WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 55

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Ey P. Kosipteb

September 28.

Dear Pasquin,— Nursed all aioi.g the line by his iellow journalists, who are pioud of him, Den aid Macdonaid aixived an V eLmgton last Aionda3 r with the way most excellently prepared tor him. A rcceptio.l given by pies&nien tit 1 o clock, and a b:g public reception m the Opera House at 8 o'cioeic, thai, was what struck the Al?n lroni Laciy-jimtn, and he shuck Welimgtomans as being the best bit of Australian meat lhat had ever been brought into this country On Tuesday he was tne talk of the lOIVII, and 1 heard him vaiiou&iy called Donala ATLean, Don Donrid, Hector Macdonald, Duncan M"Liod, and Dugaid Macsomethmgoiother. Sicli is fame, but '"Mac" gets him every lime. ir!e is the least pretentious fellow I have over stiuck m the Fliow li;ic, hog even excepting Friend Geach — but that's because they're botn pressmen. Who ever knew s refoiter who we. ".t lound as if ha owned the eaitli? A rep*ortcr o/ily wants a lien upon the best and woist (no mediums, thank you!) people m the world, ana at edd times something solid (or otherwise) to lean upon. Coming back to war topic*., Macdonaid has done big business every night, and even the Governor feLi inclined to cimcei all Ins social obligations m order to sit at Mac's feet and hear "'taose good 'uns aboiit Ladysmith. ' (No scanciai, jou understand, but hot things that ended in .-moke.) And a& the people inside laughed and cried inside the house, b'riend Geach sat m the countinghouse, a-counling out the mo.iej, Mac in khaki stood in Iroiit serving out the honey. The maid ssi in the gallery, excited Lo her toes, and a man in the circle stopped a draught, and sneezed, with all Ins nose. " I heard "Scenes and Sens-i-tions of Battle," and never enjoyed myself more at an entertainment. As a laughterlaiser the big fellow from the Aigus is a lrontranker, and the solemn a±id emphatic manner m which he assures doubting 'lhoma&es that his yarns belong to the Gospel accoidmg to Ladysmith. and war conespo-idence has an effect even ur-on the pittites. Mac's jokes hit one like a pompom, and you'll laugh just like a cow, sir, when he tells you of the Mauser which, the photographic hero took 101 a buzzing of the files. 'Iruly, there are no grasses allowed to grow upo-i the feefc ol the flies that land on the big lee-turer's back. Come to think oi it, there are no flies at all on Mac. (When you meet him, just ask him to show you hi= sore thumb, which at oiie time he swore was dipt hy a Mauser, ar.d yet again is positive v»s bruised during a billiard match with John Roberts.) "The Stoiy of the Siege" was another good lejture, and "On Tugeia Pleights" contained some fine descriptive work. Macdcnald is a man of surprises — you never know just when he is going to snipe you with a joke — and is a tip-xop ypm-spmner. Don't miss his Scotch narrative (in the language) 01 "the passing of Dimdas Simpson. Theie is another well-told yarn concerning tb.3 attempt of two of his friends to get thiough the Boer lines to tho Tugeia. The man who v. iote "Wamgal's Well" (a iiovel written by the Brothers Macdomld) knows how to spin a yarn off the tongue as well as on paper. Finally, Pascium, don't hjiss him, and this I say even after we have had a week of him. As for Friend Geach, he's os peachy aa ever, and as ilne »s the two ends of his moustache. I met Bailey of the izSiograph up here this week. He bungs .Luncdm news.— he swears by the Old Reliable now — and regie ts that he can't get his show going m Wellington until November.

On Monday Pollards open a month's season in the Opera House. 'lhey open, with "Paul Jone3, and that fine "boy, Moud Beatty, leappears once more in the name part. SistkMay becomes Yvonne as of yoie, and Cliopinette will be played by Wibnot Kurkeck — why. not the coireot topicil key, Ifhaki? Mrs M'Dojiald— that active little advertising pgent from Diinediu who, with her sister (Mrs Smith) could give some men folk a st irt at the game, and bsat 'cm — ran the progi.mime here for that ithel o' the Mac clan, the war correspondent.

Fu'ieis still running the Bijou Company at the Choral Hall.

Dili's G-aiety Company still running at the Exchange Hall.

Harry Hooper opens 1m Federal Theatre toli'orrow vith a inmfitiel avd comedy company. ITyie is the opening announcement* "Everything bright, sparkling, and up-to-date. Grand minstrel first pail. Chaiining comedies and btule^ques, new specialties mid ptukmg novelties Our new aitists — Chas. Marson, Madge JjV-.cs.Sj Harold ilemy, Will Johnson, Marion

Spencer, Hettie Howarde, Joe Watts, Millicent Howbray, Frank May, and the full strength of the Federal Company."

liariy Abbott tells me he is doing well with his Waxworks a-nd Sleeping Beauty sideshow in Willis street. The Sleeping Beauty is a fine figure of a woman and an ingenious mechanical contrivance. Don't the boys goze long tipon the heaving waxen bosom, too, as it rises and falls whilst the "iigger snoozes." It's a good job Madame Aiamauthe is .' jckctl i.t) in a glass case.

The third of the Maughan Barnett-Max Hoppe-John Piouse musical recitals came off on Thursday night, and was, fiom the musical point of view, the most successful of all the recitals yet given under Mr Barnett's l. ans.gement.

I went to Chffoid Walker's recital (a laCorney Grain) last Tuesday evening, and thoro 14h.1v enjoyed myself. C. W. is" one of the Lest monologue entertainers that I nave sol uiidir, and whether singing, playing, or clc;ut 1.0.a:5ing, he is always entertaining. A gcod jiesence, a finished style, and an actor of experience and travel. Mr Walker is such air one as rarely reaches these parts. I hope to hear more of him before he returns to the old country.

The Bth, 9th, and 10th of November has been definitely fixed by the Fabian Dramatic Club of amateurs for their three performances of '"Anah na Pogue" at the Opera House, in aid of the new convent at Ncwtown. The aqtmg of the piece, judged_iioru the progiess made at rehearsals, bids fair to outshine that displayed in ''Conn the Shaughraun. '