeks.

Altogether 420 were received, the total sum contributed being £376 17s. 2(7.

The contributions varied from ten guineas to sixpence. They came from all over Great Britain, from Inverness to Exeter, and four came from Antwerp.

Among those who responded were " An old soldier in his eighty-fifth year, ' " An old sailor living in Belgium," " A sailor's wife," " A sailor's widow," and " A poor woman." Two other Life-boat Broadcasts.

On 16th September, Mr. Edgar Johnson, the District Organizing Secretary for the North of England, gave a talk from the Newcastle-on-Tyne Station, called " The Sea-Fighters of Northumbria," and on 1st October, Captain A. S. Balfour, O.B.E., late of the Royal Indian Marines and a member of the Edinburgh Committee, gave a talk from Edinburgh, on " Shipwrecks on the Scottish Coasts.".