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At the top of the staircase, a drab corridor stretched out ahead, with rough coconut matting on the floor.

As the athletes ran in tiny circles on a ninety-yard track made of coconut matting, spectators listened to an Italian tenor who had been booked by the promoters to make the time pass “more pleasantly.”

Ten thousand miles over the sea on a strip of coconut matting 22 yards long was being played a test* match between England and Australia.

Two days later mother was well enough to go out, and that evening the coconut matting came home.

I think we'll have coconut matting next time.