TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15017, 11 July 1914, Page 10

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

"Early Australians." It is well known that old books; pictures, and documents, bought Avith judgment, aro ono of the best of invest ments to a person who does not mind Avaiting for his profit. According to the London correspondent of the Sydney "Daily Telegraph," London dealers are huyihg up early Australian books and prints, with the object of holding them for the Australian demand that they aro confident Avill come. A great deal was written about Australia in the early days, and many drawings and paintings of Australian subjects made by artists, most of whom had not been nearer Australia than England, but in shop after shop the enquirer for such things will be told that they are scarce. Tlie demand, however, is largely confined to the trade. A few dealerhold thousands of pounds' worth of such stock, and with a fine confidence are Avaiting for the evolution of the Australian millionaire with the collector's ardour. This, they argue, is essentially Australia's money-making age, and will be followed, as in America, by an era of luxury and culture, in Avhich the art and literary collector will be busy. "Thoro must be lots of Australian millionaires in the making," said one dealer, "and sooner or later there will come a big demand for this class of goods. And make no mistake about it —onoe the demand begins prices will run to a level not dreamed) oi now." One dealer lias been so busy looking out old books and pictures that ho has not had time to get them catalogued. Already ho is asking from one to twenty pounds for prints. The average man may think this a high prico to ask for a picture—perhaps of little artistic value —of which several other copies are in existence, but dealers point to the high prices paid for early American views. The Burgess view of New York Avas recently sold for £4200, an extraordinary price paid for a picture reproduced by a mechanical process. It Avcrald be interesting to know whether New Zealand books and pictures are included in this buying for a rise. Who is Grumpy? The "Strand" lately thought it worth Avhile to publish an illustrated article, ! "Cyril Maudo makes up as Grumpy," j showing the "Psychology of old age in grease-paint"; and far-away readers who have not kept up with the latest stage news may be inclined to ask, "But who is Grumpy?" He is the last word of success achieved by an octogenarian hero. "Grumpy" is a mild melodrama written by tAvo English actors, Horace Hodges and T. Wignoy Percyval. The central figure is a doting grandfather, eighty-five years old; and, observing all tho right stage traditions for that ago in a minor character, he is garrulous, irascible and tender by turns. But ho is also tho newest? example of that immensely popular person, tho amateur detective. As Father Brown veiled his wonderful powers under the most incongruous outward seeming, so "Grumpy." tho doddering ancient, has to amaze beholders by turning out the most successful thief-taker imaginable. When a young man he had been a rather famous criminal la-wyer; and now when his favourite nephew, carrying an uncut diamond of priceless value from .the African diamond-fields to London, arrives at Grumpy's house, and is thero robbed of the stone, all the old gentleman's thief-catching instincts awake to life. He goes on nodding in his easy chair, or tottering uncertainly about his .'garden, but all the time he is following

clues, accumulating evidence, until, to tho delight of everyone concerned except the villain, this ancient detective is able to unravel tho whole plot and bring the thief to justice.. Then, with a chuckle of satisfaction, he totters off to bed. fussing good-naturedly Avith his faithful valet, aud leaving an audience warm with interest- in a personality so persuasive, genuine and lovable. '"Grumpy" in New York confounded tho pessimists avlio declared that audiences there had no moro use for a clean, interesting, and well-acted play. Within a Avcek Wallack's Theatre, Avhcro Mr Maudo played, although many blocks away from tho theatrical ccnt-ro at Forty-second street, "became tho theatrical Mecca of New York, and rattled to tho tip* of its dried old rafters with tho laughter and applause of happy pilgrims." How much of tho play's success is due to Mr Cyril Maudo may bo proA-od*-Avhen less popular artists essay tho t-itlo role." After playing old-men parts since he was a very young man. Mr Maudo says ho was about to renounco tho old-men characters, feeling that ho Avas getting old himself. But he camo across tho play "Grumpy," and now ho fears that ho may have to bo Grumpy for tho rest of his stage j lifol Warwickshire Trees. | Thmedin is to have a n Shakespearo j Garden," of trees and dowers namcO ) in tho poot's works; and we may imagine his ghost smiling kindly at another far-off, fragrant memorial. Ellen Terry's choice of a mulberry tree will commemorate also that actual and historic tree planted by Sliakespca.ro, which grow up in after years so largo that it would "shade a grass plot more than twenty yards square, and supply th© wholo town (of Stratford) with mulberries every year." It was cut down in 1759 by tho annoyed owner, who could not endure the continual worry of visitors going round this highly-revered mulberry bush, but still, in the public garden, thero stands a. mulberry descended from tho poot's own treo, and still, in tho restored birthplace, visitors gazo ou boxes made from the original mulberry tree. A Shakespeare garden might be shaded by many trees not only mentioned in verse, but interesting as recalling some actual prototype in Warwickshire. Warwickshire, as tho lato Mr Charles Elton remarked, is the most Avooded of shires, and """a squirrel might leap from treo to tree for nearly tho whole length of the county." Tho fact was not lost sight of by Mr W. H. Hutton, when preparing, bis volume, "Highways and Byways in Shakespeare's Country," lately brought j out with illustrations by Edmund H. New. Thero are many pleasant references to woods, avenues, or individual trees. Wo read of Guy's cliff aud its elms: "a placo of so great delight," wrote Dugdale, "iv respect of-Che river gliding below tho rocks, the dry and 1 AA'holesome situation, and tho -.fair groves of lofty elms overshadoAving it, that to one tvho desires a retired life, either for devotion or study, the like is hardly to be found." Studonts might have enjoyed less the "paryshe" described by Habington, "whoso trees and bushes heretofore so abounded with OAvles as they gave the place the nam© of Owleborough; yet now tho woods, being lessened, the owles have sought them other eeates." Then there is Snitterficld, where Shakespeare's father and grandfather held property, and t where Richard Jago. the poet, was vicar for-twenty years. "As you leave I the church, you will linger by the great double yew, and the three limes, one . huge, indeed, for such a tree. In the vicarage garden hard by, you will see ■ the three silver birches which Jago's three daughters planted." More dirr ectly Shakespearean aro Oliarlecoto's "refined and : venerable trees," and that r not exactly venerable crab, under . which, according to ancient scandal, . Shakespeare slept off the effect of a . beer-drinking contest between Warwickshire parishes, in which, he represented ' Stratford not wisely but too well.^