Dunedin Gossip.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2287, 4 March 1912, Page 5

Dunedin Gossip.

(From Oua Own Cork Errors'dknt ) Dunedin, February 29th. After many vicissitudes a real start has been made with the training of the local Territorials and the 4th Eegimcut has put in' a week in camp. Fortunately Wairongoa was selected because the weather proved atrocious, otherwise they might have been swamped out. As some of the young men had no uniforms and as the supply of officers was short it took a little time to settle down and through want of organisation resulting from the scarcity of officers there was at first a little trouble about the food. There was nothing approaching a strike as was reported in one of the papers, but merely a representation of the state of affairs and the matter Was at once put right. Wnen it is remembered that many of the young men had never had to submit to discipline previous to the camp and that they were drawn from all classes the behaviour in camp may be said to have been exemplary. There were two or three; instances of breaking bounds but tbe officers were tactful and no serious trouble resulted. The young men made, a good showing after their eleven mile march into town in not the best of weather and their bearing so impressed a few patriotic individuals that a subscription has been started to provide a regimental fund. Despite the bad weather on Cup day and the none too good on the Tluirsdayy and Saturday,,the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Autumn meeting must bo voted a success. The club is steadily improving tbe course and tbe arrangements, thus catering fur the public, and if the train service were satisfactory the attendances would bo found to increase. At present the days outing is largely marred for women by the rushing and crowding to get into a railway carriage and then having sometimes to stand for the return journey. The state of the course as the result of the bad weather made the backing of horses a bigger gamble than usual and as a result the tote investments were not so large as would have been the case had the conditions been more favourable. Now that the bookmaker is supposed to be non-existent it is surprising that in a democratic country like ours, where the “ have-nots ” are ns good as the “ hrves ” that a live shilling totalisator is not insisted upon. Presumably there is a fear least the anti-tote people would cause trouble by insisting that a five-shilling tote would be an enticement to betting. Put would it ? Many believe it would lie the reverse and that many who invest 10s or £l, which they sometimes cannot well afford, would be quite satisfied with a modest crown. It would not extend the crowd who speculate, for the man who is inclined that way seems to find the money somewhere to enable him to gratify his sporting proclivities. Notwithstanding the supposed abolition of the “ bookie ” those who do not atten 1 races appear to know how to chance their money. The 5s investor does not go to the course where he knows hewould have to bet above his limit, but he invests all the same. Of course everyone and Lis wife went to see H. B. Irving; not so much because they had a predilection for Shakespeare and for the higher drama, but because it was the vogue, and to admit that one had not seen Irving was to admit being a Philistine. There is no doubt about Diving being a great actor, but it is not generally admitted he is a great Hamlet; in fact some go so far as to assert that were it not that he is his fathers son his Hamlet would not be classed as above the average. Certain it is that we have had in the past those who have made more of Shakespeare’s lines than onr recent visitor, actors who have revealed the subtleties of the words by an inflection or gesture and iu the soliloquies disclosed the workings of the Princes mind and the reasoning which caused his hesitation and vacillation. It was in “ The Bells,” iu “ Louis XL ” and in the duel parts in “The Lyons Mail” that Irving was most convincing and proved that he also was entitled to be called a great actor. His power of facial expression—the ability to convey by mere looks alone the suggestion—nay, certainty—that the one character was a good and true man and the other a criminal who would stop at nothing, was almost uncanny. But notwithstanding his ability and that of the clever company which supported him it came as a shock to hear some leading men with supposed artistic tastes, frankly admit they would much rather go to a good comic opera or a musical comedy, where they would be amused and get a good laugh, than attend a drama. They arc Colonial born, and therefore comparatively young and modern. None of the older generation would make such an admission although they would be only staling a fact if they jltfi

•‘ln what way can I bo of use in this world,” is the cry I am constantly hearing from many wellqualified young Australians,” said Sir Tlenniker Heaton in a speech at the Sydney Town Hall last week. He said that as far as politics were concerned everyone could not be a Gladstone, a Palmerston, or a Disraeli, hut he wou’d advise every young fellow ambitious for good, everyone who bad not the all-round great qualities of these statesmen, to try to become a sort of Paganini and play perfectly on one string. lie hoped to live to sec a day when Australia would send a young fellow to be Prime Minister of England, or to be Archbishop of Cmterhury, or Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, though bo was told that those ecclesi - astical appointments would he the more difficult because of the groat absence of veneration among the young people. But be would warn every aspirant for distinction that one quality was necessary, and that without it young Australia was doomed to failure. This quality was not knowledge, though this was absolutely necessary ; it was not eloquence though this was most helpful; it was not -force of character and the hide of the rhinoceros, though it was essent.ial—it was belief in one’s cause. Without this hope or belief engrossing ones mind the critics of the groat men and the simple would soon find ' 000 out.