A FAMOUS ACTOR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 55, 28 November 1917, Page 6

A FAMOUS ACTOR

CIVIC WELCOME TO MR, CYRIL MAUDE

A civio welcome was tendered to Mr. Cyril Maude by the Mayor (Mn J. 1\ Luko) in the Concert Chamber yesterday afternoon. As the visiter only arrived between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. the engagement was a rush one, but nevertheless it was an interesting little gathering which enabled a section, at all events, of the public and Mr. Maudo to become mutually acquainted. Mis Worship warmly welcomed Mr. Maude to New Zealand, not only as an actor, and one at tho head of his profession, but for tho good work he had done in America in setting forth the .justice of tho British, cause before Undo Sam dropped the fountain pen for the sword. At'tho same time, it was well known that in his business as a character actor Mr. Maude was at the top of his profession; if lie-were not he would not have been held so constantly in favour in the Old Country and other parts of tho Empire. (Applause.) One could not dissociate one from one's family and up-bring-ing, and in tho Maudes they had one of tho finest types of English families, tho members of which had been noted for the deeds of valour they had done for the Empire. Mr. Maude's father was a general in the British Army, and his cousin was that distinguished soldier, the late Sir Stanley Maude, who was Commander of tho British Forces in Mesopotamia, and Jiad so successfully carried out the great campaign there, so that in tho greait work' of justice and humanity their guest stood as a bond between his heroic cousin and themselves. He assured Mr. Maudo that they all deeply deplored the loss of General Sir Stanley Maudo, whose sudden death had been quite a shock to everyone in Now Zealand, as it must have been to thoso in other parts of the Empire.

The Mayor also referred to Mr. Maudo's late son-in-law, Ma|jor Congreve, who had gallantly upheld the honour of the family by vinmirig the V.C., D.5.0., M.C.,' and iho Legion of Honour. Could a man do more? His name was_honoured in jNV.v Zealand as one who had done valiant work in the Allies' cause. Mr. Luko in reiterating his welcome again trcufioncd 1 the work Mr. Maude had dome in furthering the cause of the Allies in America, and said that but for having been turned down owing to physical disabilities, their guest v.culd Lave been playing the same parit that his kith and kin were in ,the war. Ho was suro that as an entertainer he would meet with the very highest appreciation in New Zealand.

The Hon. W. Fraser also referred to the late General Sir Stanley Maude, who was not only ono of 'England's great generals, but a successful one, and they could not afford to lose their best men at tho presenti time. His name was one that would 'lone be remembered. They in Now Zealand prided themselves on their loyalty to the- Empire. It was not' a thine to boast about, but perhaps I it was excusable in the circumstanc< is to mention that tho Dominion was the first to send a force away to' Melp tho Old Land. The war wag _the subject still nearest their hearts. Ortie thing that it was doing wjis class distinctions, and make them feel that they were really all member?/ of the one family. They all wislnjd the war to finish, but not till victory was won.' Ho joined with the Mayor in welconiing a distinguished member of a distinguished family.

A Callant Suni-il.Tl.aiv. Mr. Maude thanked tho Mayor and Mr. Eraser for the k'ind things they had said about himse If and Ins relatives. He had to coni iess that ho was a poor speaker. His. position reminded him of a story Jiia friend, tho late Charles Frohman usiiid to tell about three well-known actors who attended tho funeral service i £ that very line old actress, Mrs. Gilbert. A fat and somewhat dissipated < winedian sat well in tho front between: Sir , Johnston Forbes-liobertson and Sir Charles Wyndham. When :it came to a very beautiful r part of the service Sir Chat'les bowed his head to his hand, i md a little lator, Sir Johnston, visibt; ( affected by the clorgymnn's oloquem ;e, also assumed the same attitude. Turning a dissipated eye on j tho two fellowniunimcrx," the com.ediau said, "I'm in this!" And rn went his head. That was how he fi jit. He had come without his "weddii; ig garments," but on that account ho ped he would not ho "cast out into uf. ter darkness," for he did not think thej < had such a place in this beautiful caurutrj. He confessed to being charmed \rijth the loveliness of the harbour, the Mending of tho colours, and innate beauty and vivacity of the scene, for all of which he had 'been absolutely un prepared.

Fightingf Actors. Mr. Maude said lie realised that in honouring him they : were honouring his profession and w hat the members of his profession had done in th< Army, of which he /was proud. He remembered one you ng man who played with -him in "Grim ipy" four years ago He was tall, sand} Miaired, and weakeyed, and yet win' in the call came he had to go. His j rreat fear had been that he would no t get through the sight test. Whilst, waiting in the rooir he saw a piece of paper torn up, with all the pieces lying-,; together. He pieced them together,' and learnt them of by .heart so well thai - when asked h< was able to tell w'liat was on the paper though he could i lot see a line. (Applause.) That mivn had risen to be a captain, and had since been terriblj wounded. Referri'.ng to his cousin, Sii Stanley Maude, \ lie said ho was stil worried as to hon • he had died. Wher he visited the bat rracks in Sydney the other day, an opinion had been expiessed that he h ed probably been poisoned. It was all 'very strange and inexplicable, for it--pas only three weeks ago that he had cabled bis congratulations on. a rew 1 Jit victory, and bad received the repVy: "All well here. Come back this way." How he was to get hack by wa,y of Bagdad ho hardIv knew. ' Major Congreve hati been killed only six months after lie had married his (Mr. Maude's) dai ighter.. She had been sent for bv His Majesty the- King, who bad ha'ided her the Victoria Cross, D.5.0., and the Military Cross. He would bo writing to the little widow this week. It would be consoling tor her to know that; even in this far-elij-tant land he had heard such words spoken of the gallantry of her late husband. , . Mr. Maude toVJI a number of stories, and Hir-'i. cxciiFicd himself on the ground that the- playing of old nieii parts was making him garrulous. He was proud and happy to be received vith such hnnonr. "My very good friend. Lord Onslow, said to me, concluded Mr. Maud'o, "if ever you get a chance to go to J.vcw Zealand «o there. Well. I've got li-ETii!" (Laughter and Sir Joseph W'tad also added a welcome. __—