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| Illustration by Peter Helck from the final installment of "A Comedian Sees The World," Woman's Home Companion, January 1934. Note Charlie and Syd on the rickshaw. |
Just to recap: After two weeks in Bali, Charlie and Syd returned to Singapore on April 20th, 1932 where they had planned to catch the boat for Japan on the 24th. Unfortunately Charlie became ill and was in the hospital for a week so their plans for Japan had to be postponed. He was released on April 26th and joined his brother at the Adelphi Hotel. There is no mention of his illness or hospital stay in his travel memoir, "A Comedian Sees The World," only that they had returned to Singapore to await the next boat for Japan & would make the most of their visit:
There were several days to wait before before we could get a boat to Japan, so in the meantime we merged ourselves into the life of Singapore.
Of course anything after Bali is a letdown. But Singapore has its charm. Every evening we would ramble through the native quarters on rickshaws. Occasionally we would go to the New World--the native Coney Island of Singapore--where every known variety of entertainment is given, from Malay opera to prize-fighting. (Chaplin, "A Comedian Sees The World," 1934)The brothers finally sail for Japan on May 6th. Meanwhile, here are some highlights of their stay in Singapore:
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| Charlie hosts a luncheon at the Adelphi for the Ranee of Sarawek (on Charlie's right) and her daughter (on his left), April 27th, 1932. |
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| Charlie and Syd at the Singapore races, April 30th, 1932. (Straits Times, May 1st, 1932) |
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| Singapore races. |
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| Singapore Free Press, May 2nd, 1932 |
Where was Charlie 12 months before?
In Marseilles, where he is confronted with the truth about Syd's past with May Reeves. He also meets Sister Aimee Semple McPherson who lifts his spirits, if nothing else...