"RULE BRITANNIA."

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 275, 20 November 1899, Page 5

"RULE BRITANNIA."

SOME LIVELY DEMONSTRATIONS

. Wednesday was a quiet day. That j is to say, knots of thirsty people spent I sections thereof singing- "Rule, Britannia" at convenient opportunities : Avherever anybody gave them the least | encouragement to be vocal. The music halls and theatres naturally out- ! did themselves. What the "Daily .- Marl" calls "the strong, clear voice of ! j patriotic England" made itself heard .! all round the town, and though I ; don't care about extravagant language J of this sort concerning post-prandial ' pot-valiant enthusiasts, I do believe there Avas on this occasion a good deal '. \of genuine emotion at the back of the i huzzas. The most' notable demonstration occurred at the Drury Lane , matinee of 'Hearts are Trumps." Soon ,! after three o'clock, at about the time .vhen the Transvaal's "time limit" expired, the orchestra struck up "Rule, , Britannia," while the Avhole of the 4 vast audience rose and cheered so I lustily that the National Theatre—fit !,scene, for such a burst of Big.England; >i ism^seemed to shake Upon its founda- .' tions. This Avas repeated in the evening, Avhen the audience, upstanding and uncovered sang with heart and ! soul the National Hymn of our ,coun- ' try.