A KIPLING NIGHT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2220, 5 August 1914, Page 10

A KIPLING NIGHT

: ■ MR. ALEX. WATSON'S RECITAL. ; -With-each recital Mr.. Alexander Watson—the most talented'reciter heard in Wellington for: a . couple of decadesgains a hoet of adrtiirers. Last evening •the Concert Chamber was packed to the ! hack wall, when Mr. "Watson gave us Kipling, tho poet of "nervous" English, .whom we thought We. had » very fair conception of—until the gitted rec'italist brought into' play the' powerful searchlights of his art. It was positively unlifting to hear ;Mr. Watsou declaim "The Ballad of the Clampherdown," and the fervent, enthusiasm which flutlhed ithe reciting of- "M'Aiidrew's Hymii" .would have rejoiced the aggregate heart of the Institute of Marine Engineers. Then came ''The Bajlad of the Bolivar.!' The drunken sailor's narrative of how they brought a safe across the bay, was its way » masterpiece. Equally delightful was tho incursion into "Barrack Roc-m Ballads," from which were selected "Fuzzy Wu?zy,!' "Oonts," and "Gunga Din." Until one has heard Mr. Watson's Cockney '.'Tommy" dilating upon the camel as an adjunct to the commissariat train, one cannot .measure the extent of Kipling's humour in "Oonts." Then in cboland I refreshing., relief he recited the lesser known poem, "Tlie Glory of the Garden," a poem veined with rare thought ■and feeling. From Kipling he recited with extraordinary dramatic and pathetic anpoal Clark Russell's sketch, "Tlir Oeesm Waif," and to the delight of all added that ancient classic, "Jud Browning's' Description of Rubinstein's Playing." whidh earned tho'recitalist a storm of.applause. • -..■-. ■•■ This"evenina Mr. Watson is to recito John Miisofiold's celebrated poem. "The Everlasting Mercy-." which is said to be ono of his finest efforts, and on Thursday evenint; ho will recite sconns from "'tlip Merchant of Venice,"- and more Kipling. - . ■ -