FILLIS'S RETURN.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 37

FILLIS'S RETURN.

A CHAT WITH THE PfIOPIUETOB.

" Well, you see, here we are again, as they say in the pantomimes. We are back like the proverbial bad penny." Thus speaks Mr Fillis, who was met by a Witness representative on his arrival at the Bluff the other day. " It seems only a little while ago," he continues, " since we were with you before, but I couldn't leave you good people of New Zealand without letting you see my new company. Besides, you know ib is always a pleasure to renew an acquaintance with people who have been kind to you. Yes, the run over from Hobart has been a fairly good one, but these sea trips are always more or less injurious to the horses — and the ladies. They are all a little fatigued."

As we converse the cages containing the lions are being swuug ashore from the boat, and I naturally inquire after the health of his royal highness " Pasha."

"Well," says Mr Fillis, "his dignity was somewhat upset at Ballarat lately. Pride had a fall that day. By some mishap his cage was turned completely over as we were puttfDg him on board the train. Ib was very funny to see the crowds of people trampling over each other as they ran screaming in all directions to get out of the way. Yet it had its serious side too, and I dread to think of the consequences if by any mischance he should have got loose." On remarking that he is now kept iaacage by himself, his proprietor says : " You see, he is getting older, and as a consequence more crotchety. I often think we animals very much resembls each other — aa we get older we don't like to be bothered, do we ?"

Mr Fillis goes on to tell us how he has enjoyed his trip through Tasmania and how kind everybody was to him. "But," he sajs, "our last season in Melbourne surprised me most of all. I erected a large building there that co&t me £2000, and notwithstanding the facb that it held some 5000 people, yet we had frequently to refuse money." Noticing cur look of inquiry, he continues, '"Oh, I can explain the reason of it. You have no idea what my new psople are like. The Feeley Family are without doubt the cleverest people in all-round circus business that ever lived ; and Lazal, the little French lady who does the ca.unon act, was a revelatiou to them. Besides these, we have the Mayrl troupe of s-tatuesquea and Mons. Soquefc's performing bears ; and then, you know, I gave them the water pantomime and ' Mazeppa.' " " And the clowning,? ;> I ask ; "you have something new in that line aho P " The reply is : " Chestnuts are all very well for the monkeys, but they don't satisfy the audience. Dan Feeley is the funniest clown I ever saw. He and his brother keep the house in roars the whole time they are in the arena without speaking a word."

"And are we to have the water pantomime here this time ? " But Mr Fillis looks grave. " You have no idea," he says, " what it costs to produce. Yet I may put it on." •' Your new people must cost you a lot of money," I suggest. "Yes," he replies, "but they are worth it, My experience is that if the

public get what they want they'll patronise it liberally."

Wishing this enterprisiug gentleman every success in his farewell tour, I terminate a very pleasant chat.