THE LATE MISS NELLIE FARREN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1682, 25 May 1904, Page 15

THE LATE MISS NELLIE FARREN

A DISTINGUISHED AND POPULAR: . ACTRESS. ! AN UNIQUE BENEFIT. (By “Lorgnette,” for'tlm “N.Z. Mail.”) i Miss Nellie Barren, whose death was an- : nounced a few days ago *by .cablegram, was one of the best known burlesque, actresses that has ever appeared on the English speaking stage. Miss Barren’s parents being .members of the profession she was on the stage from the -days of her childhood. She appeared in pantomime when she was only seven years of age, and long before- she was out of her teens she had made her mark as an actress, having played a long range of famous, characters of which Lydia Langxrish can , be placed at one end and Nan in “Good for Nothing” at the other; indeed, she is 1 said to never have had an equal in the . latter character. When the Strand Mnßio Hall was converted into the Gaiety Theatre Miss Barren left the Olympia Theatre with which she had been for a considerable period associated and joined the Gaiety. Miss Barren visited Australia. during the year 1888 with the first Gaiety Ctompany that toured Australia. The combination, which travelled by the Liguria, was headed by the late Mr Fred Leslie and Miss I Farren. The company included Miss Letty i Lind, Miss Sylvia Grey, Miss Marion Hood, and Mr Charles Dauby. On arrival of the steamer at Largs Bay it was found that ; they had. just time to -have breakfast and a run on shore before sailing for Melbourne. Mies Barren, Mr Fred Leslie and : other members of the company availed themselves of the opportunity. On reaching the pier Miss Barren, with the super-; stition of -the stage, immediately knelt down and kissed the landing for good luck - She also insisted on the others doing likewise. Tears of laughter being created among , the bystanders at the spectacle, especially; when Mr Leslie endeavoured to find a clean ’ spot for his performance. On the arrival of the party at the; hotel Miss Barren religiously round three times, as another token of good luck, on first stepping on -Australian soil. Alas, the good luck she enjoyed on the first tour did not stick to her on her second visit. Miss i Barren, used to say she would always re- . , member Australia for two things. First, the cordial reception she received both on and off the stage, and the cruel attack of rheumatic fever that necessitated her leaving the ranks of the Gaiety Company.' They did immense business in both Sydney and Melbourne. The takings for one week at the Melbourne Princess, according to “The Recollections of Bred Leslie,” were, commencing with the Monday’s performance.£27o, £250, £295, £356, £330, and £360. "Monte. Christo” and “Mies Esmeralda” were -the pieces played. During the trial scene in "Misß Esmeralda” Miss Barren and Mr Leslie (the prisoners) personated their own witnesses. The dock or box which they occupied was open to the view of the audience, and the two artistes, whenever they called a fresh witness were seen to drop down, effect a rapid make-up and re-appear each time in a new character. . Miss Barren visited Australia for a; second time in 1891 with another Gaiety Company which included Mr Bred Leslie, Miss .Sylvia Grey, Miss Florenoe Levey, Miss Pedley, Mr Bred Storey, and Mr Charles Dauby. The pieces played were “Buy Bias” and “Ctoder-EUen Up Too Late.” It was during this visit that Miss Barren contracted rheumatic fever, and during the last performance of “Cincter-Ellen” her part had to be taken by an understudy. She left Australia by the MessageriesMaritime ‘Steamer Polynesien which reached Marseilles about the 22nd November. A few days’ stay in the Biviera brought no change of health, and impatient to be home she gave her companions no rest until she was once more in London. There she seemed to improve, and she was full of the hope that in a few weeks she would again be treading .the old familiar boards of the Gaiety. It was confidently expected that when “Cmder-Ellen”Vwas staged Miss Barren would be able to play her old part, but as the appointed -day drew near her inability to appear began to be realised and a substitute was -provided in the clever and vivacious actress Miss , Kate James. Bor four years Miss Farren could not walk a step, and in addition to her terrible physical affliction came financial failure. In 1898 a benefit was tendered her at Drury Lane Theatre and it was in every way a record. It realised £6OOO, and the Nellie Barren Fund closed at ,£7260 15s 6d. The of Wales, the present King, gave £25. It was ascertained that the. £6OOO would purchase an annuity for Miss Barren of £360 a year; but. this sum theMessrs Rothschild guarantbed to pay her annually ast interest on the money, leaving the principal intact. Two-thirds of the .total she was allowed to dispose of by. will ; at her death; biit £l9oo'was to go to establish a “Nellie Barren” cot in a hospital for children, and another £IOOO to be equally divided between the two great theatrical benevolent funds. '• ‘ . THE BEGGED -BENEFIT. . Speaking ’ ofthe benefit performance; the London "Times” of March 18th, 1898, said: -*! —“Yesterday in the matter uf benefits the % theatrical profession surpassed itself. Nothing on the scale of the performance given for the assistance of Miss Nellie Barren at Drury Lane has ever been known j, on the stage, and it. is hard to conceive under what circumstances the record can be broken. The enormous theatre was • crowded as it has never been before, with no fewer than 5000 people, of whom 1004 were packed into the gallery; and the prices obtained for seats -were—for private boxes, 20' to 100 guineas; -stalls,, five guineas; grand circle, two guineas; first circle, one guinea and 15s; balcony, half a guinea and 7s 6d; pit, a guinea and half a guinea; and amphitheatre, half a crown. At the entrance to the unreserved seats the public began, to -assemble as early as 11 o’clock overnight, bringing with them camp-stools and provisions. The house generally comprised the cream of the playgoing public, from royalty in the person of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar downwards, the city vying with, if not surpassing the West End in its'tribute to the beneficiary. - Over £6OOO was raised by the performance, the sale of programmes and photographs of Miss Barren at fancy prices alone realising £SOO. This work was undertaken by a. bevy of young actresses, two of whom, Miss Laly Harold and Miss 'Birdie' 'Sutherland, sisters, aro stated to have taken £IOO between them. To .the business- of the stage, unique in its variety and extent, every actor, and actress ox note in London contributed either in speaking parts or as supers. From every point of view, indeed, the event, is unprecedented—an -overwhelming testimony to the popularity of the actress who was associated for-so many years at the Gaiety with a form of burlesque now extinct. ‘The affliction which has aroused so much sympathy overtook Miss Nellie Farren six v years ago, as she was touring with the then Gaiety-Company in Australia. Bather unwisely, perhaps. Miss Nellie Farren em- ; barked in theatrical speculation, starting a season at the Opera Oomique, which proved disastrous. 'The sale of her jewels

followed, and she had nothing left to live upon when this colossal benefit in her favour was organised. Popular as the movement was from the first, the response to it exceeded all expectation. On many grounds the case commanded sympathy, •though no one could have been prepared for such a demonstration as took place at Drury .Lane yesterday afternoon. The un-reserved-portions of the house were thrown open as early as 9 o’clock in the morning, and at half-past 12 began an entertainment which lasted till 6 in the evening. It was AN EVENTFUL PEEBOEMANCE from the beginning to end, all those taking part in it being artistes of distinction. As it will no doubt interest readers of the “New Zealand Mail” we publish the programme in full, which has been kindly lent by Mr Maurice Dudley, of tlie Boyal Comic Opera Company. It is as follows: THEATRE BOYAL, DBUEY LANE, LIMITED, Managing Director ... ARTHUE COLLINS The Directors have given the Theatre, free of expense, for this performance, and Mr Arthur Collins has kindly undertaken xhe Direction of > the Stage. PROGRAMME of SPECIAL MATINEE PEEBOEMANCE For the Benefit of ’the NELLIE BAEEEN TESTIMONIAL BUND, THUESDAY. MARCH 17th, 1898. Commencing at 12.30. The Committee tender their thanks to- the Managers and Artists who have co-oper-ated with them and given their services on this occasion. Overture ... “Babes in the Wood” ... Glover THE DRURY LANE ORCHESTRA. “PAPA’S WIFE.” _ • A Musical Comedietta. Written by Seymour Hicks, music by <• Ellaine Terriss. Gerald Singleton Mr Seymour Hicks Edward (a servant) Mr Harry Nicholls Kate Wetkerby .Miss Ellaine Terriss ■Song ... “Generous Mr Green” ... ; G. Le Brun Miss Marie Lloyd Accompanied by Mr Hermann Fincke. Scene from Act 2 of Shakespeare’s Comedy, “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.” Don Pedro Mr Bred Terry Don John Mr H. B. Irving Claudio Mr Eobert Loraine Benedick Mr George Alexander Leonato Mr W. H. Vernon Balthazar Mr Bertram Wallis 'Borachio Mr Arthur Royston Beatrice ...Miss Julia Neilson Scene Leonato’s Orchard (W. Hann). -Stage manager, Mr H. H. Vincent: Musical Director, Mr William Robins. / Duet ... from “The Forty Thieves” ... Lutz Miss Kate Vaughan and Mr E. W. Royce Song ... “Lend Me Your Aid” ... Gounod IReine de Saba) Mr Ben Davies. Accompanied by Mr Landon Eonald. Beene 1., Act IV., from -.Shakespeare's Tragedy, “HAMLET,” Laertes Mr Frank Horatio Mr Tyars Claudius .’. Mr Cooper Cliffe Gertrude Miss Genevieve Ward Ophelia Miss Ellen Terry Scene—A Boom in the Palace. Stage Manager, Mr Henry J. Loveday. Ventriloquial Entertainment, Mr i John Le Hay Dolls Duet from “The Circus Girl” (Lionel Monckton), Miss Katie Seymour, and Mr Edmund Payne. Ist Act of Lord Lytton’s Comedy, “MONEY.” Alfred Evelyn .Mr H. Beerbohm Tree Sir John Vesey Mr John Hare ,Sir Bredk. Blount Mr Charles Hawtrey Capt. Dudley Smooth Mr Lewis Waller Graves Mr Lionel Brough Lord Glossinore .Mr Herbert Waring Stout Mr Bred Kerr Sharp, Mr James Fernandez Sir John’s Servant ...Mr Arthur Eoberts Clara Douglas .* Mrs Tree Georgina Vesey Miss Evelyn Millard Servant- Miss Lottie Venne Lady Franklin Mrs John Wood Scene—Drawing Boom at Sir John Vesey’s. Recitation “The Dream of Eugene Aram” (Hood) *..... Henry Irving Song, “She Just Walks On” (Bennet Scott and-A. J. Mills) .Miss Louie Ereeap’ Song ... “Still- Wie Die Nacht ... (Bohm) Miss Clara Butt. Accompanied by Mr S. Little. Song ... “The future Mrs ’Awkins” Mr Albert Chevalier Accompanied by Mr Alfred H. West. “TBIAL BY JURY ” A Dramatic Cantata / By W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. (By kind permission of' Mr D’Oyle Carte.) Characters: The Learned Judge, Mr Eutland Barrington The Defendant ...Mr Courtice Pounds Counsel for the Plaintiff Mr Eric l-iejvis Usher Mr Walter Passmore The Associate Mr W. S. Gilbert The Associate’s Wife Lady Bancroft The Plaintiff ...Mis3 Florence Perry Bridesmaids: Miss Phyllis Broughton, Miss Louie Pounds, Miss Nellie Stewart, Miss Jessie Huddleston, Miss Aida Jenoure, Miss Ellis Jeffreys, Miss Sybil Carlisle, Miss Grace Parlotta, Miss Violet, Eobinson, Miss Maud Hobson, Miss Ina Repton, Miss Kate Cutler, Miss Emmie Owen, Miss Maggie May, Miss Ruth Vincent, Misifc Beatrice Ferrers. Jurymen: Mr Harry Lytton (foreman), Mr Willie Edouin, Mr Norman Salmond, Mr John Coates, Mr E. J. Lonnen, Mr Richard Green, Mr W. Louis Bradfield, Mr Jones Hewson, Mr W. H. Denny, Mr W. H. Seymour, Mr Mark Kinghorne, Mr Colin Coop, Mr J. J. Dallas, Mr Wm. Elton, Mr J. Burneaux Cook, Mr Scott Russell, Mr Herbert Standing, Mr Arthur Roberts.. Counsel: Mr J. Comyns Carr, Mr Haddon Chambers, Mr Sydney Grundy, Mr Lionel Monckton, Mr Edward Rose. Seats on tfie Bench have been reserved for: Miss Mary Moore, Miss Lydia Thompson, Mr Chas. Wyndham. Seats by Counsel have been reserved for: Miss Kate Santley, Miss Constance Losebv Miss Marion Hood, Miss Eose Leclercq, Miss Kate Borke, Mrs Dion Boucieault, Miss Carlotta Addison, Miss Fanny Brough, Mdlle. Cornelie D’Anka. Crowd in Court : Miss Compton, Miss Florence Young, Miss Helena Dacre, Miss Eosina Brandram. Mrs -H. Leigh. Mrs F. H Macklin, Miss Kate Bishop, Miss. Maria

Davis, Miss Helen Ferrers, Miss Florence Gerard, Miss Sarah Brooke, Miss Leonora Braham, Miss Irene Vanburgh, Miss Evelyn Fitzgerald, Miss Beatrice Perry, Miss Nesbitt, Miss Lily Cellier, Miss Louie Henri, Miss Jessie Eose, Miss Daisy Gilpin, Miss Ethel Wilson, Miss Ada Newall, Miss Pattie Eeimers, Miss Dorothy Dene, Miss Hetty Dene, Miss Mary C. Mackenzie, Miss Gertrude De Lacy, Miss Valerie De La.cy, Miss Margery Northcote, Miss Millicent Baker, Miss Laurie Elieston, Miss Marguerite Moyse, Mias Ethel Jackson, Mias Lily Twyman, Miss Annie Bussell, Mr Chas. J. Fulton, Mr Gillie Farquhar, Mr Nutcombe Gould, Mr James Erskine, Mr W. T. Lovell, Mi* Tim Eiley. Mr J. D. Beveridge, Mr Cha-s. Sugden, Mr Dion Boucieault, Mr Cory James, Mr Charles Ohilderstone, Mr Joseph Buff, Mr Charles Earldon, Mr Cecil Castle, Mr Avon Hastings, Mr lago Lewys, Mr Dudley Jepps, Mr Edwin Bryan, Mr J. Ivimey, Mr Leonard Bussell. Produced under the personal direction of the Author. Conductor Mr Francois Cellier NOTICE. Miss Florence St. John was to have played The Plaintiff in “Trial by Jury,” but having been taken seriously ill before the final rehearsal, Miss Florence Perry kindly took up the part at very short notice. Song ... “Tommy Atkins” ... Potter Mr C. Hayden Coffin. Song ... “The Jewel of Asia” ... Pbilp Miss Marie Tempest A Dualogue Entitled “A PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP,” By J. M. Barrie, Miss Winifred Emery and Mr Cyril Maude. Orchestral Pot-Pourri “Old Gaiety Days” (Messer Lutz) Conducted by the Composer. The Schoolroom Scene from the Drury Lane Pantomime, “THE BABES IN THE WOOD,” By Arthur Sturgess and Arthur Collins, Music by J. M. Glover. Prince Paragon Miss Ada Blanche Marian Miss Violet Eobinson Miss Gertie Girton Miss Alice Barnett The Baron Banbury ...Mr John A. Warden Reggio I Mr Dan Leno Ohrissie (the babesl ...Mr Herbert Campbell Lord Chamberlain, Miss Nellie Huxley; Field Marshal, Miss Hooten; Master of the Horse, Miss Walters; Master of the Buckhounds, Miss Lillie Henshaw; Captain of Hussars, Miss Lilian Lee; Captain of the Guard, Miss E. Bussell; Aide-de-Camp, Miss Eita Harrison; Music Master, Mr E. Morgan; Porter, Mr W. Morgan; and the members of the Drury Lane Company. To be followed by a * HARLEQUINADE Conducted by W. Palings and Horace Lennard. Music arranged by J. M. Glover, stage manager, J. A. E. Malone. Scene—A London Street (Bruce Smith) Fairy Queen Miss JCilaine Terriss Columbine Miss Letty Lind Harlequin Mr Willie Warde Pantaloon Mr Fred Storey Clown Mr Edmund Payne Police Sergeant XX. ...Mr Arthur Eoberts Cheesemonger Mr Arthur Williams Fishmonger Mr Harry Monkhouse Eummun, the restaurateur, Mr Harry Nicholls Waiter at Rummun’s Mr Fred Kaye Pawnbroker ....Mr Willie Edouin Street Orator Mr -’Seymour Hicks Newspaper Boy Mr Tom Thorne Soldier Mi* Will Bishop Singing Swell Mr Huntley Wright Butcher Bey Mr A. Boucieault Deaf and Dumb Man ...Mr Harry Paulton Sandwich man Mr Arthur Bourchier Sandwich Girl Miss Decima Aloorb Simple Simon Mr Edward Righton Sussanah Miss Louie Freear Registry Office Keeper ...Miss -Connie Ediss Tinker .Mr John Le Hay Pieman Mr Harry Randall Two Babes Miss Eva Moore and Mr H. V. Esmond Their Nurse .' Miss Susie Vaughan Walking Gent Mr Robb Harwood Cheeky Boy Master Bottomley The Boy’s Mother Miss M. A. Victor Two Little Vagabonds Miss Kate Tyndall and Miss Sidney Fair- • br, other. Organ Grinder Mr 11. Do Lange Constables —Mr W. L. Abingdon, Mr Paul Arthur, Mr Sydney Brough, ‘Mr 11. O. Clarey, Mr Leslie Holland, Mr G. Huraphery, Mr Luigi Lablache, Mr F. xL. Macklin, Ml* E. Nainby Mr Edward Sass, Mr George Shelton, Mr Fred Terry, Mr F. * Wright, jun. Street Dancing Girls—Miss Phyllis Broughton. Miss Madge Greet, Miss Kate, James, Miss Alice Lethbridge, Mis 3 Kitty Loftus. Miss Marie Lloyd, Yiiss Katie Seymour, Miss Topsey Sinden. Street Singers—Mr C. Hayden Coffin, Mr Lawrence. Kellie, Air Barton McGuckin, Mi* Norman Salmond. Swells—Mr Maurice Farkoa, All* Charles Hawtrey, Air Lionel Alaokinder. Ladies—Alias Lily Hanbury, Miss Evelyn Millard, Miss Violet Vanburgh. , The Conductor’s Band—Herr Aleyer Lutz (conductor), Air- G. Byno, Mr Ivan Caryll, Mr Francois Cellier, Mr Victor Champion, Mr Jolm Crook, Mr Janies Glover, Lieut. •Dan Godfrey, Mr George /'Jacobi, Air Maurice Jacobi, Mr Edward Jones, Mr Sydney Jones, Air Carl Kiefert, Mr Alfred Plumpton, Mr Walter Slaughter. Mr Leslie Stuart,, All* Howard Talbot,' Air Leopold Wenzel". Servants (applying at Registry Office)— Miss Edith Bottomley, Aliss Pattie Brown, Aliss Alay Edouin, Alias Audrey Ford, Alias Mary Fawcett, Aliss Vane Featlierston, Miss Charlotte Granville, Alias Clara decks, Alias Alice Kingsley, Aliss O. Morrell. Miss Alice Selwyn, Miss Lalor Sliiel, Miss Ilaidee W right. Ladies, Swells, etc.—Miss Ethel Barrymore, Aliss Hilda Spong, Alias Alice Davis, Aliss Maggie May, Aliss Alay Sackville, Miss Lucille Graham, Aliss Kate Graves, Aliss Bella Graves, Miss Lillie Comyns, Miss Eose Brady, Aliss Ethel Lennard, Alias M. Prior, Aliss Lila Clay, All* Sam Sothern, Mr Gerald Du Alaurier, All* E. W. Colman, Air Laurence D’Orsay, Mr Lionel Eignold, Mr George Arliss, All* Arthur Eliot, Air A. G. Poulton, Mr Arthur Playfair, Mr Harry Grattan, Mr Cairns James, Mr W. H. Powell, Mr F. Al. Wood. The dresses for clown, pantaloon and harlequin specially made by J. A. Harrison Co., Ltd. The Harlequinade will conclude with a Revue Atusicale introducing:— No. I—“THE FRENCH AIAID.” Ist Tableau —Miss Louie Pounds, Mi Richard Green. 2nd Tableau —Aliss Kate Cutler. 3rd Tableau—Mr Murray King, Mr Hugh Metcalf. No. 2—“ LA POUPEE.” Ist Tableau—Miss Jessie Huddlestone, Mr Courtice Pounds. 2nd Tableau—Air Norman Salmond, Air W. Cheesem, Mr Conway Dixon. . 3rd Tableau—Mr Willie Edouin. - 1 < , No. 3—“ DANDY DAN”’ .Mis 3 Isa Bowman, Mr Arthur Roberts, i

No. 4—“ THE GEISHA.” 1st —Tableau.—Aliss Marie Tempe-L, Mr Frank Boore. 2nd Tableau —Air Hayden Coffin, Air D. Hall, Mr E. Snow. 3rd Tableau —Aliss Letty land. Mias Juliette Nesville, Air Eutland Barrington. 4th Tableau—Air Huntley W right. No. S—“THE CIRCUS GIRL.” Ist Tableau—Aliss Maidie Hope. Air Goan Coop, Air Harry Alonkhou-sc , Air L. , Mackinder. Mr W. Louis Bracifieid. 2nd Tableau—Miss Katie Seymour. Mr Edmund Payne. 3rd Tableau —Alias Connie Ediss, Air .Arthur Williams. RECEPTION TO AIISS NELLIE FABLEN v , and Presentation of Souvenir Album containing Photograiffis and Autographs of everyone taking part in tiiis Benefit Performance, The entire production of this Album has been undertaken free of charge by tlic London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company. The Address written by Air Henry Hamilton and spoken by Mr Edward Terry. GENERAL 'COMMITTEE. His Grace the Duke of Beaufort, K. G„ His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Hiß Grace the Duke of Fife, K.T., the Earl of Hardwicke, the Earl of Durham, the Earl of Londesborough, the Earl of Kilmorey, K.P., the Earl of Carrington, Lord Archibald Campbell, Lord Aiington, Lord Rothschild, Lord Russell of Killowen, Lord Farquhar, the Honble. Humphry; Sturt, M.P., Sir Frederick Milner, Bart., ALP., Sir John Edwards-Moss, Bart., Sir Edward Lawson, Bart., Sir J. Blundell Maple, Bart., ALP., Lieut.-Gen. Sir Frederick MarsndU, Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., Sir Henry Irving, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sir Squire Bancroft, Sir Douglas Straight, C. J. Abud, Esq., John Aird, Esq., M.P., George Alexander, Esq., Hugh Astley, Esq., Alfred Beit, Esq., Spencer Brunton, Esq., W. L. A. Burdett-Coutts, Esq., M.P., F. C. Burnand, Esq., Richard Butler, Esq., Charles L. Carson, Esq., E. D’Oyly Carte, Esq., Arthur Chudleigh, Esq., John Corlett, Esq., James Davis, Esq., Frank M. Dutton, Esq., E. Engeldbach, Esq., &. Wentworth Fitzwilliam, Esq., Thomas Fraser, Esq., S. uatti, Esq., W. S. Gilbert, Esq., Albert Gilmer, Esq., C. F. Gill, Esq., Eobert E. Graves, Esq., wm. Greet, Esq., Murray Griffiths, Esq., -George Grossmith, Esq., Sydney Grundy, Esq., John Hare, Esq., " Frederick Harrison. Esq., Charles H. Hawtrey, Esq., Adolph Hirsch, Esq., H. J. Homer, Esq.. John Hollingshead, Esq., Henry Arthur Jones, Esq., Sydney Jousiffe, Esq., Henry A. Lane, Esq., Mrs Sara Lane, Edward Ledger. Esq., H. Lowenfeld, Esq., W. Meyer Lutz, Esq., H. H. Marks, Esq., M.P., Charles W. Matthews, Esq., Cyril Maude, Esq., Garl Meyer, Esq., George Moore, Esq., George Musgrove, Esq., L. Neumann, Esq.,) _eut-.-Col N. Newnham-Davis, H. Chance Nlpfton, Esq., vv. S. Penley, Esq., A. W. Pinero. Esq., Alfred de Rothschild, Esq., Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., Arthur Eoberts. r,sq„ J. Forbes Robertson, Esq., Eeuben Sassoon, Esq., A. Talbot Smith, Esq., Augustus F. M. Spalding, Jbsq., Hector JN. Tennent, Esq., Leo P. Thomas, Esq., J. L. Toole, Esq., 1L Beerbohm Tree, Esq., Philip H. Waterlovf Esq., Harry Weber, Esq., Julius Wernhes. Esq., Herbert E. Wootten, Esq., Charles Wyndham, Esq., Major Seymour V ynneFinch. ‘ Honorary .Stage Managers: All* J. A. E. Malone, Air H. J. Loveday, Mr W. H. Seymour, Air 11. H. Vincent, Mr A. E. Douson, and Mr Frank Darner, Honorary Musical Directors: Mr Ivan Caryll, Air Fraucois Cellier, Mr \ictor Champion., Air J. M. Glover, Mr Siuney Jones, Mr Carl Kiefert, Herr Meyer LuL. The following have been supplied free of charge, for this occasion: Grand piano by Alessrs Ascherberg and Co., Berner street, W, • street piano organ by Alessrs Chiappi and Co., Ltu.. Bath street, Clerkenwell; stage furniture by Alessrs Oetzmann and Co., -iampstead road; costumes by Air W. Clarkson, Airs Airly, Messrs Morris Angel and Son, and J. A. Harrison Company. Ltd Wigs by Mr W. Clarkson; electrical effects by Air Poynton, Gaiety Theatre; flowers by Alessrs G. Adam and Co., 39, New Bond street, W.; sandwiches by Air A. Lunn, Cow's Restaurant, "Strand; sweets by Fullers, Limited; tea and coffee by the Ladies' Own Tea Association, 90, Xew Bond street. Box office under the direction of Mr L.— W. Warmsley. The final scene upon which the curtain rose was that, of Aliss Nellie Farren her* 'self, seated on a rostrum, and surrounded by .all the chief participants in the proceedings of the afternoon. Here, some neatly turned lines of welcome to the beneficiary, from the pen of Mr H. Hamilton, were spoken by Mr Edward Terry, her old associate at the Gaiety; and when it came to Miss Farren’s turn to express her thanks, she broke down, overcome by the sympathy and the emotion manifested by the house. At this point Mr Windham interposed a few words to enable" Alis Farren to recover, after which she cordially thanked her “brother and sister artistes” for their sympathy and generosity, and raised once more a storm of enthusiasm by quoting the catch phrase -of one of her noted characters, the street boy in “Alladin,” “Thank ye, sir.” A harp of forget-me-nots was then presented to Miss Farren, and the programme was brought to a > close by the whole house singing “Atild Lang Syne,” not the least moving or memorable episode of the day. Aliss Farren was the wife of Air Eobert Soutar, the original Green J ones of ‘The Ticket-of-Leave Alan,” and for many years —all through the period of All* Hcdingshead’s management, in fact—stage manager of the Gaiety. One son adopted the stage as a profession. _ . . . On the conclusion of the first Australian tour the Gaiety Company sailed for San Francisco where they an .ved on the 28th October. They made their first appearance in the Land of the Stars and Stripes at the Standard Theatre, New York, on the 12th November, the tour extending over eight months. While in America a professor of character analysis

MISS NELLIE FARREN’S AUTOGRAPH. made a study of the handwriting of the principal members. This is what he said about 'Aliss Farren’s:—“There is Nellie Farren, for instance, or Ellen as she signs herself. Let us apply to this signature the method of the French to judge of one’s peculiarities from his or her handwriting. The -stroke through the F shows her capacits’’ for a commanding position, which she so well displays in the roles she has essayed, as this stroke indicates decision. The sharp corners at the base of most of the letters show a hasty and quick temper, and would also suggest egotism if the roundness in the “l’s” did not mean plentiful benevolence and a kind, forgiving spirit. The dash or prolonged tail to the -final “n” makes her decisive character j again evident, while the artistic ensemble’ of the evident, indicates the lady’s delicacy and her fondness for jewellei*y.”