PERSONAL PARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 67, 29 September 1906, Page 1

PERSONAL PARS.

Writing >' to " Sydney Evening News," m her "London Week by Week," that one-time charmer of all hearts, glorious singer and matchless actress, Emily Soldene, who enjoys a green old age nobly, says, m her jerky but picturesque style : Musical sensation of the week came off Beehstein Hall Tuesday afternoon First concert of Irene Ainstey, the New Zealand contralto. • •'■ < • " Never has young singer had such an imposing entree to the realms of art. Mine. Melba-, the fairy godmother, has taken Irene under her wing, and, being a practical woman, as well as the greatest artist, has paid the ex's, looked after her m every waytoilettes, lessons, six .months . with Marches), and lately has herself given invaluable lessons to the young singer. Well, Tuesday, Melba had her reward. Irene .has a grand voice, perfectly under control ; no break, smooth as velvet, . full, rich, deep, and dulcet. As an emotional singer, she has not yet 1 .♦{arrived;*' That will come with time, and time, as a rule; is not a laggard. Phrasing perfects enunciation distinct, manner natural, easy; graceful, pretty, too, looking more Italian than the average Italian. ' ' • « • Her first number, "Ombra mai fu," of"' 1 Handel; Melba at the piano, Ada Sassoli harp, and Laadph Ronald orc;an. Impression profound ; people .turned one to the other, and came to the conclusion that this was the right thine. Her other numbers, "Chant Hindou," of Bemberg : "Still wic die Naeht." of Bohm ; and . a : 'group of English songs. 1 At tlte finish the Prince of Wales sent round to the artist's room, asking Miss Ainsley to sing another song. 'Nefldless to say, i Miss , Ainsley jumped high at the | chance. ■ . i • • • i A society affaire of the premiere iclasse. Prince and Princess of Wales i came early s,i«i stayed late. Princess iwore painted muslin, on white silk ; ! groups" of autumn flowers— fitting vef/ snug (George never did like the pouched bodice, you know), green belt, green neck band, floral toqiuc, (floral parasol, lons gloves. Princess ! gracious and chatty to surrounding ladies, shaking hands all round. Somehow she missed me.. Lord Richard Nevill (he didn't have that dog) conducted Prince and Princess to their seats. Front seats? Oh, yes; hang the expense. Melba their Royal Highnesses, and ed Princess with bouquet otprcbids. and malmaisons. ■m'u ■-■-..- '■ '-'■-. m • • '■' ,■•;■

Melba wore black and white striped muslin, large black picturp hat, plumes ; no end of aigrettes and things, and tha ribbon and insignia of the Order of Merit, conferred on her by the King. One could not help noticing the way the diva effaced herself ; came on the platform without pretence, sat down to the piano like any ordinary two guinea accompanise. Charming, I thought. Miss Ainsley wore a painted muslin dress, roses, and things, over a white ground of white silk ; her dark hair just combed simply into a knot at the back. ' • • « Miss Ainsley is a Roman Catholic, and the Duke and Duchess- of Norfolk were present as heads of the R.C. laity. The Catholic Association came m a body, headed by Mr Dunford. R.S.G-., Monsignor Croke Robinson, and other distinguished clerics. New Zealand Association took two rows of stalls. Mme. Marchesi, who has 80 years to her credit, came over from Brussels for this first appearance. , ■• • • After the concert Prince and Princess of Wales sent for Melba to congratulate both her and Miss Ainsley on, the delightful concert, and hoped she would soon have another, and wished Miss A. a great career. Good old New Zealand.. Land of song and beauty, ! !» * • Oxford (Canterbury) hoodlums experience unalloyed pleasure m kicking up a shindy at places where the Word is being discussed by townsfolk, and the people ■ concerned are getting tired ol the biz. T'other day a few of these blackguards Were hit up at the police court. One coot, with the foreign monicker of Otto Hahan, pleaded guilty to a charge of disturbing a prayer meetinp- and was fined a quid. Then another larrikin, Thomas Osborne, was mulct m a similar amount' for using insulting language to one of hook-nosed Booth's scarlet runners at the barracks, and a third imp of Satan, who answered to Thomas Doody, was charged with assaulting a man outside a cottage where worship was being held. * Doodle Doody was dealt with like the others, and all three had to listen to a short sermon from the bench on the wickedness of their behavior/ Then the collection of fines were taken up.

Gerard- Keah, ;' Jfte '%aealiy^iH>r^ attempted to kiss \VV P.. Crick .when he Visited Sydney. "Paddy," however, objected, and . threatened tat '•'soak" the tenor on ttie musical nozzle With a knotted bunch of fives ifi, he didn't "get out." The "Town and Country Journal," referring to the 'matter says Kean is "erratic.'* 1 Haying had many a square look at Paddy's dial, the present scribe considers that Gerard is balmy or rattyj or suffering from "bats."' • ...» # Barrister Toogppd, that curly-bea<t» ed Adonis of th'e Bar, is recognised m legal' circles as toeing a coming man.; He is a plugger at all times and grafts strenuously where the interests of his clients are concerned* Magistrate Riddell, however, evidently does not share the universal opinion of Toogood's abilities, as m tb© civil business the other day, oven some trivial matter, he advised the young limb of the law to be smart* The blush that spread itself o'er Cicero's classic countenance spoke more volumes than the Supreme Court Library contains. ' • ' ' ■ ■ • ' * They're still printing this :— Billy Me.Coll, the well-known , pugilist, died at Armidale on Thursday. McColl, it is said, never . cjuite recovered from his recent fight.. Peak Hill paper is responsible for this rehash of the lie, which was probably originally circulated by some enthusiastic ; pietist to injure the game. Let us say once more that McColl is not dead— in fa/t, he'll be quite a .lively McColl when he steps into the ring next month to have it . out with Peter X ling.— Sydney) "Truth."; J. C. Williamson, it is stated, is, after 40 years' theatrical management, about to retire. "The Firm* . has long ago ;heen dissolved, Garner being dead', . and Musgrove away from Australia. But those were the nalrny, days of "The Drama" m Australia. Still Williamson must have made a good deal -of money. It is reported that his Sydney partner, Ramia* ciotti, and George Tallis, his Melbourne manager, will henceforth conduct the enterprise. Williamson will always be ' associated m the memory of old playgoers with his appearance as Hans Stofel m "Struck Oil" with Maggie Moore (then Mrs Williamson). The present Mrs Williamson was once the "charming dancer, Mary Weir. And by her James Cassius has two lovely little daughters, the portrait* by Longstaff, of the elder of which t , Marjorie. adorns Sydney art gallery. His first marriage, with Maggie Moore, whom he divorced, was childless.