THE CASTLES FAMILY IN LONDON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2223, 29 October 1907, Page 4

THE CASTLES FAMILY IN LONDON.

Tho Castles Family is making headway in the Old Country. “Trypheiia”' writes from London to I'lie “Bulletin” as follows:- —tl here s -a whole nest of Castles songbirds in the ltia (Smoke just now under the one roof. Hour of them, no lees! And there’s an hour set apart for each to twitter and chir-p in an interesting old house in St. Johns Wood. .Amy nourishes her top C for concerts that are to earn hie sums for her this season in A morion and Russia. She has a three years’ engagement with the elder Boozy; hut should an inviting offer for a season of grand opera occur —I sav, should it occur—£iho may withdraw from the bond for a stated sum. Amy Castles Ims been to see the Queen, and tells about it: “My knees trembled. [ could scarcely drag my feet 'towards the Queen till 1 saw that she was nervous lierself —really she was. You seo out party was a small one, and informal, and none of the pomp or ceremony of a public appearance called for the superb air of royalty tlia-t is generally in evidence when Ho ado n sees tho Queen. So sho was just woman—a sweet woman, too. She was far less deaf than I imagined, and she put us all at our ehso as soon as she bail recovered her own.” Amy thereupon warbled at her best, and won the Royal applause. Sister Dolly had the luck at Daly's Theatre to be dubbed as Billv Burke at first sight, and 'as Billy is the sauciest comedy star in the Big Smoke, tho resemblance of features, inches, complexion. anil honeyed thatch that the footlighters saw has done Dolly no harm. Billy Burke is the top dazzler of the comedy hoards, and dukes and such jostle for her demure smile. Eileen, the third Castle, is in hard training; she’s going to have a big, florid voice. Brother George, at present easit in a Seymour Hicks show, has a singularly good singing organ, though much training is needed. 1-fc just toils at his scales. In the Castles circle mingle Violet .'Clarke, Walter Kirby, Nathalie Dawson, and others. Violet, these days, is not gohlen-top-ped, as I remarked in a recent scrawl. The tall, -straw blonde, who now and then, accompanies the governing Clarke couple, is a relative, Violet’s hair remains brown and honest-. She’s not going out to help govern Bombay with Dad, but will stick to her work. “I love work,” she tells mo. “And I love tho stage. I'm happiest there. My voice isn’t big. I know, but the critics liko its quality, and Gilbert himself, who took mo through my ports dn the operas, gave mo praise, and said I worked with plenty of bright interest. That gave me hope. To havo the great okl dear say that himself, and I struggling through his operas, was delightful.” There’s a chance of Violet tripping out t-o Australia one of these days. Walter, tho fier-en-ader; is called the Caruso of Park Dane, latudy and practice have done him so much good that in the season he is pouring forth melody s-t dozens of parties, with Duchesses swarming round land making the atmosphere moist and unpleasant. He’s fat, of course, and owns an extra chin or two. but his voice is fine, ami the fat 'is forgiven him. Oil, it’s fine to ho an Australian these times in the Big "Smoke. On the stage, tho platform, the tennis court, and most other places khey’ro top-dog.