Song, Stage and Story.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 56, 7 March 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

Song, Stage and Story.

Professor Kennedy, mesmerist, who oponed at the City Hall on Wednesday, the 26th February, has bad amosfe suecessfnl season. On Monday lasb he placed a man in a trance on the stage and allowed him to remain in that condition till last evening, when the • subject)' wasawakened, and appeared nothing the worse for his prolonged sleep.

The Auckland Liedorbafel's first concert for the season takes place on the 27fcb inpfcanb, when a programme of a very high order of merit,, including two humorous pare songs, and several entirely new pieces, which will be produced for the- first time in Auckland, wilt be presented. Since the commencement of the year this Society baa made rapid strides in popularity, as mighb be gathered form the fact thab thee enbKcribers' Hab has aluiosb doubled. The number of parformSng members has aleo increased considerably. Tho Society baing now sovered from the -Orchestral Union, will give concerts during fclie year on ita own account, at which it will be the intention and desire of fche Committee to submit only suob items as will moot with the approval of subscribers. We hope the results will be satisfactory. Ab an enthusiastic meeting of ladies interested in music, held on Wednesday afbernooa, a society called ' The Auckland Ladies LiederkraDZ' was formed under very favourable auspices for fche practice and performance of part singing by ladies only. Already over 90 members have been onrolled, and an influential committee haa bean elected to get the society into full working order. Mrs J. K. Simpson was elected™ Honorary Secretary,- and Mr« Alexander Honorary Treasurer. Mr Arthur Towaoy will probably ba the society's conductor. Mr Marbyn Hagan and Miss Lucy Fraaer (Mrs Hasan) were given a- benefit ab Danedin on February 24th. Several members of Fitzgerald Eroe.' Circus and Bland Holt'a Company gave their servicep. Mr and Mre Hagan are leaving for England. It is now definitely settled (nays tho 'Otago Witness')■ that Mdlle. Antoinette Ti-obelli will give a lories of concerts through Now Zealand, beginning in Dunedin. Mr Salvini assures us thai) this lady possesses ono of the Orient voices in Europe, and this opinion is backed up by no loss an authority than Mr Charles Santloy. Mdlle. Trebelli's ecbool ie ot fcho old Italian style, perfect in tone and enunciation, and tor character of singinp ehe is said to have no eqnal.

Tho Gourb Singers, Madame Yon Vahael and Herr Rudolf Schmalfeld, have chosen Miss Laura Fisher, of Wellington, to accompany bhom on their tour as contralbo. Miss Fisher, it is understood, goes only as far as Dunedin, as she is to bo married shortly to an Aucklander. This clever singer is fche daughter of tho present Mayor of Wellington. Tho London 'Era' says fchabin no capital in Europe is the teaching of music carriod on in a sounder or more artistic way than in London.

The Newbury-Spadft Concert) Company woro at latent at Ginborne.

Carl Hertz, fcho well-known illuaionißb, left London early in January for Now York to fulfil an eight wooke' engagement) at Oscar Hammerstein's Olympia. After his return to London in the early spring, he will vieib South Africa! afterwards going to Australia. He will probably be globetrotting until 1897. Lndy Halle made hor reappearance ab fcho Moudav popular concerts on January 6th, for the first time since her husband's denfch. She was visibly tried by the ordeal, but played as faultlessly ac ovor, her marvellous rendering of the second of Beothoven'a violin romances (Op. 50), meltinc the moro susceptible amongst) the huire uudtenco bo tears.

Mr John Haro and Co. may turn up in this part of the ivorld earlier than was anticipated, as fchoy ore only doing very po-?o business iv fcho State*. Tho Americans, though they admired the comedian's 'Duke of tit. Olpherb'p,' could nob stand 'The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith,' and despite tho alleged oxcollenco of Julia Neijeon in tha title role, the piece failed to drew.

Mi«a Nothorsolo, like Haro, is now in New Voik, tho newspapers of which lively city tin large characteristically on hor kiss in ' Carmen.'

Minnio Palmer and John R. Eodgers are also in the American capital.

There is something rathor romunbic in the reconciliation of Nellie Farron and her husband, old ' Bob ' Soutar, alter an estrangement; oF twenty years. It- was brought übout by tha clover sons of the parties, who are much attached to both father and mother. The public can be curiously blind when it chooses to tho ethics of its favourite?, and thouph. Miss Furron'a friendship for tho la to Fred Leslie was much talked about ab one time in the profession, neither »h« nor ho over received from Gaioty audioncem a hand clap fche lees. When Leslie died, the presence of fche young Soutars ab the funeral gave gossiporß a check. Nellie Fnrren and her husband had, as a matter of fact, separated years before Leslie turned his abtoution to the 1 Biicred lamp of burlesque.'

Our London correspondent writes :•—

• Lady Gregory, bettor known as 'Mrß Stirling, tho famous and popnlar actress, pnssod away last week at the advanced age of 79. Justs two years have elapßed since Fanny Stirling's first husband (who had been imbecile for ye»rs) died, and enabled her to reward fche life long fidelity of Sir Charles Grogory, an old man the same age as herself. The venerable pair lived partly in a riparUn villa and partly in Duchensstreet, Portland Place. In summer they wore to be seen seated side by side in big chairs under the trees on a trim lawn sloping down to the Thamea. On five mornings in autumn or winter one met them tottering down the eunuy side of Piegenb-etreeb arm in arm, and enjoying the shop windows like children. Mrs Stirling wore astonishingly young bonnets decorated with bright) flowers, bub she couldo'bhelp looking a picture. Sir Charles treated her with the mosb scrupulous gallantry. "It was," one of their friends told me, "a lepson in manners to dine with tho Gregorys." Mrß Stilling was the Mr« Kendal of fche fifties, and bore a reputation nob unlike thab of the " matron of the drama." The present generation remember her only as the best Nurse over known- in " Romoo and Juliet," as an excellent Mrs Malapropin the Vaudeville revival of the "Rivals," and an ideal Marquise de Siv Maur in "Caste." Her last role was Martha in the Lyceum "Faust." In the profeaeiou Fanny Stirling waa'repected and beloved beyond any actress of her time. Sha knew everybody and—in one way or another—bad helped everybody. R.I.P.1

Mr George Alexander, the lessee of St. James's Theatre, London, and the victim of an unfounded charge wade by a policeman nob long since, has an enviable reputabion as an actor, a man of business, and a gentleman, and has lately boen the recipient of much distinguished favour. On September 17th lasb, by command of the Queen, he produced ' Liberty Hall' sb Balmoral, and the company were febod to their heart's Content), Mrs Alexander, receiving a Royal invitation, eat in the front among the guests. After the performance Her Majesty wont to. the drawingr-room and recaived each of the artistes who had taken part in the performance, after which Mr and Mra Alexander had supper with the Royalties*, the Duke of York taking the head of the table find placing Mrs Alexander on his right. Subsequently the Qaeen presented Mr Alexander with a silver cigar box, and Mia Alexander with a gold eceab

bottle set in diamonds. At the present moment Mr Alexander ia one of the most respected of theatrical celebrities in England.

On Irving's return to tho Lyceum we are, 'tia said, to have a phenomenal revival of * Julius Caesar' with Irving, George Alexander, Wilson Barrett and E. S. Willard in the leading male roles, and Ellen Terry as Calphurnia. After that Mr Irving and Miss Terry will make a farewell tour of the world, accompanied by the Lyceum Company. It may be gross heresy to say bo, bub I wouldn't walk across the road to see our only tragedian without his Lyceum setting. Even in the strong character parts like Louia XL, Corporal Breweter, and Losurgea and Duboec he doe* require firsb rate support and a fine tout ensemble to be really successful. There ate sundry rumours abroad as to th» reason why within a few days of the proposed production of Henry Arthur Jones' play • Michael and His Lost Angel,' by Mr Forbes Robertson, aC the Lyceum, Miss Marion Terry ehoold have, been substituted for Mrs 'Pat' Campbell as tho heroine, so causing the first night to be delayed a week. Mrs Campbell had been boomed for the part for six months or thereabouts, antt then, without a word of warning, Mhss Terry's name was pasted over Mrs Pat's on the Lyceum advertisements. The accepted story of the many placed in circulation was thafra-t rehearsals Mra Campbell had given her reading of a particular passage, when Henry Arthur stepped forward and requested an alteration. This Mrs Campbell refused to make, and words ensuing, she lost her tamper, and'tbrew up the part on. the instant with fehe remark, * I can never play any of your characters, Mr Jones ; they're bo unnatural.' The facts of the case, however, are nob contained in this yarn, bub are aa follows :—Mrs Campbell never liked tho part, and, finding herself unable to realise it to her own satisfaction beyond a certain point, came to an amicable arrangement with author and managers, by which she made way for Miss Terry. Theiafcter, we flr© told, has already ' crepb into the skin of the character.' We shall know more on thai head next Wednesday, tbo 15th, when ' Michael and Co.1 (a pardonable abbreviation, I hope)'will be submitted for public approval.

Literary Notes,

The Hod. J. W. Forteecue, who wan private secretary to a former Governor of New Zealand, and subsequently wrote some very controversial articles on the colony, appeara in the guise of historian, having contributed a monograph on 'Dundonald' to Macmillan's ' Men of Action' series.

During the absence of Mr Philip Mennell in Wesb Australia,Mr H. 18. M. Watson has consented to lend distinction to tho 'British Australasian ' by occupying its editorial chair. Which of bis highly polished styles the author of 'Gallopping Dick ' means to utilise while thus occupied,is not ditclosed. There would be something delightfully novel in commercial reflections and AngloColoniul notes in archaic English, so one rather hopes for that. Besides,the singular propriety of discusfing tho way 3 of the Stock Exchange in highwayman lingo, couldn't) be gainsaid.

Guy Bootbby was stated in these notea a few weeks back in a short review of the literary world of 1895 fco have been one of the authors who had rapidly jumped into prominence as a writer of fiction. His best book during the year was • A Bid for Fortune,' which ran through the 'Windsor Magazine ' and has eince been published by Messrs Ward, Lock, and Bowden in their (Jolonial Library. We referred very favourably to tha story several times while it was appearing in the ' Windsor,' the abundance of striking incident and stirring situations making it a first-class novel for serial publication. The character of Dr. Nikola is a remarkable conception, clearly and cleverly drawn. The ending, however, is weak, a defect which poinb to tho' reappearance of iS'ikola in a eequel. All who enjoy fiction with a big vein of sensationalism .in ib will find ' A Hid for Fortune' to their taste. A copy of the book, which is very nicely illustrated, baa reached us from the publishers through Meesrs Wildman and Lyell.

Among fche recenb issues in Macmillan's Colonial Library is 'My Honoy' by tho author of * Tip Cat,' and ' Laddie.' It is a nicely written novel of considerable human interest, dealing with the character of a girl of loving disposition but over-sensitive and somowhab obstinate. The love, episode which forms the main featuro of tho plot having carried the heroine through several misunderstandings eventually rights itself and everything concludes satisfactorily. •My Honey' is undoubtedly well worth reading by those who admire the mild ciasa of rbmance to which the book belongs.

Messrs George Robertson and Co., of Melbourne, have forwarded us a oopy of Mri'W. K. Clifford's novel 'A Flash of Summer,' published in Messrs Metuuen and Co.'a Colonial Library. Mrs Clifford is a favourite author with colonial readers, and tho book under notice will, wo believe, add considerably to her popularity. Tho story traces the Bad history of an English girl, brought up by her uncle, who for his own ends forc9s hor to marry a man much older than herself. So uncongenial ia the union thab the girl runs away, and ib ia while in Italy, under an assumed name, that Bho experiences her * Flash of Summer,' or the only pleasant period of her life, lasting in all six months. The story ran through the 'Illustrated London News' during 1894, Since then ib haß baen rewritten and somewhat enlarged. The marriag'o problem and ofcher social questions are capably dealt with by Mrs Clifford during the course of tha book, which is one of her besb eflorta.

An American atory entitled • His Father's Son,' by Brander Mufethews, the author of 'Vignette of Manhattan,' 'The Royal Marine,' and 'The Story of a Story.'all books little known to colonial readers, has been issued iti Longman's Colonial Library. Ib is a rather disappointing book. The wriber deals principally with the life and character of Winslow Pierce, the son of a man who has risen from peddling cans to tho position of one of the biggest financiers in Wall-street. The boy has been well educated, and brought up by his mother to observe a very strict) code of honour. His father, although he gives largely to charity, and is believed by his wife to carry out his business transactions on the same high code of honour which has been instilled into the son, and albhongb he believes himself thab bis transactions are absolutely above board, really keeps very close on tho margin of what could be termed criminal. When Winalow Pierce ia taken into bis father's office and discovers this, ib apparently demoralises him, and most of tho story is taken up in tracing his downward course. The ending is very unsatisfactory and obscure, leaving the reader in doubts whether the young txiun, when in enforced retirement abroad, has or has not married an actress while he has a wife in America. A copy of the novel, which is illustrated with American blocks, reaches us through Messrs Upton and Co.

Mr E. T. Cook has taken the reins ab the 'Daily News,' Air Clayden retiring on a pension. Mi' Cook iinde tbab he has jusb now an extraordinary number of journalist friendß who are brimming with invaluable suggestions for the improvements of the • Daily News.'

Mr J. A. Spender, who succeeds Mr E. T. Cook aa editor of the • Westminster Gazette,' is a 6on of the late popular lady novelist of the iame name, and a Ballio! man. Ho took hi* degree in 1885. and from 1886 to 1891 edited the 'Eastern Morning Newe,' the principal Hull paper, la 1891 Mr Spender came bo London and took a berth on the ' Echo,1 but Roon gravitated to the more congenial 'Fail Mall Gazette 1 WNa Mr Astor acquired the

latter he followed his chief to Tudpr-Btreet, and upon the creation of the ' Westminster' was appointed assistant - editor. U r Spondee is a more ardenb Liberal and pog. eibly a less cautions writer than Mr Cook. He has done a book on • Old Ago Pensions,1 is a worker at Toynbee Hal!, and takes a profound interest in all problems affecting the poor. Mr Carruthers Gould, tho famous political caricaturist wbo has for some time done I the ' Westminster ' daily Parliamentary iecorc3, will bo Mr Spender's assistant editor. The • Realm,' which wan started nob many months back by Lady Colin Campbell and Mr Hodgson Earl with Lord Mountrnorrie, has nob lasted long. The gentle, tnun who * paid tho piper' tried it first.a 6 threepence without a cover, and then at sixpence with a singularly hideous one. An neither price, however, did an ungrateful public require a rather dull jumble of the ' World' and the ' Saturday Review. 1 So the 'Realm' died, and Mr Earl iayj-o tern novel-writing. When a journalist has as many flaws in his professional armour as Mr Harry Furnifs, be is a fool to provoke a quarrel with cool old hands like 'Lebby'&ndMr Horace Voules. Those who doubfc this are referred to • Truth' of the 16th January, wherein the caricaturist receives a tremendous caetigation. Mr Furnias is now said to be more anxious than ever to be 08 to Australia. Some advice which all editors will.feetingly endorse is given in a weekly paper, under the heading ' Ad Poetas :' Wo know Britannia rules the watw, 1 And consequently know, • , j That Britons never have been slaves, And never will be so. The Armada and onr good Queen Bess We will not quite forget her, But oh ! ye modern bards write leas, Or write ua something better. I Palmistry is a subjacb in which widespread interest is taken, and Henry Trilligl book entitled 'Practical Palmistry,' & treatise on chirosophy based on actual experience, will no doubt be largely road. In his preface, tho author contends that 'Chiromantists arebynomeans llcbßrlatanß, n as so many ignorant critics euppose.' With this assertion we do not intend to deal, but will let readers come to their own conclusions on the subject. The book is undoubtedly a practical treatise on the subject and should be obtained by those interested. Tho author commences the subject afe the beginning1, and the book is written lucidly, so that with the assistance of the diagrams anyone without previous knowledge of the subject can master the contents, Messrs Ward, Lock and Bowden are the publishers, and from them, through Messrs Wildman and Lyell, we have received a copy.

Sir John Willoughby, the unlucky Dr. Jameson's first lieutenant in the late raid, is the author of three works on Africa, where he has been either fighting or shooting big- game ever since the close of a somewhat meteoric turf career. The name of his books are ' East Africa and Us Big Game,' * A Narrative of Further Excavations at Zi'mbabye. Mashonaland/ and an account of 'The Matabele War. 1 None of them Boeui, to tell the truth, particularly well written,, and Sir John is too prejudiced to be a safe guide in matters of history.

The beso novel introducing the Transvaal War of 1880 and 1881, from the Anti-Boor atand-poinb is Rider Haggard's • Jess.' Ha was through it all, and his view, though stated to be grossly unfair to the Dutchmen, is unquestionably the one held by nearly every Englishman in South Africa at th« time. Lady Bellairs' 'Transvaal War'bas also the reputation of being a good book on this period, and Miss Balfour's 'Twelve Hundred Miles on an Ox Waggon' will also be found apropos reading just now. The Quoen 's message to Lady Coventry about her eon serves to recall Her Majesty's anxiety for the safety of those known to her during the Zulu War of fifteen years ego. The Court was nt Deeside &b the time, and, one morning (according to a contemporary c'aronicle) when Her Majesty was immersed in business, John Brown knocked ab tha door, went in and graveiy said that there was bad news. The Queen, in much alarm, asked what it was, and he replied* 'the young French prince is killed.' Of that day fehe Queen wrote in her diary, ' Got) to bed very late ; it was dawning, and little sleep did I got.' And oo the next evening she added, ' Had a bad restless night, haunted by this awful event, seeing those horrid Zulus constantly before me, and thinking of the poor Empres?. My Accession Day, forcy-fcwo years ago, but no thought of ib in presence of this frightful event,'

Major Coventry will be able, on his. re* turn to England, to experience the uniqua sensation of reading his own obituary notices. He went to Afrioa, by the way, on a cricketing tour, bub. being like most of bis handsome, haphazard family what the girls call 'adorably hard up,' he entered theBechuanaland Police and stayed there. His ambition is to secure the Victoria Cross.

The Poeb Laureate has not been long itt giving ua a taßbo of his superior quality. Tlsft ' Times' of tho 9th contained a gem entitled ' Jameson's Ride,' in which the doctor is made fco soliloquise thusly :

' I suppose wo were wrong, were madmen, Stiil I think at the Judgment Day, When «od sifts the Rood from the bad me», There'll be something more to say. We were wrong, but we aren't half sorry. And, as oni oC the baffled band, I would rather have had that foray Than tho crixshings of all.the Uand. •

Bub thai ia because Jameson thoughb Englishwomen were in danger:—

' Tliero are girls in tho gold-reef city, Thero are mothors and children too ! And thuy cry, " Hurry up! for pity !' So what can a brave man do? If even vfo win, they'll blame us; If wo fail they will howl and hiss. But there's many a man Hvoa famous For daring a wrong like thisi' Wo should have thought George R. Sims scarcely-up to hia nsual form had these precious lines appeared under ' Mustard and Cress 'in the • Referee ! That they should come from Tennyson's successor ia fcbo * Times' seems incredible. The ' Westminster Gazette ' paraphrases as follows ' with apologies to the shade of Dryden':

Two Alfreds in one generation born Tlio laureatship of England did adorn; • Kut Nature found the first throes so exhausting That after Tennyson she bore un Austin.

Our London correspondent writes :-- 'Though Mr C. Haddon Chambers is still very friendly with Mr Barney Barnafeo, fclie greab play in which the pair were to collaborate has nob advanced many stages. Jueb at preeenb the millionaire cannob spare much time from his South African speculations. His partner, Mr Joel, is °j-e of the alleged conspirators against the paternal governmenb of Fresidenfc Kruger now languishing in Pretoria gaol, and there are sundry rumours current in which too disagreeable word 'confiscation' figures. To a millionaire like Barney hints of this kind musb be particularly disconcerting, and one can scarcely wonder that ptey" writing is temporarily ' off!' Mr Chambers spends some portion of each day at the be. George's Club, where bis admirable billiard* are the delight of all beholdore. He 'has nob so far as is known any specially briHwn" dramatic prospects ab preeenb, but no ope who knows his capacity can doubb that he a • bob up serenely ' presently."