All Sports of Peoples

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 839, 4 August 1916, Page 4

All Sports of Peoples

THE decision of Mr; Ben J. Fuller, managing director of the Fuller Vaudeville Circuit, to enlist in October next has made a deep impression in Australia'. The press generally has made very complimentary references to it. One paper, the Melbourne "Punch" digs up some very interesting ancient history concerning the Fuller family a propos of Ben's intention of toeing the military mark. The Fuller family, this paper states, provides one of the romances of the show business in the Southern Hemisphere; in fact, one of the notable successes of the world. The firm of John Fuller and Sons, of •which Ben J. Fuller is the mainspring, owns and controls a chain of theatres and picture shows bigger in aggregate importance than that which is directed by any other single head south of the equator. The huge firm is practically the creation of old John Fuller and his son Ben; but from time to time a whole family of Fullers has been linked together in the show business. As far back as 1884 a complete Fuller entertainment was being operated in "London—a minstrel troupe, of which Ben Fuller still proudly preserves the programme: — End Man Ben Fuller. . Interlocutor Walter Fuller. Dance Specialist Johnny Fuller Violinist Lydia Fuller. Soubrette Hetty Fuller. They were, so to speak, a family of juvenile prodigies, all hard at work along with their father, John Fuller, famous in the music-halls to this day. "While his father was still in England, Ben was looking out for his own employment in the theatres. You might not . guess now that he was a stage singer, but that was his role in his boyhood. His first engagement away from his father was in D'Oyly Carte's juvenile opera company at the Savoy, and his first piece was Gilbert and Sullivan — "The Pirates of Penzance." He was a pirate in one act and a policeman m the next. A juvenile minstrel organisation claimed' him next; he played a tambourine and took a share in the comedy. Young Ben was having his second shot at juvenile opera, the piece being "La Filie de Madame Angot," -when his voice broke; and this incident of adolescence sent him off the stage into an engineer's office—a phase which lasted for a year. * * * * Then came the period on which Ben Fuller looks back with more interest and pleasure than to any other part of his individual life. He is to-day a big theatre-owner; in those days he seldom had a spare shilling. Now he can live in any luxury he desires; then he slept pretty often where night happerid to find him. .He was not enamoured of the life of routine in the engineer's office. He learned to play the piano. He had no teacher; but, possessing an ear for melody ? he played whatever was hummed to mm, and so he became pianist at a London "free-and-easy." At -Hie age of 18 Ben Fuller was chief musician in this kind of programme. It is not the beginning from which you would prophesy the development of one of Australia's theatrical kings. Concede, therefore, that there is abundant energy in the Cockney lads, one of whom has so come on.

Thereafter came Ben's magnificent tour of the English provinces; the sort of thing you don't read about, except in reminiscences. Being only in his teens, he naturally considered himself fairly capable as a pianist. - Seeing, then, an advertisement that a. pianoplayer was wanted by a travelling company located in a Yorkshire town, he paid his fare from Lor?don, arid applied for the job. His skill in music impressed' the manager so deeply that the manager made him —a dresser.

The Grand Tour was continued in other capacities than that of dresser. Ben graduated to the proud status of a "waxy-homie," a title which experienced EnglishmnK may recognise. "Homie" is merely a familiar rendering of the French "homme," and the WaxyHomie was (maybe is) a nigger minstrel performing on the sands at a waterine:place.

In Mr. Fuller's Sydney home there still hangs a double-bass instrument, and he would not willingly lose it; it is the record of an Achievement, with a capital A. At the end of a season he learned that the double-bass player did not intend to renew his engagement with the troupe. Young Fuller made up his mind that enviable place must be his. Accordingly, he learned the bass, and was rewarded bv the promise of the future job. * » * —• Between the day when one season closed at Trowbridge and that when the next opened at Southport two months elapsedj and the beginning of this period of famine found some of • the musicians stone-broke. Fuller was one of them. In such a case there is a traditional thing to do, and the hard-ups did it. They "pitched" through the English villages. Pitching means, of .course, that the band takes up a bold position in the street, and after a decent amount of music sends the hat round —the latter operation being colloquially known as "bottling." Ben was double-bass and bottler for his fraternity. In its later stages the "band" consisted, solely of violin, side-drum, and double-bass; so that when the bottler ceased his music to collect the money., the effects can hardly have been Wagnerian. However, that may be, the trio reached Southport at the end of. two months, paying their way, and showing a halfpenny surplus among them all! * * * » Young Fuller was about twenty years old when the fit seized him to travel and see the world. A jaunt to South Africa and back constituted his first journey. He travelled as an extra waiter and double-bass player—two billets at once. He was horribly but he saw what he wanted to see. **«■*■ In the meantime the father, John Fuller, had gone to Australia, and was by this time in Adelaide. Having learned from the South African venture how the thing could be done, Ben dercided to take a trip to Australia to see his father. On this voyage he was a combination of waiter and pianist. He reached Adelaide to find that his father, who was running "Continentals" as a variety show, had sent to England the passage money to bring him to Australia. That fare was used instead for his brother John. Getting release from his engagement for the hoiceward voyage, Ben stayed with his father. He pioneered New Zealand as a showjnan; the elder Fuller followed; they ran popular concerts, branched into vaudeville— and the rest is simply the story of their progress, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. **«■•»• Now the firm's feet stand planted on a big and expanding business. Its vaudeville flourishes. Its picture business is large; and in its stronghold of

New Zealand it controls or influences one hundred theatres or picture houses. An unusual kind of recruit for an army is Ben Fuller, but the sort of volunteer who furnishes a reply to those who stay at home to growl at the possiof conscription. A man who at forty-two is rich and powerful, and just feels his business moving bigger under - his hands, gives up much when he offers to go into the trenches. .Ben Fuller has never roared to other people to go to the war, but he has "decided to go himself. " » * # * By the bye, John Fuller, pere, cele- ' brated his 66tli birthday three or four weeks back. He left London in iIBB9 for Australia and New Zealand in search of a warmer clime. He was in ailing health and he wished to prolong his life. He has found that health-giv-ing climate in Auckland. And. he has found a fortune also for himself and the family. < » « « Not generally known that two blueblooded, traitors, the Dukes, of Cumberland and of Albany, who are fighting against us on the side of our enemies, still retain their rank as Princes of the Blood . Royal. Attention was recently " drawn to the fact by a prominent English »K.C and member of Parliament. In doing so. he didn't mince matters, branding it in such forcible terms as "a crying scandal" and "an insult to our people." He called upon Parliament to deprive the traitorous pair of their " titlea. * » « » The position of these two blue-blooded renegades is really farcical. They take rank in the scale of general or social precedence immediately after the King's younger sons. These enemies of the Throne take precedence immediately before the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York, and the British Prime Minister. The history of their peerages makes the treason of their holders particularly base and despicable. They emanate in a very special manner from the English Crown. The first Duke of Cumberland, the grandfather of the present duke, was a younger son of George IH. The first Duke of Albany, the father of the present duke, was the youngest son of Queen Victoria. If the Crown of England, had. been limited in its descent to the male line, the present traitor Duke of Cumberland would ho the British Sovereign. The Kaiser's onlv daughtei is married to the Duke's eldest son, who is also in, arms against his country, and~ will, if matters are allowed to take their course, be the holder of three peerages and a prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Duke of Albany was born in England a posthumous child; his mother, a German Princess, lived in England and has a pension of .£6OOO per annum from its public funds. The Duke was educated in England,, was an Eton boy brought up amid English surroundings, and a member of the English Established Church. In 1900 he became reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and is now in arms against the country of his birth, to which he owes the maintenance and education of his early years, and which gives his mother a magnificent pension.

Returned Anzacs like to record those little touches of comedy that relieved the monotony and dispelled for a time the tragic side of their life on Gallipoli. One tells the story of a big Australian who was standing (lady readers, please skip this) in his birthday suit by the water-side when a sniper's bullet zipping past nicked a piece from his nose. The soldier stood not upon the order of his going, but without waiting to don a single garment turned riglrbabout and doubled off to the dressing

station. Though the wound was slight it bled profusely, and the blood streaming down the man's naked body made a striking study in red and white.

A member of the New Zealand Field Ambulance in France writes out that about the first man the Ambulance handled on the Western fronts was Bob Lewis, formerly «of the Bank of New Zealand staff, Wellington. Lewis is being invalided home to New Zealand minus one finger. The writer also adds: - "You will probably know young Fyadcliffe. I was talking to bim not many days ago, and now he is dead and buried. He used to row with me in the Star Boating Club." '-.*'-.*■ *. *

Gunner George Glen, son of Mr. Glen, superintendent of the city reserves, has left for the front as a member of the Australian forces. He has been in Australia, for the past five'years. He goes into the firing-line attached to the Field, Artillery. ' . .

A Wellington friend who wrote to Mr. J. H. Pagni, formerly of Wellington, upon his appointment" as Italian Consul at Auckland, has received a very interesting acknowledgment. = Miv • Pagni is justly proud, of the Italian, blood in his veins, and incidentally in his reply he touches upon the-part our Italian Ally is playing in the present struggle. He writes : —=

"I might say that long before Italy declared war she was fully familiar with the true gravity of the situation in England. Indeed a large section of the Italian press openly declared that Great Britain would never be able to bear her proper part in this struggle without compulsory service. 'If the war is to be won every man must be in arms.'" They contended that the day for the voluntary system is over. And yet what do we find, the bulk of our own people, and more especially the wage-earners who are earning more to-day than they ever earned in their lives, have not awakened to realise the seriousness of the situation. As a matter of fact, a section of them are threatening to strike rather than help their fellowworkers who are shedding tlieir blood to keep the grand old flag of liberty flying. "Some twelve months before, he present war the King of Italy was told that some day Germany meant to make war upon Great Britain. His Majesty is reported to have replied Hx> this effect: 'If ever war comes you will find Italy fighting side by side with Great Britain.' Quite true.

"The present King Victor Emmanuel lll.,'head of the House „of Savoy, sprang from a line of warrior kings. His famous grandfather, whose name he'bears, brought about with the help of Mazzini, Cavour, and) Garibaldi, the unification of Italy welding inixx one solid kingdom a dozen warring and disunited States. Once more Italy has drawn sword in the sacred cause of freedom, and again we see the idol of his people, leading the army to battle to wrest once aridi for ever from the hated invader the last foot of Italian soil which still groans under the rule of the tottering Empire of the Hapsburgs. Italy and Great Britain will always be great friends as liberal ideals and inspirations are snared in common by the two nations.

"A typical story is told of the King of Italy by an Italian officer, and it is this: In a village recently taken from the Austrians the Bang climbed into a church belfry to watch the positions of the combatants. ' The belfry was exposed to fire, and the • attention of the King was politely drawn, to the fact that the spot where he stood was too dangerous. He replied: 'The House of Savoy always takes a front seat.* On another occasion—l dare say you have read this in the cables —when the enemy, having noticed the Royal automobile coursing, along a pass fired three fourteen

•11-inch shells into the first village where the King halted. One of these burst only a hundred yards from where he was ..standing. 'What a sorry waste of stuff over one man's life,' said the King, drily.

"When all it is said and done, Italy has drawn the sword in two fine old Italian causes: the unity of her people and the freedom of Europe. The Italian Government felt that the question for Italy was not whether she should gain something more by fighting or something less by not fighting, but whether their country in future was to be a free Italy, or- an.ltaly led by captive in Trentino chains."

Sergt. H. W. Cannington, who was lulled in action in France on the 9th of this month, was particularly well known in Wellington. Although bom in Chnst- • church, he spent a. large part of his life in Nelson", where he attended" the public school, and later the Nelson College. While at college he took a very active part in all branches of school life, and was-a very keen Rugby player. After leaving college he joined the Public "Trust Office, Wellington, • and threw himself whole-heartedly into his work and the many activities connected with this Department. He played Rugby football for some years for the St. John s Club, subsequently for the Wellington -Ulub. He enlist&'l for active service immediately on the outbreak of the war, :and left New 'Zealand with the Canterbury section of the Main Body as a corporal. He received his promotion m Egypt, and took part in the fight on the •'Canal, and was also present at the lancliing in Gallipoli. After serving, for some months on the Peninsula he was invalided to Lemnos. He always evinced, •a deep interest in military life, and when sick refused an offer to be invalided back to New Zealand.

This has been an unlucky year for General Townshend. . Some weeks ago "he fell prisoner to the Turks, and now news comes that a bouncing boy, born to his cousin, the Marquis, has cut him out of the position of being the next in the line of descent for the title. As the Marquis is 50 years of age, his cousin, the General, might be said to have had favourable chances of corning into the title until this son arrived.

■ Lance-Corporal "William . Edward Rhodes, who is reported to have died of -wounds on June Bth, was the only son ot Mr and Mrs. R. Rhodes, 28, ArdmoreToa'd, Ponsonby, Auckland. He was born in Auckland 26 years ago, and was educated at the Dargavill© Public School and the Aratapii High School. LanceCorporal Rhodes had always taken a keen interest in military matters, and at one time was a member of the old Newtown Rifles, and held the rank ot lieutenant in the Eden Defence Cadets. •Subsequently he joined the Territorials, holding a commission as first lieutenant. "When he enlisted in the Bth Reinforcements he was employed by Messrs. AN mgate and Co. as despatch clerk.

Miss Beatrice Day's only child, Lieut. Robin' Wall, was to' leave England for the fighting front last month. He has been performing military duty at Home for over a year, assisting in the defence of the East Coast of England from Zeppelin raids. He was at college when war was declared, and although only 17 vears of age he was accepted for an officers' training corps, and eventually gained his commission in the Lincolnshire Regiment. Miss Daj left Wellington some few weeks ago and is now on her way to France to be near her son. On the way she had a fine reception in Melbourne, where a compli"mentary benefit was tendered her.

South Australia boasts that Mr. J. M. Mcßride. one of its wealthy men, has disbursed £13,560 on behalf of different patriotic funds since the beginning of the war. New Zealand's greatest individual benefactor produced by this war is Mr. P. A. McHardy, of Palmerston North, and the Fkeb Lance can pay Mr. Mcßride no greater compliment than to remark that he is the Peter McHardy, of South Australia.

New s of an interesting engagement came by the last American mail. It is that of Miss Marian Baldwin to Mr. James Abram Garfield. Miss Baldwin is a daughter of one of the editors of "The Outlook" and a niece of Mr. Stanley Washburn, the wan correspondent with the Russian Army for the London "Times." The bridegroom-elect is a grandson of President Garfield.

A good shopping centre is a place ardently desired by all. By making Veitch and Allan, complete house-fur-nishers and drapers, of Cuba-street, your shopping home you will have taken <a big step towards real satisfaction. Just at this very moment they have in full swing their annual winter sale, at which bargains from every department are offered—bargains well worth securing.