THE STORYTELLER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 237, 3 October 1908, Page 6

THE STORYTELLER.

_ A REJECTED ALIEN. When the Marquis of Linlithgow (then Lord Hopetoun) was returning from Australia he thought of acquiring a cockatoo as a memento. It was a beautiful bird that was selceted for his inspection, and his lordship after looking at it said, "How are you, cocky?" W.thout a moment's hesitation the bird replied, "Got the influenza bad." As the bird aired many other colonial adjectives, it did not cross the water.

LORD GLASGOW.

The Earl of Glasgow tells of a very amusing experience he had whenq Governor of New Zealand. There was an Ayrshire bull in the colony which had an unvanquiahed career in the show ring, and out of compliment to the Governor, its owner called it " Lord Glasgow." His lordship was walking along a narrow lane, near .the entrance to a showyard, behind two or three colonists who were carrying on a brisk conversation, and whose tongues gave unmistakable evidience that they were natives of the Old Country'One of them said, "A' havena seen Lord Glasgow the day." His lordship good-naturedly sought to oblige his countryman by saying, "If you look round you will see him." The Scotchman looked round, and added, " It's no you a' mean—it's the bull."

A STORY OF THE STAGg.

In Sir John Hare's reminiscences in the VStnsnd __laj3aj_inc." interesting references are made to Sir John's production of Lord Tennyson's play "The Falcon," and the last rehearsal. The poet would not face the first night; so he' came to sec it privately. Says Sir Johns When the play was ready for production I wrote Mr Hal.am I_nny_on (now Lord Tennyson), asking whether his father could be present on th_ first night. He replied that his father never went to flTst nights, but would like to see a rehearsal of the play. This was an ordeal which neither those, concerned in the acting of the play nor I can ever forget. It was a bitterly cold day in December when Tennyson, accompanied by his son, drove up to the front of the theatre, and joined mc in the stalls. He still seemed a little frosty, and did not thaw during the performance. We three formed the audience. I had arranged scenes, rugs, and every available appliance to protect Tennyson from any draughts. The curtain rose, and. though the actors were almost petrified with nervousness, the play was acted —and admirably acted—in told blood. The orchestra was there, and the lighting of the scene and other details were attended to precisely as on a first night Tenayson sat like a sphinx throughout the performance, without making any remark, and at the conclusion of the performance rose silently from his seat, followed anxiously by myself, and entered his carriage without a word. As his son was about to join him he (Mr Hallam Tennyson) turned round to mc, and said, with that kindly regard for other people's feelings which has always characterised him, "Mr Hare, my father is delighted!" I must say that I was greatly amused by this assurance, for by what means of thought-transmission he had gauged his father's delight, and what Tennyson really thought of the performance, remains a mystery, so far as I am concerned, to the present day, The play was, however, receive, with the greatest respect and cordiality by the Press, and gave unfeigned delight to the discriminating and educated public. ' INFORMATION WANTED. "I say, old man," said Tom Jackson to his friend Wilson, "tell you wife that I'm going to be married, will you?" "All right, I will. Best congratulations, old fellow." Wilson hurried away. Next morning his friend received a letter to the following effect:— "My dear Tom, —As directed by you, I informed my wife that you were going to be married, and now, in order that I may have a little peace, will you kindly answer the following questions: "1. Is it the tall, dark girl you took to the theatre one night last winter! "2. Is it the short, fair girl you met at the seaside last year? "3. Is it the girl you were engaged to once before, when the affair was broken off? "4. Where are you going to live? "5. Did you ask her personally or by letter? "6. When did yon meet her first? "7. Any other particulars not included in the above. Please reply by. return of pest."