DRAMATIC GOSSIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10236, 3 January 1894, Page 2

DRAMATIC GOSSIP.

London, Nov. 3. Yesterday, in the Strand, I ran up against Mr K. S. Smythe and his eon Mr, Carlyle Smythe, who are both back in' town again, looking remarkably fit and well. The “Much Travelled” is in' treaty with three celebrities for a' lecturing tour in Australasia, but with 1 bis usual discretion, he refuses to mention their names until the agreements are signed. He is quite satis-; fled with his,contracts with Walter Besant and Paderewski, but the difficulty with thej latter is that it is impossible to get him toj fix a date for departure. Soma of the’ papers have been saying that Paderewski is foolish to visit Australia, while he is| able to make so much money in London, 1 but probably he knows his own business’ best. That the “ boom ”in Paderewski is by* no means weakening was clearly proved at the St James’s Hall on Tuesday. The 1 audience, after his performance was con-; eluded, would not allow the programme to, be proceeded with until he had played a 1 second piece, and after that he was called on to the platform four times. There ia| no doubt but that the British public, while 1 i paying tribute to genius, take care, at thej same time to have their money’s worth, and; perhaps, for this reason, Paderewski ia» anxious to leave us for a while. I askedw| Mr Smytbe if there was any truth in the; statement that according to the terms of his contract, Paderewski was bound not to have his hair cut during his Australian tour, but I could gat no satisfactory replies. I am rather inclined to think the report is true. Mr Clement Scott’s suggestion that the plot of The Second Mrs Tanqueray was taken from an obsolete German comedy, has cost the eminent critic dear. He told everybody he had never intended to accuse “dear old Pinero” of plagiarism, but “ dear old Pinero ” declined to be appeased by this handsome concession. He set the lawyers to work on an action for libel, and only w.thdrew it after Mr Scott had, with wry smiles, bolted a large lump of " humble pie ”in the “ Telegraph.” As that amusing reprobate, Willie Wilde, wittily parodying two well-known lines, remarked, Apropos of the quarrel:— “ A little German is a dangerous thing, Drink deep or taste not the Piuerian spring." Gounod was always'very charitable. One of the stories he loved to tell related to hia student’s days. He and two comrades were returning home one frosty winter evening when they stumbled against and overturned an old man, poor and pale, and half-starved, who had been scraping feebly at a fiddle in the dusk. When they had picked up the old chap, Gounod saw he was crying. “Are you ill? Can we do anything for you,” he asked. “Indeed, sirs,” said he, “ my daughter is starving. Give me a trifle for the love of God.” The students gazed at each other in consternation. Pour sous and a piece of rosin was all they could muster. Suddenly an idea struck Gounod. Borrowing the old musician’s violin, he called to his comrades, stepped into the lighted street, and announced in loud tones a charity concert. Gounod played ravishingly, aud his companion's The Parisians, quick to catch a sentimental situation, crowded around, and francs poured into the hats which the students placed on the ground before them. The lean old musician, like one inspired, conducted. Ho had once led the Strasburg opera orchestra, and in his time had “mounted” Guillaume Tell. When at length the show concluded, and with fall heart and heavy pockets he was departing* the veteran cried—“ Tour names,messieurs, that I may bless them on my death-bed and my daughter remember them in her prayers.” They told him facetiously,' I’aith, Hope and Charity. “God bless you,” ho said, solemnly. “You have saved my daughter’s life, for we’ll bo able to go home, where her health will come again and I shall got a little teaching. Ido not know your names,” he wound up, “ but I know this, for I can hear it distinctly, that in the days to come, when I am long dead, you will be amongst the greatest in Prance.” Ail three youths fulfilled this prophecy. That useful instrument, the P.K., or pruning knife,'has been applied with great advantage to the Tempter, which is now an admirable entertainment and drawing crowds. ’

'Paderewski will appear at- St James's Hail next Saturday, when the entire floor will consist of guinea stalls, and the orchestra and galleries be priced at half a guinea. The Pole is the best musical “draw” in Europe.