ROUND THE WORLD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 47

ROUND THE WORLD.

(Fbom: Ora Special Commissioner.) Samarang, Java, August 8. Dear Pasquin, — After leaving Saigon in the rear, we came on to Singapore and then to ! Java) wbich r with its exceedingly destructive volcanoes, reminds one greatly of dear old Maoailand — so much so> that we were daily expecting another Tarawera eruption. Java, though a great business place, is certainly Hell discovered as a cotintry. The heat is simply fearful, whilst malarial fever everywhere abounds. One cannot be too careful out here as regards his health. This is just the sort of country and climate one often reads, about. You aro the picture of health to-day, to-morrow" you stand a great show or participating in a hurried funeral. The Dutch run Java, and tkey are quite welcome, to- it. Thougn good patrons of all 3poi)ta and amusements,, they make- frantic effoita- afc " taxation-," 1 so thati one may not talcs any spare cash out of their country. It would

both amuae and gurpriae you if I gave a faithful list of their " taxes." In fact, they have it on the brain. D'Arc's Marionettes are now at Singapore. This country is fairly alive with small side shows, but all sti angers to the southern cross-. I return from, here to Singapore, where I take the P. and O. Paramatta (26th) up aa far as Colombo., stay there from September 1 to 6. then catch the out-going mail for London, arriving early in October. I shall stay in the smoke until after the New Year, when. I hope to return to dear old Australasia once again, in all probability via America. ti By the way, W. E. Gladstone was a warn* patron of the drama." It created some surprise that on the evening of the day on -which news of the death of General Gordon reached London, Mr Gladstone sought relief from his annoyances by a visit to " The Candidate," at the Criterion Theatre. Sorrow could do Gordon no good then; and Mr Gladstone, having a proper appreciation of hia own value to hi 3 country; and of the conditions on which that value-, was preserved, wisely elected to spend the evening in a way which would banish from his mind, .for an hour or two at least, the anxieties of the situation. It was not heartlessness, it was conscientiousness, which dictated , that night at the play. But Gladstone did not confine his support to the stage to a mere occasional visit to the theatre. His kindly, sympathetic nature was shown in the ■ letter which he wrote to Charles. Keatt in 1858, complimenting him on; his- performance as Shylock in " The Merchant of Venice." It may be said that tha • stage in return treated him rather ungratefully ' I for' Gladstone was not only lampooned, buft actually impersonated in " The Hapx>y Land " | by "P. Tomlino " and Gilbert a' Beckett, pro- , duced at London Court Theatre in March of 1873. Mr W. H. Fisher as Ethais was made ' up to represent Mr Gladstone, the traditional collars being of course greatly in evidence, Ethais being made to say that twice two and two made five, " according to circumstances'," and being consequently created Chancellor o£ the Exchequer. But Mr Gladstone was far superior to any irritation, at this kind of personality. On one occasion, when an artist wha had been making up as the Great Policeman, sent him a photagraph of the imitation, Mr 1 Gladstone good-temperedly returned the likeness, complimenting the artist on the accuracy , with which the features of the original wera ■ reproduced. Eventually the- Lord Chamberlain: ordered the make-ups in "The Happy Land" ; ,to be abandoned ; but there is no evidence that , Mr Gladstone objected to Mr Fisher's embodiment. Another pleasing trait of Mr Gladstone* character was his admiration for certain theatrical artists. His friendship for Sir Henry Irving is. a matter of history, and the story of , his attendance behind the scenes at the Lyceunl i has often been told. But it was not the great ! alone amongst actors who were honoured witk ( his friendship. Mr William Henry Penning- . ton, a survivor of the Balaclava charge, who* appeared as Othello in 1862, was known as Me Gladstone's " own tragedian," and utilised,, with much successful results, a testimonial which he 1 had received- from the grand oldi orator. A similar recommendation was received; by Miss Emily Soldene for her "Carmen" tour , 16 years back, the story of which, as told by Miss Soldene in her Theatrical and Musical! Recollections, will well bear repetition. In May 1883 (writes Miss Emily Soldene) X visited Chester with "Carmen" (produced afc the old Theatre Royal in Leicester for the* first time in England in May 1879)? Mr Glad^ stone was staying at the Rectory, Hawarden,. and I drove out to ask him to give his per-^ sonal patronage one the following Friday nightIt seemed a strange thing to me that as I drova through the country lanes I noticed so many people about; every 50 or 100 yards there was , a man sauntering along, coming or going front Hawarden way, and they all looked hard at? me and the carriage and che driver. Every now: and then a face would appear above the hedge,, another would be regarding with much intersstthe bursting blooms of the already blossoming. | May ; another, with vacant eye, stood stock; still while we passed him. Somehow thesepeople aroused and irritated my theatrical instincts — they were out of the picture — they did: not agree with the situation, and they had no* local colour and were out of tone with their environment. When about half a mile from; the Rectory, a man stopped the carriage (an open' one), and, glancing at me, said somethingin a low tone to the driver, who, replying, nodded his head and went on, but rather slowly.. "What did that man want?" said I, leaning, forward. "He wanted to know your namev ma'am." Wnat impudence, thought I. When, we got within sight of the Rectory another man stopped us, aud said we could not go any further. "Why?" said I. "Orders, ma'am,'' said he. " But, ' said I, " I want- to see Mr Gladstone." " Sorry, ma'am; not possible." "Why?" "Can't tell you, ma'am." "Well,, can I send a note ?" " Yes, ma'am." I had one prepared, and the man took it. Then hecame back. "I gave it to the butler, ma'am; he will bring an answer." Presently a middleaged man wearing indoor livery came to thegate. The man on duty went to him, and returnedjwith the message. " Mr Gladstone'scompHmenta to Miss Soldene, and he will write. "I'm so sorry, Miss Soldene," said. ' our detainer, " I could not let you pass, but our orders are strict — nobody can pass." " Bufc why?" "Really, you must ask someone else: that." This was the time of the Irish troubles, and Mr Gladstone was strongly guarded by detectives. These were the men I had seea i sauntering and interested in the general agricultural progress of the land round HawardenMr G-ladstone did not visit the theatre, t>ufe , that evening I got a letter from him, not written. iby a secretary, But by himself. The letter was: aa follows : — " HaWarden Castle, Chester. " Mr Gladstone presents his compliments to* ' Madame Soldene, and is sincerely sorry, as isMrs Gladstone, that they are not able to come into Chester for the purpose of attending at the Royalty Theatre. They wish well to Madame Soldene' s enterprise, and she is at liberty to make use of their name if she thinks fit. ■ " May 17, 1883." Mr Gladstone's theatrical taste wa-s electric- , and wide-embracing. It is a " far cry " from. " Carmen " to " The Sign of the Cross," butt . the Great Politician's praise of Mr Wilson. i Barrett's play was enthusiastically expressed. Mr Gladstone also took great interest in thetechnical details of stage representation. ' Ifc was during this engagement,"* says Mr John. Hollingsheacl, in the second volume of liis : work, "My Lifetime," referring to Charles! ■ Mathews's season, " that Mr Gladstone spent an evening with me on the Gaiety stage. He took an interest in every trap, slide, rope, and ! pulley ; went with the stage carpenter into ther 1 cellars, and up the flies, asking questions at i every step, never being satisfied until he got answers that were clear or that conveyed to him< a satisfactory meaning. When he had satisfied 1 ihis taste for the useful he devoted himself to the beautiful, and had a ■ long conversation with the handsomest actress in the theatre." But Mr Gladstone was , always gallant to the ladies of the stage. One > of the pleasantest memories of Miss Mary Anderson is that ol Mr Gladstone helping her i with her wrap after one of his breakfasts in ! Downing street, putting it on upside down, and making amusing remarks about " Ladies' cloaks in general and hers in. particular." — Youra truly, JIBLET GULLIVAN, ESQ.

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