AT THE MUSIC HALLS

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 295, 13 December 1899, Page 5

AT THE MUSIC HALLS

REMARKABLE INCIDENT AT THE

PALACE

Tuesday was a grim night at those haunts of irrational howling ''jingoism," the Variety Theatres and Music .Hal]?. The more, level headed singers had the wit to drop the current complimentary references to "good old Tommy Atkins." "our never beaten boys," "our gallant defenders," etc. Those who didn't met with a mixed reception. But the most remarkable scene occurred at the Palace Theatre where Mrs Beerbohm Tree (a splendid elocutionist) was billed to recite Kiping's new ballad, "The Absent Minded Beggar," at a salary of £100 a week, which she gives to the "Soldiers' Wives and Child-ens'. Fund." The piece as you know is thoroughly Kipliugesque —-vigorous, slangy, and touching; but the way in which the vast audience crowding the house to the very outside doors, received it was curious. They listened in such silence as probably has never before reigned within the walls of a music hall —silence much deeper than that of a congregation hearkening to a favourite preacher. It was not due to want of appreciation, for when Mrs Beerbohm Tree first appeared on the stage she was enthusiastically greeted* ! and when she retired she was 'recalled twice, and deemed it necessary on the second occasion to give another of Kipling's .poems; "Soldier, soldier, come from the war, why don't yon march with my true love." No doubt the serious news from Natal had much to do with the audience's almost, breathless attitude while Mrs Tree was reciting Kipling's plea for, "The girl that Tommy's left behind him," The people were reminded of events painful to every patriotic Briton. A little incident proved that they could not bear even well-meant . exclamations. When the cheering which followed Mrs Tree's recitation ceased, a o-entleman in the gallery clamoured for somebody to pass the hat round, adding, "Here's two shillings and good health to the soldier." He was immediately silenced by cries of ''shut up" from other spectators in the same ouarter.