FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 13102, 7 November 1908, Page 10

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[Bv Cali. Boy.] Mra Alice Hegan Rice, the fortunate author of Mm Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, wrote 20,000 words in the book tor wluch she received £2o,ooo—£l per word! 1 Miss Gertie Campion was in town at the beginning of this week, having returned by the Mnhcno from a visit to her family in Victoria. Her many friends in Dunet.m will be glad to know that her health toen completely restored, as anyotio who chanced to see her in the Princess, on luesday evening could not have failed to observe. Miss Campion greatly enjoved ‘ Lho Mikado ’ performance, which Vho frankly declared was one of the best allround amateur representations in the Dominion ever witnessed bv her.

MISS LOTTIE ALTER As Lovey Mary in ‘Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,’ to be produced at His Majesty s Ihcntra by J. (J. Williamson on VV ednesdav next.

I stated iast week, the Williamson Musical Comedy Company will be in New Zealand at the end of tin-; voar with ‘The Bed Mir and ’ Prince of* Piben.’ They play in Melbourne till the third week in December, and then come on to the Dominion, beginning on Boxing Night. Miss Ivy fcs.ilvin. alter a sixteen days’ trial of the footlights in the ‘Belle of Mayunr, was nvirrkd to Mr Alick Levien, a con of Mr fb.nv Levien, member for Farnsworth, in the New South Wales Parliament.

His .Majesty King Edward YU. saw‘Mrs Wiggs- of the Cabbage Patch’ in London early in its t ttcccss'ul run. and was so impressed by the pnrlnrnmnre of Mies Ada Dwyer in the name part that he sent for the lady ar.d jiau-omilly congratulated her. Madame Eileen U M r <ire (Mies Bessie Doyle), the talented viohnieto. is to give a. concert in Sydney next month.

Attractions in Chra tchurcii for Carnival Week:—Bland Holt, at the Royal; Miss Baines in ‘ Liner,shire Limited’ at the Opera-house; and the Mevnell and Gunn Dramatic Company at *His Majesty’s.

Iho Tittel Bnine-King, ton Company are coming to Now Zt.-abind earlier than was intended. Ihe tour will begin at Auckland on November oO The repertoire includes ‘Diana of Dobson’s’ and ‘The Girl of the Golden West.’ Both pieces have just been produced in Sydney under the direction of -Mr Rove Carey," son of Mr W. G. C; irev, who has now been promoted to the position of c-tagc manager.

MISS HELEN RAYMOND ■ As Mrs Eicharn in ‘ Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,’ to he produced by J. C. \\ illiiims-ou on Wednesday next.

Sir Henry Irving ia without a statue or a tablet as a memorial in his own country, and it has been left to an American syndi- - cate to come forward to supply the deficiency. It appears that Mr Joseph O’Mara, too singer, noticing that the cottage in the village of Keinton, MandeviUe, Somerset, in which Irving was bom, was in the market, conceived the idea that it would bo an excellent thing _ if this could be purchased, stocked with relics of the great actor, and established as a museum to the memory of Sir Henry Irving. Mr O’Mara cabled to his American managers, Messrs Jceeph Brooks and A. W Dingwall, putting ■ha idea before, them. .The..scheme •met with-tHeir instant approval, aiid negotiations are now proceeding which will place the cottage in the hands of the American syndicate. Mr. Brooks came over to, England to conclude the negotiations, accompanied by Mr Dingwall.. —Should Be Prohibited.— One of the most amazing pieces of work that has ever threatened to shock the feelings of playgoers and non-playgoers alike seems fated—unless intervention is forthcoming—to be introduced to the footlights at the Bijou Theatre, Archer street, London, on September 26. It is described as ‘The Divine Mahatma,’ and, from the copy which has been sent to us, appears to present Christ upon the stage under cir-cum.-rtances which could not fail to be revolting to every Christian mind. With the printed copy has been sent a leaflet, in which it is asked that the play should not he referred to before its presentation, so a? to avoid “ risk of the performance being stopped.” Upon glancing through these pages we feel in no way called upon to regard them as in confidence, and are convinced that the more effectually the whole performance is indeed stopped the better for all concerned.

| The pl.iv, described as by “Lion. Margiave,” is in three acts. The chief characters are “ Emanuel, Master of the White Stone, the Divine Mahatma,” “ Rei Omar, a Rich Young Man,” “Bar Scara, the .Apostate,” and “ Zelilla, a Free Soul.” The scenes include Christ’s agony in Gethsemane: the betrayal of Bar ScaVa (Barabbas); the judgment upon the woman taken in adultry (Zelilla); and, lastly, the Crucifixion itself. So far from these sacred themes being treated with reverence, delicacy, and simplicity, they are, as has been said, interlarded with scenes of a most nauseating description It is enough to state that Zelilla, who is a confessed harlot, is represented as having tempted, and become the mistress of, Bar Scara, the dialogue between them being quite unquotable. Afterwards she conceives a passion fov Christ Himself, who talks to her in a ridiculous Theosophical jargon. Unfortunately, as there is to be no money taken at the doors, it seems the Censor has no jurisdiction that can put a stop to the performance—a sufficient instance of the fatuity of the office. Whether the police will allow the production remains to bo seen. According to the accompanying leaflet; “Emanuel will be attempted by the author, and, if the power fails not, will be acted with animation.”—‘Daily Chronicle.’ —Wages of Child Artists.—

There has been much discussion in London of late about what should be done -with ' the earnings of child performers, who were too often robbed by drunken or dissolute parents. The question has been raised whether children’s earnings should be controlled by the parents or by a trustee appointed by the stipendiary magistrate? The discussion arose out of the case, to which much prominence was given, of Ethel .Maud Summers (twelve years), heard before Mr Mead at Marlborough Street, where her parents applied for permission for the girl to appear in ‘Madame Butterfly’ at the Lyric Theatre, it was stated that Mr Man ners paad her £1 for every performance. | Later, the mother told the magistrate that | £ls of the child’s savings had been with- \ drawn from the savings bank and used by : herself to defray expenses connected with the father's illness. Mr Mead thereupon. ordered that 10 per cent, of the child’s future earnings should go to the parents for household expenses, and that a trustee should be appointed, whose duty it would be to bant the balance for the child’s benefit.

This decision has brought a veritable hornets’ nest about Mr Mead’s ears, ‘ it being contended by some writers that it wili revolutionise the relationship between parents and children. On the other band, -Mr R. I. Parr (secretary of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children*) applauds the magisterial action, which, he pL vs . will have far-reaching results. This is his view:

The principle laid down by the magistrate is a sound one. It is a well-known fact that in many cases parents are only too ready to exploit their children and to live on their earnings. There are exceptions, of course, as in this particular case. I can quite see, in the case of an exceptional child (and stage children who earn such large sums as this child did are exceptional}, there would be the cost of fees for training and expenses of getting to and from the theatre. This might probably be a charge on the earnings, but if a trustee were appointed with fairly liberal powers he would naturally allow this to fall on them. All depends on the kind of person who is appointed trustee. I am acting to-day as the legal guardian for over 400 children, some of whom have money in trust. In such cases I use the money in the interests of the child according to my judgment, rendering an account to the Court at the termination of the trust. Such action has never been questioned.

The problem of how best to protect the earnings of child artists was concurrently receiving a good deal of attention across tile Atlantic. The Kevv York ‘Tribune’ devoted a specia* article to it, and reviewed the gloomier aspect of the question, savins mteralia: J °

To the audience (whoso decision is final) ■is led the fate of each juvenile aspirant for stage preferment in this city. The audience need out what they consider poor theatrical timbre until only three are left to receive the prizes of 3dol, sdol, and 20dcl awarded to the best amateurs. In some of our minor theatres these awards amount to Idol, odol, and sdol, but no star in the mmamenfc of tho footlights ever feels more pride in her first big contract than does the little nuud who receives 'her Idol prize. To < r Iwv ' vb ‘ cb opens the door of K'mo. On Wednesday and Saturday nights amateurs compete for prizes and engagements at one theatre on Broadway. This is a "try-out” theatre for a big firm, and ail the riff-raff of Broadway blows in there to appraise the value of the competitors. The same style of audience frequents the Family theatre, in Harlem, on Friday night, for this is another “try-out” house, and an .even more mixed assemblage dispenses criticism and projectiles—at Canarsie and Dreamland on their “ amateur nights.” A child under sixteen years of age must have the mayor's consent to appear in amateur performances, and may not act as an acrobat, dancer, or singer under th’s a”e lliq law holds that stage work, drafts, associations, and hours unfit a child for any useful career in after-life. The Gerry Society has demonstrated that “stage children ” never achieve any prominence in the theatrical world in mature life, and that if they Ihe to reach maturity their lives are blighted and brief. It is asserted that no reputable manager will engage a child under legni to tnke part in public performante, and that only “ wildcat ” companies playing short engagements, succeed in evading restrictions and penalties attached to juvenile performances. That others break the la w in this respect is shown by the fact that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have within the last year secured ten convictions for violations of the theatrical law, and sis for engaging minors in dangerous performances. When the ordeal has been passed, the prize bestowed, and the engagement made, how do these embryo actresses exist? They may no longer answer to the call of “Cash!” for eight or ten hours a day, neither may they ply a needle nor serve in other capacities during that period. But they must be ready to attend rehearsals at any hour of the day. and after it performance at night, u a rehearsal discovers an absentee she must—in most theatres—pay a fine of odol.

[By Minorca.] Being desirous to encourage and stimulate tn-i poultry industry, we have arranged with a member of the local Poultry Club to edit c olumn, end will be glad to receive and publish any items of news or notes which will be of service to readers. Contributions and questions for answering should be addressed to “Minorca,” Poultry Editor, ‘Star’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each week. “ Minorca ” will only answer communications through this column. NOTES FOR THE MONTH. At this time of tho year there is plenty of work among teh birds. The weather j being warm, lice and red mites are busy, , and must be kept down. All nests should |bo turned cut and well disinfected; the I bouse should be well sprayed or whitei washed. All chicks are now growing fast, 1 and must be kept growing. Don’t run j chicks in large lots, or they won’t do well. ! Chicks never seem) to do so well in large i lots. They crowd together, and become : very hot at night, and then often catch a chill in the morning. The cockerels should be separated from the pullets as coon ( as possible, and if you are not keeping cockerels for show or for sale at good prices get rid of them at once, as it does not pay j to rear cockerels in town yards. Where possible, clear every run that you can spare, and get it sown with grass seed if you will not want it for some time. You 'can dig it, but if it canno teb spared long it is better to sweep it well. Spread some lime and a little fresh soil over it, and set tho grass seed. To go to Milton and not call to seo Dave Paton would be to miss one of the greatest poultry enthusiasts of the present day. Poor Dave is having a bad time just now. He is trying to like the utility White Leghorn, but is always looking back to those fine Brown Leghorns that ho had. Really, I think Dave had some of the finest laying Brown Leghorns that have ever been seen about. Of course I don’t take this on Dave’s own showing alone, but from others who had his strain. At last Dave was bitter! with show fever, and showed some fine colored specimens, but he always got put out for want of size. Not to be beaten, ho sent to England for something that could win (he forgot to mention that he wanted birds that laid alto). He got out two grand show liens, and became happy by winning the coveted prizes. Then he put the birds in the breeding pen to lay eggs for setting, but the birds had not been brought up that way. One of the birds laid eight eggs the first year and two eggs the second year, just to show that she was a hen. I forget the record of the other hen, but it was somewhat similar. Having raised a few chicks, Dave was surprised to find some of them had five toes, but still their egg-record did not increase. Then he got mad, and set to with an axe, but 1 thought it time to leave then. The next move was to procure the very best strains of White Leghorns. Ledger’s, Brook’s, etc., were sent for, and this year Padman’s birds have been secured, and certainly they lay well, but they are not up to those Brown Leghorns, and, even with grass a foot high, lovely shelter, houses that would make any hen happy, dray-loads of beautiful clean sand and gravel, those birds will not look snowy white, nor smart and clean, like those brown, and I suppose the .next thing we will hear is that he has gone back to the brown and bought a pen of good laying Alinorcas, which will please the eye as well as fill the egg-basket. Joking apart, it would be a fine sight to see a few pens of Minorcas in such fine yards as Mr Paton has. The chicks at present are well forward. Most of them are of Padman's strain, and the breeding pen, headed by a Brook’s cock, is a splendid utility pen, and should produce excellent laying stock. Any fancier who is in Milton should call to see Mr Paton, but they must he prepared to take some hard knocks, as Dave dearly loves a joke; but Mrs Paton’s afternoon tea soon makes you forget all your troubles. Eggs are still retailing at Is a dozen, and large numbers are being preserved, although a number of people are holding back on the chance of the price coming down, but at present there does not seem much chance of it.

Mr Rogen is to bring a Faverolle cockerel for Mr H. P. Harvey on his return from Australia.

Mr Hunt is to judge the White Leghorns at the next Dunedin Show, and Mr Crawshaw will judge the game and bantams.

PREPARING FOR THE SHOW ROOM. By E. H. Tueeell. The poultry fancier who neglects the shows throws away one of his best chances for making a reputation. If he succeeds in winning some good prizes, and advertises the fact, he is certain to secure orders, and create such a demand that he can ask good prices, and get them. A good many beginners hesitate to enter their birds for fear some older fancier will beat them. This should not dejer anyone from making an attempt to win. No one ever won a prize before making an attempt to do so. Defeat in the show room carries no disgrace with it. No one ever thought less of a fancier because he failed to win in the show room. By showing his or her birds the beginner shows the courage of his convictions, and proves that he has confidence in the merit of his stock. If he gets defeated he has the best possible opportunity of noting the differences between his birds and the winning ones, and has acquired information that he or she could not get in any other manner. It is perfectly allowable to put “show” stock in the best possible condition. Stock which is to be shown should be fitted the same as any other stock. It should be fed until it is round and plump and care should be taken that it is not flabby and soft. The judge who takes a bird in hand and finds it soft with mere grease does not give that bird the full credit for its appearance. To fit a bird for the show room, it should be fed as much as it will eat, but it should be compelled to take exercise enough to make its flesh firm to the touch This is particularly true of all game and game bantams. If a game fowl does not feel hard under the hand of the judge it loses caste with him at once. The exception to this rule of “firm flesh”—if there J 4v, an o XC ?P fcio . n—is in case of Cochins. I he Cochin fowls are. really “cushiony” by nature, and a fat Cochin seems to me te be in its proper condition. I look for loose, fluffy feathers on a Cochin, and ex- ? eC j lt J'° w ken taken in the hand. Put a Cochin fowl in very fat condition, and it settles down on its feet m °re of; the ideal carriage of the Cochin family. This, I believe; increases its chances of winning, and gives it a better appearance in. the show pen. Those breeds which are likely to show brassiness” are the hardest to fit in a

satisfactory manner. The birds of these ’ breeds which are to be shown should .be kept in s rather dim light 'for a long time before the show-season begins. Keep the males in the shade as long as possible, and feed those things which contain the smallest proportion of carbo-hydrates or oil. Go oyer the birds as often as possible, and pluck out the imperfect feathers, such as those with little twists in them, or thoce which are misshapen in any way. By this I do not mean faking, but it is a well-known fact that false-colored feathers are pulled out of specimens, (which are-otherwise l ill right,- by even our very best exhibitort. This 'is hot, in my way of thinking, to be condemned, as frequently a white feather comes in a colored bird through a freak of nature," and if it-is plucked font a feather of the proper color will come in its place. Some little attentions as rthis cannot be called ** ia king ”; they are merely grooming after tho manner- of exhibitors of other ■stock. [They are dangerous attentions if the bird is shown-, minus the extracted feathers.—Ed;] i. _ Polishing the beaks and shanks with r. flannel cloth dipped (in olive oil and then m emery powder is perfectly legitimate, as this brightens up. the shanks and beakr of the birds, especially in Yokohama fowls, and shows tHe birds in the proper perfect condition. Rubbing a silk handkerchief over the plumage lust before sending away gives a -gloss to the featherr which brings out the colors of particolored birds to better advantage. White fowls _ should be thoroughly washed. There is nothing better for this purpose than pure soap and warm soft water. Have the! water comfortably warm, and wash the bird thoroughly, rubbing soap into the plumage without disarranging it more than is necessary. Then rinse in warm water, with several changes, until the soap is all washed out. and after this dip in warm water, to which enough pure indigo has been added to give the water a very pale transparent blue tint. Use pure indigo for this purpose, or the white fowls will show the blue. Wipe the birds as dry as possible, and put them in a warm room to finish drying, where they will preer their feathers until they are once more in proper shape.—English exchange.