TOPICS OP THE DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 8382, 6 December 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOPICS OP THE DAY.

[From Odb Special Cobbespondent.] London, October 17. A NEW COMIC OPEHA. ' La Cigale,' Audran's new comic opera at the Lyric Theatre, is a conspicuous success, and will not improbably run a couple of years. The French score has been greatly strengthened and improved by Mr Ivan Caryll's interpolations, and the libretto (without being a work of genius) is in Mr F. C Burnand's happiest manner. Neither of these two facts, however, nor the superb mounting and scenic effects of Charles Harris, would have sufficed to lead np to the triumphant fall of the curtain last Thursday evening but for the La Cigale of Miss Geraldine Ulmar. The lady evidently know that this part might be her making, for she acted and sang in a manner that simply electrified those who remembered her constricted efforts at the Savoy. Encore after encore rewarded her exquisite singing of Audran's music (which is quite as ear - haunting as the ' Mascotte'), and when the opera concluded the lively lady was twice recalled. Lionel Brough, Miss Clements, E. W. Garden, the Chevalier Scovel (a nice tenor), and some 200 others (principals and supers), assist in the performance of 'La Cigale,' but they are all quite subsidiary to the fair Geraldine. She makes the success of this opera, just as Agnes Huntingdon pulled through ' Paul Jones.' Not that there can bo much comparison between the works. 'La Cigale,' like 'Olivette,' is full of champagne-like melody, which sends one home trying to recall a score of morceaux, whereas ' Paul Jones' was at best a somewhat lugubrious composition. The story of 'La Cigale' is simple, yet interesting. Charlotte and Marton are cousins, the former being content, like the ant in the fable, to live a humble and industrious life as the wife of a peasant farmer, whilst the latter (the grasshopper) is stage struck, and, having mimical ability, joinß an opera company at Bruges—the Bruges of the seventeenth, not nineteenth century. Here she becomes involved in the intrigues of the Netherlandish nobility, and losing her lover realises the hollowuess of her position, aad longs to return home. Of course, however, it is ultimately proved that Marton's lover Imb been true, not false, and the piece ends with a grand wedding. Of the morceaux the most captivating are Marton's ' Song of the Merry Cricket,' a ' Picnic' chorus, and two other ditties, all in the first act. LITERARY NOTES. Messrs Cassell, whilst confiding to the public (without Archdeacon Farrar's permission) that they paid that gentleman L' 2,005 altogether for his ' Life of Christ,' omit to state what they themselves made out of the work. Walter Besant suggests tho firm should furnish full returns of cost of printing, publishing, .etc., if they desire the public to judge whether they dealt generously with the Archdeacon or not. I need scarcely say that Cassells have not jumped at this proposal. According to roport they made over L 40.000 out of Farrar's ' Life of Christ,' and are still drawing a handsome income per annum from sales of that popular work. No doubt'tis true that the original scheme of the ' Life ' originated in the fertile brain of the late Mr Galpin, and not with Archdeacon Farrar. Cassells were casting about for a "tame author" to carry out their ideas whon Mr Galpin heard Mr Farrar (then an obscure | curate) preach, and at once deoided he was the man for their purpose. In the vestry | after service Mr Galpin made his offer to ' the young clergyman—viz., LSOO for the 1 copyright and LlOO" for travelling expenses in the Holy Land. The terms were ac--1 cepted, and some years later the MS. was handed over. When the success of the work became assured Cassells voluntarily made Canon Farrar presents from time to time which amounted in the aggregate to L 1,500. Considering they had bought the book out and out for LSOO this was not ungenerous, though, of course, a very small percentage on their profits. The career of poor Drew Gay, who died last week at Ipswich from dropsy and heart disease, was marred almost at its outset by his silly faux pas on the 'Telegraph.' I forget exactly what the facts were, but I fancy a letter full of sensational charges which pretended to come from Constantinople and appeared in the ' Daily Telegraph ' was shown to have been made up in London. Anyhow, Gay lost his berth, and left Press circles for a time. Later he returned, and became city editor of the 'Echo.' He was a regular habilv.6 of the Savage Club till recently, and a general favorite. Bohemian to tho finger tips, Drew Gay belonged to the old school of journalists, blithe, ready-witted, and kind hearted, but grubby in coßtume and frequently impecunious. Mr Newnes, who has never ceased to lament his craos folly in quarrelling with Mr Stead and losing his hold over that splendid property the ' Review of Reviews,' means to start shortly a popular sixpenny monthly of 128 largo octavo pages. Messrs Routlodge have also a similar venture on hand. The 'Labor World' seems to be a hit. Davitt boasts he sold 100,000 of last week's issue. "Edna Lyall" (Miss Bayly) has recovered from her recent severe illness, and is about to resume literary work forthwith, Mr Henry Murray, who has been getting on apace since "Brer Christie" went to the Antipodes, is writing serial stories in both the ' Wednesday Journal' and the * Sunday Times.' The former he has christened « A Deputy Providence ' and the latter * A Song of Sixpence.' 4 My Shipmate Louise,' Mr Clark Russell's latest effort, is a tiresome sea story of the ' Jack's Courtship' sort, and a distinct falling-off from such well-planned nautical romances as ' The Golden Hope, 'Marooned,' or even •An Ocean Tragedy.' Mr Russell's writing varies more than anyone's I know. He has, for example, a short tale of a runaway match called ' A Marriage at Sea' in ' Lippincott's' this month, which must have ! been written about the same time as ' My Shipmate Louise,' aud which is (despite Its slight character) capital reading, and worth j a dozen of that sleepy record, Mr Gladstone's ' Landmarks of Homerlo Study' is published to-day in a small volume, price half a crown, by Macmillans, who are also responsible for ' Wild Beasts and their Ways,' two handsome volumes, price 325, by Sir Samuel Baker. The author of ' The Rajah's Heir,' which has been the novel in demand at Mudie's for two months past, is not either Sir A. Lyell, Mr Robert Forrest, or Mr Kipling, but a, lady—name unknown. Mr Kipling* by the way, haß concluded for ' Lippincott%' a tale of the length of a one-volume novel called ' The Light that Failed.' The scene is laid partly in the Soudan, and partly in London. The young Anglo-Indian does not, aocording to present arrangements, return to London from Italy, but goes on to India. He wants time and quiet to finish 'Mother Maturin,' the three-volume fiction which is to deoide whether Rudyard Kipling is a mere queer story-teller or a great novelist. The ' Cornhill' will depend next year on a serial from the clever pen of Conan Doyle (author of * Mioah Clarke' and ' A Study in Scarlet'), called ' The White Company.' Smith, Elders have, in response So the popular demand, published a shilling volume of selections from Browning, which should have an immense sale. It contains all the better-known short pieces, with extracts from 'Paracelsus,' etc. The same firm issue a specially tastefully-bound reprint, in five volumes, at 2s each, of the Brontes' works. This must not be confused with the recent shilling issue. It is simply tha ojd green half a orown one rebound. " Walter Besant, a.n. usual, writes the Christmas nn.rn.her far 'Arrowamitb.' His story this year will be oalled 'The Detnoniao." Cheap reissues include Paul Cushing's * Blacksmith of Voe'' (the best novel of its season, and one everybody who enjoys a good story should read), Clark Russell's ' Ocean Tragedy,' and Ouida'a • Syrlra.' ' Mr Stead's articles en 'General Bou- ■ langer' and «Th? Salvation Army' in the : current • Review of Reviews' should on no consideration be missed. The latter (sore particularly is a remarkable pieoe of special . pleading, and-will undoubtedly do much to " lessen the rapidly waning prejudice against General Booth's organisation. One cannot doubt the bona fides of the Booth family after looking at their faces,

IUM ¥*>*•', When AU'mnUi >mjm rwy>» 'w<-' •«!.• im*. the Auingdou Mil* ll>M>m £«<•** 2vUui-u«i.>-pulling double, and wittt ouiy ,]v6ii-ii «ud Old Sheen on the \tr«miitm, U#M. «it»f**.' w«sidered the Cesarnwitub */**■*> T«t backers of the filly wer« nlrp*/iy wpiug jubilantly, and the silence of fch* significantly attested what a facw wm j« *■<*.•.•«. for them. Alicante had started ob« of t< « hottest favorites ever known for llu: Ivwg distance handicap at Newmarket, »a<i »..<> victory meant the "mounseers" tbM»y quite LlfiO.OOOout of British pocket*). Ail of a sudden Luke raised his whip, and lh< ij went up from the enclosnres a shout you oould have heard on the Severala " Hhci-ti wins." In a second the whole aspect of the race altered, the old horse, revelling in his task, collared the favorite, and, striding right away, won easily by two lengths; whilst Alicante only just managed to defeat Judith for the second place. Great was the delight of the bookies, many of whom had not laid the winner. Prince Soltykoff pockets a fair stake, and so do the Jenningses, who were, however, not sanguine of doing more than get a place. The Goater party also win a nice stake in place bets over Judith. The public of course lose heavily. Signorina cut up very badly in the Great Challenge Stakes on Friday, being beaten not only by the flying Mephisto, but by the two-year-old Melody, belonging to the Australian Cooper. Amphion simply smothered Memoir and Blue Green in the Champion Stakes, and instead of this year's tbree-year-olds being good, they are evidently extremely moderate. Immediately after the Cesarewitch M. Blanc (the owner of Gouverneur) accepted 6,000 to 2,000 Alicante for the Cambridgeshire ; but this was a false price, and later fives and sixes were laid. Alicante started the hottest favorite known for the Cesarewitch since ISG7, when Mr Chaplin's Blinkhoolie (3 yrs, 7st) was a 2 to 1 chance, and failed to finish in the first three. One must not, however, forgot Mr Merry's great coup with Lionetb (4 yrs, Ost Sib), when that filly, starting at 5 to i£ in a large field, won by many lengths. By ablunderthetwo big events of the meeting—the Dewhurst Plate and the Cambridgeshire—are both fixed for thesameafternoonat Newmarket next week. For the latter there will be a big field, and Mr Joe Thompson, whose big double-event book has not turned out very well considering Sheen was an outsider, prays that neither Alicante, La Negligente, Signorina, Tostig, nor Victorious may win. Against all of these he laid heavy doubles coupled witli Sheen.