MR. BALFGUR AS MUSIC-LOVER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 27, 14 January 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

MR. BALFGUR AS MUSIC-LOVER.

Mr. Balfour was observed in a corridor of the Queen’s Ha'l. London, recently, waiting unobtrusively for tf d?or to open during a peiformance or the London Symphony Orchestra. His appearance there probably (surprised many people who were not aware of the ex-Premier s passion for music. To quote his own words, applied to himself, he as ‘‘a musical politician, or a political musician—whichever you think the more respectable.” The' incident reminds “T-P.” of Mr. Balfour’s last appearance at a great musical gathering. He was present at the final performance of the Handel-Mendelssohn Festival at the Crystal Palace, and walked up the a.isle towards the plattorm at the conclusion of The Messiah, with" h s book of words tucked under his arm, applauding with the utmost vigour, apparently lost to his surrounda - utterl - v oblivious to the mul-ti-ude of oxos that were turned towards him. A couple of volumes cf Schumann were his constant solace when he wa< tn residence in Downing-street. In f m’ 9 -. davs he ’’egulnry attended the old St. James’s Hall and the more classical concerts, often following the performer larefully from the score, and detecting with a half-suppressed frown iin ' T devmtions therefrom. His favourite composures are Schumann, Brahms, Handel, Bach, and—at a long interval—Grieg. He possesses a tine collection of Ha-idel's works. The Handel . ociety. indeed, was founded on c. S ,n,tla+ U e ' members having their a m Ire3^n S a t his house'Twenty years

CURIOUS ACCIDENT \T NEW YORK. •TJmrsacid- of people who were Ss.srmb’ed on the piers to wave a farewell to friends departing for Europe witnessed i eojli-ion in die Hudson recently between two great liners—the Fren' h Lorraine and the German Prinz. Friedrich Wilhelm. B"th v"‘S"ls were tim-’d to start on opposite sides of the river at the sam“ hour. The passengers on the decks were I’utlerhig their kandkerclii fs when th? Lorraine’s bow swept dangerously near the German liner, which was moving stern first out of th? dock. A powerful ebb tide was flowing. A mome.'t later the Lorraine’s starboard bow struck the other liner a "tow on her stern.

The shock, of the collision was suchi that many passengers were thrown on the deck, and dishes and plates in the saloons were tossed to the floor. When the ships were separated it was seen that both liners had torn holes some 8 feet square above th" water-line, and thev returned to the docks. The Lorraine, after a four hours’ delay, effected temporary repairs, took on Loar-I the mails of the Prinz Fri—d rich Wilhelm, and started.

Young Man: “Whv do you advise Miss Smith to go abroad to study music? You know she has no talent.” Old Mm- “I live next dour to Mi-s Smith.”