LONDON GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

LONDON GOSSIP.

IPROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

London, December 11.

QUEEN AND COLONIST.

An excellenb story is told by an exAustralian Governor who declareß ho heard ib quite recenbly from bhe lips of our gracious Sovereign herself, Ib refers fco bho visit to Windsor of a'rabher illiborabe and homely Australian politician who was • commanded ' bo diao and sleep ab tho castle when on a trip to England several years ago. I don'b w&nb bo say whether he is alive or dead nbw, because bhab mighb give his idenbity away. But I may add nob many of you would guess fcha name in once. Mr X—as I shall call him—was quite ignorant of court etiquette. He could not, however, bring himself to confess so' much, bub just before dinner, whilst tho company were awaiting Her Majesty in bha Long Gallery, he sidled up to tha Lord-in-Waiting, and entered into conversation, asking aboub bhis E.oyalty and that. •Now, I suppose,' he said, tenfcafcively, ' that when answering tho Prince of Wales directly, ono says, " Yes, your Royal Highness," or " No, your Royal Highness." ' ' Well, no,' replied bho Lord-In-Waiting, ' wo usually say " No, air," or "Yes, sir." ' 'I shou-sl have thought,' remarked the colonist, "Sire" would have been more appropriate.' •Sir,-1 said tho other, 'ia a corruption ot Sire, bub Only reigning monarchs are so addressed nowadays, and though courtly, ib ie rather an archaic form.' Mr X. liked fche idea of being courtly and archaic, though he wisßn'b perfecbly clear whab bhe latter meanb. His mind, however, was made up how to address Hor Majesty. He had artfully found bhab out). The Queen confined her conversation ab dinner entirely to august political personages near her, but afterwards ia the Drawing-room she, aa her custom is, came round and said a fow gracious words to each guosb in turn. Ab length she reached X. «Aad how long do you propose to Bbay in England, MrX. ?' asked Her Majesty, ' Aboub thieo meabhe, Siren,' said X. The Queen gavo a perceptible start. ' Oh !' thought X, ' fchab's my courtly and archaic form of address.' ' Good Heavens !' thoughb bhe Queen, 'my ears mnsb have deceived me.' She pub anobher question. 'I think nob, Siren,' replied X, with deepesb respecb, Tha Queen glanced sharply afc him. Then a perception of the truth flashed across her, and burning away eke shook with silent laughter. X. was aghast, bub presently bbc Queen continued her talk to him, and so gracious was she the Auetralian wenb away delighted. Tbe end of bhia talo is ibs bast parb. How many women could have resisted rebailing the peor man's faux pan ? The Queen never said a word bo anybody for years, and fco this day Mr X., if alive, nob improbably labours under the delusion bhat the femiaine of sire is siren.

MISS EMILY SOLDENE ON AUCKLAND.

Miss Emily Soldene has made up her mind fco return to Sydney, and if she were a man I should state directly bhab she will leave London by fche Uuzco on such a date. Bub Miss Soldene is a woman, and bhough essentially a business woman, still clings tenaciously to tho privilege which we of tho other sex pretend to consider specially belongs to fcho ladies. Mi .8 Soldene will leave a legacy behind in fche shape of a volume of ' Memoriss 'or 'Rominiscencea,' and from a fr.gmont which has fallen into my hands tho book seams likely to ba vary inberesbing to both Home folk and colonists. Included in tho fragmenb is a brief appreciation of Auckland as ib was twenty years age, end tbis I take leave to reproduce : _ • Auckland was charming, with Mounb Eden towering up into the sky, with tall Galla lilies growing in evory crevica of the volcanic rock,, and watercress (for nothing) waiting to be gathered in bhe city gutbers. Auckland, where they call pheasants " spring chickon," where the hens roosb up in tbfi trees like blackbirds, where, on getting up in tha morning, and taking a penny roll, a strong bladad knife, and a walk aleng the shore, one gob one's till of fab fresh oyster., oysters thab grew on tha roots of trees, oysters that yawned in tiny shining sea pools, oysfcera that lived in the crevices on the tops of rocks over which the tide came splashing in white curly f.am and feathers—yeu could take your choice, thsy wero all there. Auckland, green and mossy and Scotch, so Scotch— sfeub your eyeß and open your ears— you aro in the "Cowcaddens." Well, I fell in love with New Zealandlovely New Zealand—wifch its opals, its fleecy flocks, its kauri gum, its gold dust, its green stone, its filmy skies, ibs hills and daies, iCs locks and bays, its sands and caves. On the day we landed there I went for a drive in a cab, the wheel came off and oub we got, when up camo the local manager, Mr do Lias, and persuaded Mr Chizzola to break our journey to Sydney, and play in Auckland. And we did, we played for a month to the capacity of bhe house. Then the Augusb mail camo along, and bidding good-bye to our New Z.aiand friends, we sailed for Australia.' FOR OFFICIAL RECOGNITION, I wonder if any of your readers could give a remote guesa at fche idonbiby of bhe Auabralian Governor who figures as hero of Guy Boothby's shorb sbory in ' Baebon's Annual.' His Excellency seems to have been a gay dog, fond of music, fche theatre, and pretty actresses, bub cursed with a, jealous wife. There had been an awkward little incident, of a semi-private character, in his life, in which a cortain Mrs Vandeleur figured. Mosb people knew aboub it sub ro"sa, including the Govornor'a lady. Judge, bherefore, bhe sensation iv Bribannula"when 'bwas announced la Vandeleur and her troupe were coming on bour in Australia. Presenbly bhey arrived, and in due course demanded Vice-regal pabrcnage. This was promptly refused, a»d reasons assigned. Mr Boothby goes on :— ' Tho Government House coterie followed auib and bhe " Outer Circle " again imitated them. Consequenbly the firsb and saoond nights of bhe season wore remarkable for packed gallery and crammed stalls, bub wofully empty circlesand boxes. A solemn conclave was held in bhe manager's office and bhe question thoroughly discussed. Wibn many apologias bhe manager pointed out the exbrome awkwardness of tha sibuation.and explained thafc if the Governmenb House in fche first colony refused the lighb of ifca countenance the others would mosb assuredly do bhe same. In thafc case Mra Vandeleur might disband her company without delay and coaau-ence playintt " forfeib " in all directions. Sho drove home to her villa in fche suburbs fco think it out.' The story goes on fco describe how Mrs Vandeleur beguiles His Excellency into a call, and manages to annex an imporbanb documenb which afc a tender moment drops from his tail pocket. Of course it cannot be fonnd. Mra Vandeleur condoles with him prettily. Then she shifts her position and comes to business. 4 By tho way, don'b you think you could prevail upon her ladyship to send me an invitation for her garden-party on Saturday nexb?' ' I am afraid not,' His Excellency blurted oub. ' I m—m —mean, I'm afraid her list is more than full 1' Mrs Vandeleur rang for fcea and laughed her most musical laugh. ' How good of you to pub it so nicely, but > | think you will induce her to find a little

teeny bib of room for poor me 1 Now, don't you bhink yoa will, in case I should find thab whatd'you-call-ib paper of ysurs, eh V ' I'll try,' he said, sulkily. ' Bub do you know anything of thab paper, on your honour?' ' How on earth ahould I V she answered, simply. And bhab closed bhe interview. Thab nighb he sounded his wife on bhe subjecb of tho invitation, and her ladyship was amazed that ho should think of such a thing in his position, etc., etc. A battle royal ensued, and next morning bha card went wibhoub her sanction. The eventful afternoon came, and as bho arriving visitors began to bhin oub Mra Vandeleur appeared in bhe very chicasb 08 chic cosbumes. The footman announced heir, fche aides passed her on, bho Governor trembled while hia wife assumed ber stateliest air, and half turned on her heel. Thab little hesitation was significanb, ib showed bhat her pluck bad failed her. Now, one of the actress's critics scored a greab poinb wheft he said bhat her chief power lay 'in her intense magnetism/ whatever thab may be. Coming up tho path she glanced ab her hostess, and saw thab ib waa to be war to the knife. Then sho offered her hand. Fer one brief second Her Ladyship seemed undecided. She looked in her enemy's ayes, then her demeanour changed, she book fcho hand, and the crisis was passed. Tho Governor gave a libtle sigh of relief a8 ho saw bhem stroll down bhe lawn together. Daring that walk Mrs Vandeleur said two things, and her cotH-panion, furious, bub powerless, waa compelled fco listen. Then, returning to the commonplace :— ' I am sorry you don'b approve of " Tha School for Scandal." May I hope bhab you will witness " The Lady of Lyons " on Tuesday?' ' I am afraid nob,' bhe obher replied, icily, 'We are nob going oub jusb ab presenb.' The actress Baid somebhing bhab I am nob ab liberty no r.peab, and bho Governor's wifo was paralysed. • . . . I feel sure yoa will see that I am nob quite so bad aa my enemies would painb me, and ib is besb for all our Bakes that bhese things should not be publicly talked aboub. Will you give me yonr patronage on Tuesday evening?' * I will ace 1' 'Thank you.' Nexb day hor manager received an official intimation thab bheir Excellencies and suite would be present at the firsb performance of ' The Lady of Lyons.' On Wednesday moraing bhe Governor received a registered la-bar.