OBITUARY,

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1379, 4 March 1912, Page 5

OBITUARY,

MR. GEORGE GROSSMITH, SENR, Br Tel«Erapti-rr«s« Assoohtien-OoojrlßW London, March 1. Mr. George Grossmitli, senr., tho wollknown actor, is dead. Mr. George Grossinilh, sen., was one of (hut miliibli' group of actors- who assisted so ably mid earnestly to make tho Savoy Theatre, London, of thirty years ago the most famous house for opera in (he world. II was I here that Gilbert ami Sullivan were piling up honours for themselves n< collaborators whose works approached genius. Apart, both men were extraordinarily gifted, but together (hey anpeared to lie a double-brained individuality, so marvellously did their brilliant mental equipments jump together. George Grossniith, who began his stage _ career by giving entertainments at (ho piano at tho old Polytechnic and at "penny readings" in 1870, pottered away at. the business successfully until 1877, when he was cast for tho part of John Wellington Wells ("a dealer in magic and spells as the rhyme, goes) in Gilbert and Sullivan s opera,""The Sorceror," at the Opera Comique, London. So quaint and original was his performance, that he was at once engaged bv the lato'Mr. D'Oylev Carte to play the leading comedy parts in Gilbert ami Sullivan's operas, with many of which his name will ever be associated in London, and with the follower of stage history abroad. He was tho original "King Gama" in "Princess Ida," the misshapen old humbug who sings— "Oh, don't the days seem lank and lons When all goes right and nothing goes wrong; And isn't life extremely flat When Uiere'3 nothing whatever to gruinljle at." One of his greatest triumphs was as Koko in that unforgettable opera, "The Mikado," and another was Major-General Stanley in "The Pirates of Pcnzance. Further honours fell to him as Robin Oakapple in "Ruddigore," as Jack Point in "The Yeoman of the Guard, and tho Lord Chancellor in "lolanthe." After a long and brilliant career at the Savoy, ho left that theatre in 1889, and toured as an entertainer in song and story, in which he achieved even as great nsiiccess as on the comic opera stage. "With his piano he toured the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada up till a year or two ago. On one occasion it is related that lie single-handed drew as much as ,£3BO at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, and £120 the following afternoon at the Philharmonic, Liverpool—.£Boo within 21 hours. Ho was gifted in other directions besides his talent for the slage. He wrote an amusing novel, entitled "A Society Clown," and with his son, Mr. Weedoii Grossmith, "Tho Diary of Nobody," written for "Punch." Tho deceased was also a well-known composer. "Haste to the Wedding," a musical farce, is his, as is also the operetta -"Cups and Saucers," as well as hundreds of songs and sketches. Mr. Gvossmith, who was Gf> years of age, leaves three sons—Messrs George, jun., Lawrence, and Weedon Grossmith—all well known to the English playgoer. His wife (nee Miss Noyce) predeceased him in 1905.

Mr. Joseph Blaschcck, the entertainer, now in Wellington, supplies (ho following reminiscences of tho late Mr. Grossmith:—"Personally he was a most delightful man, and all who camo in contact with him loved him. I shall always treasuro the kindly words of encouragement lie gave me when I was a young beginner, and his fluttering comments upon my work wlipn I made ono of my earliest appearances in London 'gayo mo courage at a time when it seamed inluossible that I should ever realise my ambition and make any impression upon the public of that vast city. Ho had a fund of good stories, and some of his experiences as a society clown (as he christened himself) wero vastly amusing. 1 remember ono yarn he told of a local butcher, the Mayor of a small town in the provinces, who had taken the chair nt ono of his entertainments. Grossmith during the interval turned to this gentleman and said, 'The acoustics of this place seem very bad.' Thfi chairman sniffed two or three times, and replied, 'Indeed, sir? I haven't perceived anything unpleasant, but. I have a cold.' Another story of Grossmith's that lie (old ono night at the Savage. Club remains in my memory. A well-known bishop had taken a holiday, and on returning home lie had to rebuke his cook for using his bath during his absence. 'Mary,' said his Lordship, 'I am very grieved to think that you should do behind my back what you wouldn't do before my face.'"

A CANADIAN POLITICIAN. (Rcc. Mnrch i, 0.10 a.m.) Ottawa, March 3. The death is announced of tho Hon. Edward Bhke, M.A., ICC, P.C. (Canada), LL.D.; aged 79. Ho was n well-known figure in Canadian politics, and was formerly Prime Minister of Ontario.