TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7420, 20 September 1889, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

In regard to the London strikes, some curiosity is probably felt as to who and what is Mr Burns, the Socialist leader, who has taken such a prominent part in the agitation, for although he has been frequently mentioned at Home in connection with Hyndman, William Morris and other Socialists, his movements have hitherto excited but little interest in the colonies. We are indebted to a Melbourne paper for some particulars regarding his career. It appears that he is of Scotch parentage, married, and twenty-nine years of age. He is an engineer by trade, and was for some time a prominent member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. When the split occurred in the labor party Burns left what may be called the more Conservative section, whioh remained content with the old Trade Union methods, and joined the "Social Democratic Federation," of which -we have heard so much in connection with the Trafalgar square riots. Hβ is evidently a natural leader of men, and soon attained the foremost rank among the chiefs of the Federation. Hβ ie described as being gifted with a fine physique, and great natural powers of eloquence. He appears, indeed, to be a •' powerful speaker" in more senses than one, since it ia stated as an instance of the strength of his lunga that he is the only man who, standing on the balustrade of the National Gallery in Trafalgar square can make his voice heard in Northumberland avenue and Parliament ! street. This, it must be admitted, ia by no means an unimportant qualification for a man who has to address large and often unruly assemblages. Burns hae figured more than once in the Courts for his alleged share in disturbances, and has suffered a term of imprisonment in Holloway Gaol. He was put on has trial with Hyndman and Champion for taking part in the celebrated riots in Trafalgar J square. He defended himself with great ability, and having succeeded in showing that he acted a conciliatory part, really preventing the mob from committing greater excesses after they had overpowered the police, he was acquitted. He is a member of the London County Council, and stood for Parliament for Eaat Nottinghamshire as a Socialist, but was defeated. After the notoriety which he has recently earned we should be surprised if he do not come forward again with, more success this time. Following the example of nearly " everybody who is anybody," Mr Sims Beeves has lately been publishing his " Keminiscences." Apart from the personal details of his own life, there is hardly so much of interest as one would expect from a man who must have seen life in so many varied aspects. Like most musicians,, whether vocal or instrumental, the gre.'it tenor's training began early. " My father was a musician," he tells us, " and he not only practised the divine art, but: also taught it—in a manner which was anything but divine to mc." He was taught the musical notes with the alphabet, and; in childhood had to rise, take his bath,, dress, and be ready for his pianoforte 1 lesson by fivo o'clock in the morning. Thej lesson was a sharp one—"a faleeaoteon. the piano was followed by a blow. , from' his violin bow, which, directed at myj knuckles, never missed its aim." To the piano followed the organ, and when he waa a boy of ten he could play all Handel's organ accompaniments from the original figured bases. At four-: teen he was organist; at North Crayj Church, and had charge of the choir. Hβ soon became imbued with a strong desire to go on the stage. His father, however thought it prudent to teach him a trade on which he could fallback, and.he learned to engrave music plates; and he says "had I suddenly lost my voice I could* have earned my living by that occupation." However, as we all know, hie own; desire was gratified. He made his debut at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1839 as the Gipsy Boy in " Guy Mannering," and succeeded at once. He had then just entered on his eighteenth year. It will be remembered that Madame Melba, the rising prima donna, whom Australia has just given to the old world, was trained as a contrateo. It is not a little singular that a similar mistake was made as to the character of Mr Sims Beeves' voice. He was trained as a baritone, and he says " it was not till after I had sung, for some time on the operatic stage that Nature and my own Belf-coneoigttaness taught mc ihatg I was a tenor." It was in 1848 that he first . turned his attention to oratorio, accepting,, in that year an engagement from th c Sacred Harmonic Society. There is no need to trace bis career further. For fifty years he has been before the world, and now at tfter agd of he hae determined to retire frompublic life,although, not altogether from public service, since it is intimated that he will probably follow the example of many other great singers and torn bis attention to teaching. Spite of his caprices and failings, he was a great artiste, whose merits as a singer are likely to remain uneclipsed in England for many years to come. Almost concurrently with the report— —fortunately proved to be baseless—to which we referred the other day, to the effect that crinoline was about to be revived, comes another rumor hardly lees alarming. It is to the effect that the style of evening dress for men is to be changed, and henceforth they are to appear in " a tnauve dress coat, white waistcoat, knee-breeches, black stockings and buckle shoes." Merciful power*, preserve us from anything of the sort! As a contemporary reminds as, "This is not revolution, but reaction;" It is going* back to the days of our great grandfathers, about a hundred years ago. Moreover, it is certainly not a movement in the direction of economy. A black " claw hammer" ia practically indestruotible. A mauvtf

dresa coat would be anything but & "eetw viceable garment" to use language of careful housewives. Besides, havina once forsaken decent black, ehoulf we draw the line at mauve ? <m. probability ia, that haying u». the paths of- sobriety and should plunge into a midsummer madneeg of polychromatic costume. The- ipdiea would doubtless find that even "crushed strawberry" and "sulphur" were no longer sacred' to their dainty uses. Th« strongest objection against the present apparel as yets brought forward ie that %« dress our waiters in it. Surely it would be more rational to change their attirt Jft there are any number of men'who''J. afraid of being mistaken for waiters. T o expect us, like Malvolio, to go cross, gartered, or in any other ridiculous etyl« at the bidding of that whimsical tomak Dame Fashion, is surely preposfierotteTfl we hear of any man going in for thU 's£" of thing, we shall feel inclined to orv with Sir Toby Belch, " Oh for a etone-bo* to hit him in the eye."