MRS. BLAND HOLT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 11

MRS. BLAND HOLT.

It was into, a very home-like, pretty room 'that "Dominica" was shown last night when she went to call on Mrs. Bland Holt at the Royal. Oak.'Hotel. Mr,', and Mrs. Holt had only arrived the night before,, but with tho skill of an accustomed traveller the lady had given-the room the appearanco of comfort and individuality that usually only comes with time. With Mrs. Holt was her friend and companion, Miss Coppin, who in tho early part of the year travelled with her to England. . They wont by America and Canada,: and had a, very good timo in thpse

countries, visiting many theatres and seeing tho American play at homo. "In Australia^"'! says;' Mrs. Holt, "the American play is seldom a success." They spent several "weeks in ■ England, where Mrs. Holt worried 'her friends by her complaint that' tho sun was nover on view, and from London they went down to the south of England. Coming back to Australia after a delightful trip they spent somo days at Colombo at a beautifully-situated hotel, and when. .tHey left they took typhoid fever with them.; "Sirs. Holt has by now quite recovered from the illness,'and looks very bright and well,' but Miss Coppin did not recover so quickly. It was,hard work playing at first after her convalescence, says Mrs: Holt, but all tho company did their best to'mako things pleasant for her. During the nine years that have passed sinco their last visit to New Zealand, they have been living in Sydney and Melbourne alternately, thoroughly appreciating tho pleasure of having a settled homo, but now that Mr. Holt has parted with his Melbourne theatre thoy are on their travels again for some months. There have been many changes sinco thoy wore last here', arid Mrs. Holt has come back to find her little friends grown up and altered, her grown-up friends nine years older, but all of them pleased to welcomo her to Wellington once more. Mrs. Holt is acting in tho play with which the season opens to-night, and she is the first person to appear upon the stage. In several -, of tho company' s productions sho does not appear, and so has the pleasure of watching the actors from tho stalls. There is a good deal of tragedy about somo of the pieces, '■ but that sho says does not in any way. interfere with tho pleasure of the Australian! audiences. They have shown themselves too sophisticated to appreciate "Peter Pan" as England did, but for Mr. Bland Holt's plays they havo a steady affection.