ROUND THE WORLD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 47

ROUND THE WORLD.

Kroonatad, Orange Free State, June 9. Dear Pasquin, — Things are at present upsi<Js down in this land of Boers, Kaffirs, and Hottentots. As the cables advise you, the great conference did not come to anything satisfactory, and it may mean war, war, war. See how frightened I am! At merely writing the word my hand fairly shook; but notwithstanding this the Payne Family of Bellringera is paying to packed houses everywhere they go. The town, is now full of niggers, Hottentots, bullock waggons, and Dutchmen, with their " 3'ths to everything. I see Ada Delroy and James Bell are > on on* track, so I am busy getting ahead of 'em all. Let 'em all come. From here I jump to Kimberley, capital of Griqualand, with its valuably diamond fields. Kroonstad is fairly akve with the chosen people, and business is very brisk, and the mine? for miles round are wonrtoiful, while things theatrical are middling only. Miss Annis Stevens, who ia touring here with, hall a dozen people, is a Victorian singer. I believe I heard her there myself. She return! home shortly. Wirth's Circus opens at Johannesburg this week. Years ago there, was attached to tho stall of Mr Wilson Barrett's provincial company an eccentric individual who was noted for ther originality of his stories and the quarntness of his songs. Amongst these there, was on« addressed to "The Poor Servant Maid: Gawd defined her who cleans up your hearth ancv\our fender," each verse of which, and there were many, concluded with a totally irrevelanV an 4 inconsequent appeal ta the world in general for information " as to what has become of George Peabody's money?" I was reminded cf this old-time ditty by a- p«ru3al of the account of Lydia Thompson-'s benefit at tlie Lyceum , on the 2nd inst., and I asked myself a question, not exactly in the words of the song, What becomes of all the money made by artistes who in then day could demand and get any salary they chose to ask? and Why is it that favourites like Nelly Farren, Lydia Thompson, Jeimy Lee, and others have tc come, cap in hand, to the public when sickness cc old ago compels their retirement? Nelly Farren was getting lOOgs a week regularly for years, before her illness overtook her, and, in addition, she inherited most of poor Fred Leslie* money ; yet within the space of a very few years after leaving the stage, she is reported, penniless; and now here comes Lydia Thompson, who in her day, and many of us remember it, well* was absolutely worshipped, as Nelly Farren was in hers, presumably ia the same evil case. Of the two, Lydia Thompson's stage life lasted the longer. Starting, a3 it did, in 1852, her popularity never waned -from that year to her reappearance in " Blue Beard," at th"c' Folly Theatre, in 1874. This was her first appearance in London after her return from America, whither she had gone otiginally for a. six months' season, but her success was so enormous- that she- stayed for six years. Still, the £3000 she got from her benefit does not make her happy, apparently, for she want a another, and is going to get it* in Paris, where the divine Sarah it. making her necessary arrangements. Why? Because nearly 30 year 3 ago after the Franco-Prussian war Lydia Thompson organised a series of. performances in aid of the dramatic artists of P&ris, and liberally supplementing, proceeds out of her own pocket, was enabled to forward thl handsome sum of £5000 towards their relief. - Regards to Witness and. ail Moaland friends r — Yours truly, JOHN HODGE.