GIANT IF LOVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

GIANT IF LOVE.

■'■'■'. :.. ; '": '. ■'. ;*, : '.":-:..;'i-:,''.,. : .;.'- ..;"" : "''-': : ''::"."".'''/:'",,■' , : '."' PROPOSED FROM AUDIENCE TO STAGE. All the elements of- real -romance are wrapped up in the story of the love of Mr. Clive Darril, an Australian giant, for Miss| Mariedl, a Tyrolean giantess, and one of . the tallest ladies who have ever appeared , in London. • -'.... The lady stands Bft 3in high, is 23 years , of age, and of passably good looks. Mr. Darril is the/son 5 of a- wealthy Australian farmer, hailing from Wagga Wagga, in" New South Wales. >He is 24 years of age/and is no less than Bft Bin high in his boots, and broad in proportion. Up to a few months ago he" never set foot; outside his native wilds, but his father having died and left him a) comfortable competence, he determined to leave Australia for a short time and do" Europe. Arriving at Vienna in January, he first saw/Miss Mariedl performing at one of the theatres there." Mr. Darril had previously expressed his intention of discovering, if possible, . a lady of about his own size and build with a view to offering her. marriage. /Immediately he set eyes on the tall Mariedl the Australian determined that he would wed her if the lady should be agreeable. "This is the woman," he declared, "that I have been looking for. My ambition is to rear a race of giants for posterity to wonder at and admire." .But between the swain and the object of his affections stood the lady's manager, who was adamant to all appeals for an introduction. Darril bombarded her with bouquets and bonbons, : and sa* in the stalls every night at the theatre. But he got. no nearer the ; accomplishment of his heart's desire. Suddenly the lady disappeared. After much difficulty he traced her to Berlin. In the German capital !no better luck awaited the earnest lover.She appeared at another theatre, and despite appeals to her manager and letters addressed, to the lady herself, Mr. Darril failed to advance Ids ; suit. -At* the; termination of the Berlin engagement, the young Australian discovered . that Miss Mariedl's destination was London, but it was not until- she was announced as appearing at the Hippodrome chat he got the clue as to her actual whereabouts. At every performance ' one- week Mr. Darril occupied a seat' in the' stalls. He renewed his appeals to the manager of the fair object of his love, and sent her letters, but without avail. ,;;, DRAMATIC DECLARATION. v A dramatic climax came on March 21. Mr. Darril, standing: up in the stalls, addressed the object of his affections on the stage. ■~: ■ . :,•,.-/:'. , .'-,.;- • The audience listened open-mouthed, and it was soon /evident, that their sympathies were with, the giant: Australian. '•'■-, Whether the lady on the stage understood the full trend of Mi-. Darril' declaration of love is an open question,' seeing that she does not speak his language. . < - The officials, requested Mr. Darril to desist, and he left the theatre. He was. again present at night, and the afternoon scenes were repeated. Then he went round to the stage door in ah endeavour to have a" personal interview with the lady, but he was ordered away, and the police were called to keep out the love-sick giant. As a result of this Mr. Darril has been refused admission by the Hippodrome management.'-'/■' . But Mr.; Darril comes of good ;colonial stock, and : is/ not easily beaten. /He had learned that by the terms of Miss Mariedl's contract she must be taken out of town every Sunday, and he determined to follow her., : ;/. • _' * ',* --. - . , ■'-'• ' Therefore, when one Sunday the giantess drove down into Surrey, the Cornstalk fol-low-ed in a motor-car, and overtook her at Guildford, where, in the Angel Hotel, he was introduced, despite opposition from the lady's manager. Surrounded by their friends, the couple took lunch together, and Mr./ Darril seized the opportunity to advance his suit. ,'.v : ..'': '' " / The manager ultimately relented so far as to; consent to write to Mariedl's parents and ask whether ; they would permit the young couple to become engaged. ;' : , // v. ■■-■' ;Another, chapter -in" this romance Of the giants was unfolded a' few days later at Marlbbrough-street Police Court, when Mr. Darril applied for a summons against Mr. Trussel; of the Hippodrome, for assault. . Mr. Darril was accompanied by his secretary, who made the application, and, hi. answer to a question as to what the assault was, said that when Mr. Darril and he went to the Hippodrome with/ tickets, for which they, had paid £2, they were refused admittance and assaulted by Mr.; Trussell. There had been dispute between them and the management" .",./, , Mr. Denman thought there must be some cause, for such conduct, and after a little judicious hesitation the applicant told : the story of Mr. Darril's infatuation for Miss Mariedl. , ,':;.'. ' Mr. Denman: You were hot, hurt in any way?—No; the giant ' might have hurt him ; he could, have knocked him ten yards away.'.-.-, My new stick was broken, and my hat was broken. (To the giant): Your hat was knocked off. Mr. Denman: You are quite sure he has not been requested not to go there?— Quite sure. , / Mr. Denman: Take a summons. The Applicant: I am very much obliged to you, sir. ~'/.;;....-'(,'.,