A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 79, 11 April 1885, Page 5

A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON.

BlnlJlo Facts, Fancies, and Frivolities

•SfICULLV SE.ECTED BY O.n LONDON 1 81 COKRESI'ONDEN'T.)

BY KUSE.)

Mtr<w the Explosions on Pi.aces ok "JToLABBEsonr-THE Lash-A C. se for OTWWT--TH" Gu.kk.ns-A Cun.oos MiLV-MAitY's Ways-No Irikxim on strict actbess-AnCnkohtusatr Uomro VbCi>oss-"G™i<™ Eliot's" CiikwhTSOUBBD LWK-TIIK UNION' OF Miss EVANS 7vd GWKC-r. I.kwks-Tiu; BA'mmtOMBR MBBOKB - FASHION HO-**. - \ EI.VKTfiOUBT -PRESSES HOR I*l IK \ ICE-IIKHAI. DRAWING-ROOM-*' 'N His POWK.It" AT TUB OtYJIPIC-TIIB "CAMEO BACK" FI'KOUE I M ,TATORH~"-° l'-YD OUT"-BOISOAUKY'S Kovei-s translated-New Music-!Son'os, etc.

London, February 13,

Bear Mb Editor.—London is vory quiet just now. " Socioty " proper will not return to town till the beginning of March,

jod meanwhile our dissipations nro

urincipally continod to attending the ballad concerts and now plays. All places of popular resort—museums, picture galleries, „c.—have been absolutely deserted since the dynamite explosions at the Tower and Houses of Parliament, I went with a lady friend to South Kensington the other morn jujr to show her the Raphael cartoons. Wo had tho usually well-tilled galleries to ourselves, not even a policeman being in sight, though I fancy wo wero nevertheless quietly looked after, and that had either of us acteil atsll suspiciously, wo should have at once band ourselves surrounded by constables. Tom thinks the Government would soon put an end to tho explosion fever if thoy let it be understood that in addition to a Ion" terra of penal servitude the lash should la the portion of convicted dynamiters, Men like Cunningham willingly run tho risk of dent" or a martyrdom of penal servitude {or"the cause," but the prospect of having toundorgo tho degradation and ridicule attaching to frequent Hoggings would cow them. We called the other day on the Griffins, nd congratulated tho doctor on his brother Consul Griffin s promotion from Auckland toSydney. Miss Anderson, 1 nm sorry to ay, looks dreadfully ill and over-tired. Popular scandal says the lovely American lis fallen, a victim to the charms of her superb Romeo, the "over handsome" Ttr.k As a matter of fact, however, Misa -jliry is simply worked to death. Acting ttooughly conscientiously, and t'tirowing fenelf right into the part like sho does, it sat be a cruel strain on her nerves having to tear herself to tatters as Juliet seven times a weok. Moreover, tho poor girl tiles hardly any rest in tho day-timo. No jooaer was "Kotneo and Juliet" fairly bunched, than her next revival, "Tbo Hunchback," had to be put into rehearsal, md > quarrel between the management ud the Hon. Lewis WingUeld, ending in the retirement of tho latter, has thrown endlaaa additional responsibility on Miss Anderson's shoulders.

The Griffins are a curious family. They (uvebeen in England moro than a year, and yet they have few friends, and fewer acquaintances. At lirst our idea was that Dr, Griffin discouraged social adiances, but ia subsequently discovered it is Miss Mary Itrself enforces seclusion. Her heart seems to be literally wrapped up in her profession. Bhe understands nothing of English people „ English ways, never reads newspapere, la thoroughly republican in principles, doesn't know a great many living celebrities even by name, and would probably think twice about accepting an invitation to Marlborough Houso. From week's endto week's end tho Griffins see jio one outside their family circle, unless it be a friend (or a fow minutes at afternoon tea, some new introduction (tho Dr. is much pestered with them), or a curious pressman on tbe "rampage "for copy. Miss Andorra's American training makes her moro leoisnttothelatter nuisanco than one would

expect. OnSmuhjMiss Anderson is always inwible. Altetmass she and her brother go way into (is country for a ramble or to _9Mtsifo/br a brief trip, returning to town m Monday after. Nothing is ever ft//oir«ftofntorfere with theso excursions. Ifitl her Company Mary Anderson onjijl comHerablo popularity. She is a <_nc_ manager, ruling with gentle, but Ktocratic sway, anil the very last person Bjom would caro to tako a liberty with. llisiaid that on ono occasion in America twfdiei jeune premier with whom she tv playing Juliet was led away by the iriour of her mimic love-making into -rowing genuine passion into tho farewell waein the bedroom, and kissing her pracWyinstead of apparently. "Sir," said ! Hia Anderson to the unhappy Romoo in 6__g tones, •' you are neither an artist W» gentleman, and I must request you -resign your engagement here at once, as, «ndsrnopoesiblo circumstances, can lever lain consent to play in tho samo company .yourself." In vain did the young man fidbis friends first apologise, and then oxr folate. Miss Anderson was adamant, inch offences were condoned it would, ihe said, soon become impossible for her •_! other actresses like her to appear in puts entailing passionato love-making. But I am rambling on too long about % Anderson. Let us change the subject. Ell the other day, I had no idea that tho «Cross I knew as a child afterwards «*M "George Eliot's" husband. We Wen used to visit at his sister's house noar "ybridge. Hetook us out walks, butlnever jW~nber hearing Miss Evans's name men•Wi Mr Cross belongs to a rather wperior achool of aisthetics, highly cul™H scholars, known in certain circles as -c idolaters," from tho fact that thoy "tulip too many of their geese friends as .JWM, Eliot" was for many years W "bright and particular star" of this WW firmanent—a goddesn to be spoken JjW bated breath, and adored almost to S T&ge of rapture. Her life seems to *'« been calm, uneventful, prosperous. «'«» drop of bitterness in it was the •Modal taboo entailed by her union with ™>. Henry Lewes. Tho marriage vows of *«wwekept far more sacredly than those j "«gbty out of every hundred couples duly **"■ by the church, but the fact re■WW that Mr Lewes and Miss Evans •jjMver legally wedded, and even after _t "Adam Bedo," in which "George «ti beautiful life and exalted moral "gjMtei are clearly mirrored, many of tho ?Sw"pf enrsex condemned her. Wt i l*"^ 6'" recently published, is tho yneseason. According to "Truth," J*W edition was exhausted before it was "gj. Mudie alono took 1,000 copies and n«« 600 more. u Mof 'bemost " s hudder-y " murders I '<m of for ever so long is that of W 3B Key?0' at Babbacombe, near HS' ou w'"' °* course get all about '•tin ' and no doubt agree with tho _w tlle J ur-' Tho evidence, mostly gW-traal, against the lad Lee seems Idni ver,nK, y Btrong, and yet I can't jPKehng that this is one of those casos flSji oirumstantial evidence might But ladies are notoriously lR«s in such matters. IW V , "fashion" authorities declare »c vet will be the material of the year, £Ss me the winter, but also in * Efcfi ' Tl)e idea that velvet is only _r*i, c.old weather is quite exploded ZJ° U" thinks. In itself, it is no ™r or heavier than many silks or other J"**« which have alwavs'been admitted SJ™*W clothing. Tho velvets of this t& m»df. in all tho fashionable shades irZu*™ hght colours, and are used for «%i»i mor combined with othor Uict-T' m} thefc ol any kind, from tho •5 w«wooil and silk t0 the finesfc Bouze iggw. When velvet is in fashion it CV° re w°n that tho material which in Htm? «W. brongl>t to such perfection kt, ">. ay wtrly claim to be velvet's hultfeflfm' .velv«teen-is in equally WSi> '• and for exactly similar toW. ' ? v produced in tho same **-_■» eT in BUch delicate light Wise hln m Barri, Louis grey, turWr'aS/ and bleu ,ac- the best make N,ewl. ngtobedesired. Plain velvet _m_tjrs> with floral arabesque or Slow Vinson silk or satin, cornSand » nT„; the hroch& patterns are H fo .T ell- d«-ued, and the material is NnofnC* pain sklrtß'- wJth tun'"3 or »fa VeWVelvet'P er'o;illy accompanied %or 7 00rMtr" '"ll broche" waistSwilsZS Ver'"'' " "« brocade is in:sw *»iv * woches are very »*_»'-ilSi °" ''■•llt 3atiu grounds, *S£ ST» W ''* panels or fronts to I**W. Than tinur velvet manteaux de l oollens {or the season are •"'"iadiJ Jbeyaromadeinamvriad "jMt tT atld thou Kh warm, are 'light $te C? *itb embroidered figures ~,, ""J successful, aud many

other stylos aro equally attractive. AH such materials for walking and morning wear ato made up very simply, trimmed with buttons, ribbon velvets, mohair braid" rows ol si itching, pipings of colour, and othor unassuming trimmings. Polonaise* or corsages and tunics of thoso fabrics, with yere-eWJn skirts and waistcoats, are the leading styles, and aro exceedingly ladylike. » nil basqued bodice, an utVvSr oa»quo of velvet just showing Wo-V, and lying on tho woollen tunic, is vcr.y fashionable and very ellocttvo. All _Vo "socioty" and ladies' papers contain interesting descriptions of the dresses worn nt tho vice-regal drawingrooms m Dublin. Perhaps tho most splon "id are thoso describe by "KoJamie" in tho " WcVkl, ' as follows:----the hrst o. vftlf olegant but at the sain, timo a unlet dress, had a train of blue! velvet lifted with heliotrope satin, at t.lu edge of which was a full niching of tin same coloured tullo. Tho petticoat wn*made of tho satin, covered in front by a tablier of jetted net. The low bodice ot volvot and o* to correspond had a Wattoau drapery from tho shoulders, reaching far down tho train, of jet spangled tulle, and a bouquet, of heliotrope ostrich feathers that Was quite a picture of lovely curling and grouping was placed on tho right side oi the skirt :\nd train. Lady Kilmoroy's sister, Miss Buldock, woro a simple but handsome costume of the long neglected moire, in cream. Nothing adapts itself to more beautiful rich round folds than moire ; thero is also a stateliness

about tho way it hangs that is incomparable. Tho train of thia was trimmed with a scalloped ruche of the silk, piped with a thick cord at the extreme end. On the right side a piping—moro a rouleau of satin, for it was as thick as one's finger— was added to the edge, straight from the waist to tho end of the train appearing from undor the rucho. The tulle skirt, which was very full, had the brilliant addition of a tablier of white jet, across which a loose scarf-liko pioce of tulle was tied in a careless hanging bow, and cream foathers tastefully distributed. Another cream dress consisted of a rich brocaded satin with a full niching of cream tullo, so cloverly arranged that it looked as if some wandering foamy crests of sea-waves had tossed themselves round as a border, being merely kept in place by creamy tufts of ostrich plumes, surmounted by scintillating steel aigrettes. Tho potticoat of cream satin was draped with stool-spunglod net, the hem beintr covered for about four inches in depth with a closo ruche of cut faille. Then a scarf of folded satin (which I thought unpeu surcharge) was brought from the hips on each side, und arranged in a ' point a little on tho left hand, whore it was finished off with cream feathers, steel aigretto, and long loops of satin ribbon. The bodice wasspanglcddownthecentre and over the chest, tho train being caught up to the right shoulder in a Wattoau pleat. 1 must not omit to say that butterflies and beetles of stool were also plentifully scattered over the dress. Magnificence, however, culminated in tho court robe of the Mayoress of Belfast, Mrs Holland. The train of cardinal velvet was lined turoughout with crevette coloured brocade, tho petticoit being of the samo shade in satin, with two flounces of vory rich flosssilk flowered embroidery, edged with a wide border of pink and whito pearls. A splendid shawl of Brussels laco was tastefully draped ovor the train, and caught up with plumes of the combined shades of cardinal and crevette."

Tom took us last Saturday ovening to the Olympic Theatre to see a new melodrama called " In His Power,"which isbyyoungMr Mark Quinton, a very promising Cambridge graduate, who recently joined tho dramatic profession. It was quito a success. Tho hero is an unfortunate newly-married wife, who finds herself in tho power of a dastardly Italian named, I think, Scabra. Ho insists upon hor drugging her husband in order that he may gain possession of some important papets. The husband discovers the trick, and suspects his wife of trying to poison him. She flies to Scabra and begs him to exculpate her. The husband follows. Of courso the wifo hides, and of course tho husband eearcbes for her. Presently sho is dragged forth. Tableau I The third act dors everything up. The young wife confesses and is forgiven, Scabra (found to be a Prussian spy) being thrown out of the window and torn to pieces by an infuriated Parisian mob. Tho scene of play is laid during the siege of Paris. Tho extraordinary success of " Called Back," tho " Leavenworth Case," and in a lesser degree "Tho Crime of Christmas Day," have led to all sorts and conditions of writers trying their hands at sensational novelties. Tho latest aspirant, to " hairraising " honours is Miss Helen Mathers, author of tho popular " Cotntn Thro' the Rye." Her now novelette boars the title of "Found Out," and is as eminontly dramatic a shilling's worth as II ever read. It would really mako a capital play. 1 thought so when I laid it down, and determined to commend the tale to my old friend, Mr Charles 0. Montrose^of Auckland, who I sco recently adapted " Called Back " for tho stage. Othor shilling brochures of the same stamp aro "Forearmed," by Miss Abdy Williams; "The Disk," " OonahV by Geo. Payne ; and " Sentenced Deferred," by an anonymous author. "Forearmed" is the best of a not vory bright lot.

Those who enjoyed reading the criminal romances of Emilo Gaborian will welcome an English translation in shilling novels of Fortune dv Boisgobey's most successful works. Two of thorn, "Tho Old Ago of Lecocy the Detective" and "Tho Great Omnibus Mystery," are now obtainable Tho latter is an average samylo of Boisgobey's work. It commences with a murder committed late at night in a crowded omnibus, and without any of tbo passengers being aware of the crime. Tho assassin escapes, but the dead girl has friends, and they vow to avonge her. I often wonder why English and colonial newspapers, rnstead of paying comparatively largo sums tor second-rate tales by English scribblers, don't got the French sensational masterpieces translated. Boisgobey's latest success, " Bertha's Secret*," would make a capital newspaper feuilleton.ii Hive you hoard Pinsuti's "Queen of the Earth V It is the song of tho day. " Our Lust Waltz," by Molloy, has also achieved considerable success at the ballad concerts, and I was favourably impressed with "Pegey O'Yarmouth Town" by a Mr Bevan, and "Shipwrecked" by Stephen Adams, whose " Little Hero " was also on the programme and loudly encored. " The Beauteous Song," by Odoardo Barri.Js a feeblo reminder of " The Lost Chord.' It soemed, however, to please tbe audience, and so did Marztal's " Never to Know."