MR BURTON'S EVENING WITH GREAT AUTHORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 19

MR BURTON'S EVENING WITH GREAT AUTHORS.

Mr' A. H. Burton gave the final of his seriea of '• Evenings with Great Authors " at the Choral Hall on the 25th ult., there being a fairly large and highly-appreciative audience present. Mr Burton said that, whereas in the previous series of readings, especially those devoted to Dickens, he had been chiefly occupied with the pathetic and humorous, he proposed that evening to bring into prominence Dickens's power of describing the repulsive "and terrible. For that purpose he had selected those fearful word pictures depicting the murder of Nancy by Bill Sykes, the ghostly possession^of the murderer afterwards, and his, own horrible, and therefore appropriate} death.- The story was unfolded.with admirable effect, the audience being perfectly enthralled by the manner in which Mr Burton interpreted the 'aut&or's meaning. At the conclusion of the reading from Dickens Miss Florence Brewer gave a delightful ren dering of " The Kerry Dance," -and obtained a recall.. Mr Burton" subsequently readtwo selections from " The Newcomes " — that clever scene in " the Cave of Harmony," and that most pathetic story of the death of the simpleminded col&nel. Both selections were read; in a way which left little to be desired, and' evofied the heartiest demonstrations of .approval. Mr Burton then said. he could not let the audience go away without enabling them" to renew tljeir acquaintance with that " delicious " creation '" Sairey Gamp." He accordingly gave the wel'known scene in Mr Mould's undertaking establishment, the humour ..of which was well broxight Out, and elicited frequent laughter and applause. At the conclusion of the evening's entertainment Mr'H". Webb eaid, on behalf c£ those present, he would like to express the gratification they all felt at the delightful readings of Mr " Burton. ' He wouW also congratulate that gentleman 'on the marked success of his second series of evenings-, and ho hoped- that Mr Burton would not keep them waiting long before he gave them a third series. — (Loud applause.) He did not know whether it was necessary that there should be an interval of 12 months before Mr Burton' camo before them again. He hoped that it -was not ; and while congratulating Mr Burton upon the success of his evenings, he also thoughtthat the audience were to be congratulated upon the fact that there was one in their midst who could give them such renderings of their favourite authors as that gentleman. — (Applause.) Mr Burton, in thanking the audience for their kindly pxpressioua of feeling as voiced by 'Mr Webb, said as for the suggestion that had neen. made he really did not know what to say. He would like , to. meet, them again,, but he would not like to outstay his welcome.— (Applause.)

The Emperor of Korea and his Court Jia-vt caused a sensation at Seoul by ■ suddenly adopting' American and European fashions in matters both of dress and carriages. The first important occasion on which* the "new styles were displayed was^the Emperor's recent audience with Su Shen Pang, the newly-appointed Chinese Minister to Korea.