CHOIR GIRLS' CRITICISMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 287, 2 December 1911, Page 17

CHOIR GIRLS' CRITICISMS.

COLONIALS CHEERFUL AND BRIGHT, HOMESTERS "WOODEN AND STOLID. 'Some of the Yorkshire lassies 'who accompanied the Sheffield Choir in their tour of the world hare returned home with somewhat inodiaed views on the subject of Yorkshire hospitality, and do not appear to altogether appreciate the apparent lack of entnusiasm with which they have been received at home. j "Wlien I got back into Yorkdshire," said a 'lionley girl, who was with the choir, to a "Lloyd's News" representative, "everything seemed to have a depressing effect after the way in which we have been received by the Colonials. The people In the Colonies arc cheerful and bright, but here — ugh! they are wooden and stolid. "In Australia and South Africa the settlers take to you straight away, but here even your intimate friends look at you almost with indifference." The representative scented something romantic behind this very candid end not complimentary assertion. Were the male Colonials nice, and had any of the ladies of the choir been left behind? "Yes, one was married at Durban and remained there. Another accepted a situation in Johannesburg, and it was rumoured in the choir that she had 'seen someone' there. A third had returned home from South Africa, but was going back." Englishmen living in the Colonies, It appears from the conversation, are very much prejudiced against Colonial girls. 'Four or five of them said to mc that they would not like to marry a Colonial girl. The Colonial girt is not sufficiently domesticated, and Is altogether too mannish." One of the things which appealed considerably to the sympathies of this Yorkshire girl wan the way In -which English soldiers crowded to the concerts given by the choir whenever they were within reach of a military station. "We could see large patches of- red In the audience where the soldiers were seated," she said, "and they seemed to listen to onr homeland songs particularly with rapt attention." A young officer, stationed at Biuemfontein, had presented her with the lmce flag and "bucket" he carried through the late South African war. Yet she is not "going back."