LITERATURE, STAGE GOSSIP, &c.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4214, 15 December 1883, Page 5 (Supplement)

LITERATURE, STAGE GOSSIP, &c.

(FROM OUR LONDON COKUKSroxiiis. T.)

"Is tho Ranks "is cleverly acted all round. Mr Charles AA'arner and M iss Isabel Batoman as the hero and horoine, working wonders. Tom says the pioce is certain to havo a groat run in London, but he doubts whether it will stand the test of "slop" scenery and a "scratch pack "of actors in the colonies.

AA'e were sadly disappointed with Mr Burnarid's new burlesque on "The Tempest" nt tho Gaiety. After tho successful way in which he treated tho story of "Blue' Beard," groat things wore expected of "Aircl" but to the surprise of a, large and friendly first-night 'audience, the piece narrowly escaped a good hissing. Nelly Farren — without anything on to speak of—skipp-d hither and thither as Ariolsingiiig anodnncingrightmerrily. The ono "hit" of tho evening was mado when, the clear little lady floated away into space bejowelled with the tiniest electric lamps, and warbling a lovely' waltz song. This incident in iteol. Was not, however, enough' to keep up tho spirits.'of the audience,,and I fancy most of: those present' went home, as I'did,'deeply depressed. Another dull' picco I yawned heavily over was the new comic opera, "La Vie," at tlie Avenue. An ox-music hall shiver, Roberts by namo, fcolfeked through the second and third nets with 'sufficient 'spirit' to 'm.ak'j them just bsarablc, but the.' first was altogether too stupid. "La A'io "is supposed1 to be ah-adaptation of " LaViel'arisioiino," a work, which' Offenbach wrote at his best period, or- in other words, between "La Belle Helen*.' and th. "Graivie Duchess." The adaptors, with questionable taste, havo eliminated; many ot t„e composer's liveliest airs, replacing th_n --• sometimes with .aawkish.bnllads, aad at others with music hall ditties. ■...,,

A lady friend writes* tc me from Christ-! chjuseh for. the names ot' some nice, new songs. It is rather difficult to know what to advise unless you have somo sort of idea of a person's tastes. Spooking generally, however, I can heartily recommend Andrew Levey's plaintive ballsid," Loveandßeauty," now; sung nightly by the blind boy in Ingomar " at the Lyceum, Theatre. The air haunted me for-days after wo heard it. "Laddie" by Ciro Pinsuti is pretty,-and "Give me thy Heart" by Ernest Bergnolt has been described by no loss authority than the " Sarui-day Review "as a, really charming song. Since " Dream FncfS" becinio so tirosomely jxipular i AVilliam ..Hutchison's ballads with waltz

refrains have been pretty constantly sung. The b.-ist aro "Starupon Star," "Tho Gilt of Love," and " The Two Chords." Pontet whose "Tit for Tat" receives the honour of a treble encore nightly at the : Trocadero, has just published anothor semi - humorous little ditty of the samo sort called "The Broken Pitcher," land to those who like this style of song, Roeck'ol's " Three Old Maids of Led" will - bo acceptable.', The latest thing in dance music is " _ ontainbleau,"a set of waltzes by H.I..H'. the Duke of Albany. Played by tho Guards' Band after Dan Godfrey has touched them up, thoy sound tolerable, but on the piano, by an ordinary performer veny so-so. Tho waltz of the winter will, I suspect, be tho one sung in "Ariel" by Nelly Farren. It is ~ lovely air, suggestive of half a hundred you have heard beforo, and yet fresh. Bucalossi's last effort bears the name of the " Pand 0 Polka." I have not heard it, and the, ridiculous picture on its outside will prevent many from trying it. It isn't often my husband brings home a bOok from the City, so I was somewhat astonished the other day, when ho placed a two shilling novel in my hands, saying, " There's a stcry üb6ut dear old New Zealand tor you to read." Tho tale is called '•I'hilibcrta" by Thorpe Talbot, and though, .evidently the work of a novice is very far from being either dull or uninterestingSome capital scenes are laid in Dunedin, during tho early days of the colony, " old identities ".will easily recognise in many of. the chnrchers accurate portraits of wellknown citizens. "1 .lilibcita,' I fancy must have come out serially in one of theAustralia, or New Zealand papers in the ,lirsf instance. So far it has not been revrenced over hear. I foci sure however when the critics do notice the book, it will ■be favourably fortius work is quite equal .Mrs Cainbcll Prued\s "Molock" or ■'Policy Pss.-ion." Many of you no doubt been reading Miss Khoda Broughtons new story "Belinda" month by month in "Templeßar." The, three volumes appeared last week and Tom laughed so perpetually and nggravalingly whilst i-i a ling them that I felt puite anxiousto begin the tale. After all though. " Belinda " disappoints one. The book brims over with flippant speeches, cynical jokes and during intiohdocs but the hero and heroine are impossibly' fo.lish people and irritato you by behaving with the most sonseloss'imbecility, The best drawn chai-iictors aro the dry bid Oxford Professor whom Belinda marries in Ja rage when licr lover doesn't write to her and tho younger sister a deliberate flirt without heart or conscience.

Do You remember how I mentioned' onjoying_ bits of Chirk Russell's "Sea i^iieon in oho newspapers. Well th is • delightful novel oan at laHt bo obtained in three volumes, and should be ordered forthwith by idl colonial libraries. Many of the reviewers consider it superior oven to the " Wreck of the Grosvenor." What a grand nine shillings-worth is tho annual volume of " Good AA'ords," In addito a muss of general reading, the purchaser ;has two guinca-and-a-half novels thrown in 'this year the sorials are excoptionly firstclass, (i.0.) "All in a Garden Fair," by AValter Besant, and "Poarla," by Miss Betham Edwards. 1 have just finislvsd tho latter, it is a thoroughly wholesome story, specially suitable for reading aloud to the [family circle on Sunday afternoons.

All who did not see " Gideon Fleuce," by 11. AY. Lucy, when tho novel first came (out, should now obtain the new edition j published at 3s (id. I can also conscientiously rocoimnond tho 2s issues of Captain Huntley Smart's detective story, "At' , Fault," and Mrs Uilvurk _ " How Ho AVon Her." ;

j .The phenomenal success of Sergeant ißnllnntino. reminisoortces has naturally I inspired other legal luminaries to try their hands at similar work, and two newvolumes, entitled respectively "Romantic 'Stories of tho "Legal Profession" and "Somo Personal Recollections by n Member of the Incoporated Law Society " are to hand. I think tho former will please tho general public best. The stories aro told in an attractive form and with commendable conciseness. Both' j vols: cost 7s lid.

And now I must devote a few words to juvenile books, for I know ladies in tho colonies are often puzzled to know what literary confections to buy for their children. Unquestionably parents should use great discrimination in such matters. MAny stories, though written with the best intentions, are most injurious in their tendencies, and as a noteworthy instance, I may mention " Eric, or Little by Little," a most popular tale of school-boy life, by Dr.Far. an. Tom says that book did more towards suggesting evil things to him when ho was a lad than all his boy friends put together. Moreover^ ho knows lots of other fellows "it affected similarly. As a rule, I would rathor give lads stories of adventure or historical romance.' to read than tales of school life; in fact, tho best boys' books nowadays are thoso written by Mr C.. A;. Henty, George Mamile Form, and Jules Verne. Ml' lienty's new storios just outboar tho attractive titles of "AVith Clivo in. India, or tho Beginningsof an Empire," and "By Sheer Pluck, a Tale of the Ashahtee AA'nr."' They aro in every way equal to tho samo author's " Young Franc-Tireurs'" and"Facing Death." Another stirring romances, sure tcbo a favourite is Mr Geo. Manvil-Io-Fcnn's "Golden Magnet, a Tale of the Lund; of the Lucas," and to those who like "'errors upon 'orrors 'o_l," I cr,n recoromenilnothingbettor than Louis Bo.ssenni'd's richly illustrated "Crusoe, of G alalia; or, The White Tiger." If. however,: you wantto lay out six or seven shillings upon a bookthat will afford your son and lu_r limitless. amusement'for many a long day, buy tho, yearly volume of th* " Unicm Jack "' for1 hinii Thoro aro 1(0. course you know); heaps, of other beys. "Annuals,"" but,' the- "Union Jae'ft" is _comi*irnbly, the- nbost bernf illustrated, well-, written, spirited, manly, and highly toned. Next, to _,■ perhaps, comes the"Boys' Own Paper;"' but-tho writers. herein are of a -rery different. iilAfs, and) tempting voiumi.-<though tbe boiunl up parts, malte, -I must yivo the -prefewnce-to. ihe-litei-nnmed.

White alpaca trimmed with richtcoloiired; velvet ds tho material msod ; _ 'foi ._ many fnshiomible seaside and country dresses.. The skirt is trimmed in any sßyle preferred* with flounces or bouiilonn.s, or velvet band* and lace, and the polonaise forms, a pleated blouse seemed at the wai3t with a velvet belt or sash. A hat of rathor coarse plaited straw is v suitablo finish to the costumoi | '

The Trtrincoss of Wales has been wearing some charming yachting costumes- One day she wore a gown of dark blue and clare. mixed, and the body part had somewhat the looi of a pilot jacket with a lon^ waistcoat, iho latter having 'gold and claret braids arranged horizontally across iV On tho lower part of this dress the (same pretty braids wore interwoven here and there amid the kiltings and scarf-like folds. Noxt day, the Princess wore a specially dosignod ulster, made of dark bluo waterproof cloth, the hood lined with red-sat in and edged with an embroidery of red and gold . shades interwoven, tho same being also continued round 'the edge of thej collar and ouffa, . ■ , •: