SYDNEY GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 60

SYDNEY GOSSIP.

By CIGABETTE.

Coronation Day in Sydney parsed off very quietly. There were thanksgiving services at the Cathedral and the Town Hall, a review in the Centennial Park in the afternoon, and some illuminations at night, both in the city and harbour. The day was not a close holiday, many of the shopkeepers hiving closed on the previous day set apart for the Coronation ; a great many of the decorations hid been taken down, and the illuminations were not on a large scale. Sjdney folk just now are not m the mood for merrymaking. Times are bad : first the drought, then the Mount Kembla disaster, and now the shearers' dis-pute have all combined in making the present outlook lather black. The cost of living is high ; meat gets dearer instead of cheaper — 3s for a leg of mutton not v. eighing 51b !

But it is an ill t\ hid that blows no one any good, and one result of the higher cost of living is that there are more domestic servants in the market. One lady told me she had actually eitjht replies to an advertisement for a "general ' at 14s a week, when at other times she had advertised without receiving one reply. But still domestic sen-ants remain the only class of workers who can pick and choose their employers. They come for a few hours, take a look round, have a couple of substantial meals, and depart. "Why are you leaving?" asked one mistress. "Oh, you want things too recherche" was the reply. Another came to the tame household about 4 in the afternoon. After tea she retired for the night, requesting the mistress to ring the bell loud in the morning, as she was a heavy sleeper. Next morning the poor lady rang many times, but Mary Jane had flown. "Btajv do you manage to keejj

yours?'' asked ray friend, in despair ; "you never seem to have any trouble." I felt flattered, of course, at that remark, whicii was said in suet a way that it seemed to reflect credit on myself, when, to tell the truth, it was. -only by good luck I had struck a few prizes. Still, I gave her a few wrinkles which experience had taught me. "First of all, it is better to get them from the tradespeople, if possible, than from the registry office." "Why?" she asked. '"Well, for one thing, they know each other and can have a little chat when delivering the meat, bread, or milk, whichever it happens to be. Another thing, I give them plenty of nights out, or afternoons to go shopping. Then I find cut the food they like best, and generally have it, for then it is always nicely cooked ! After they have told me the reason they left one or two former places I try to avoid those special forms of stumbling-blocks ; and finally, if there is anything they do very badly — and there generally is — I smile sweetly on them and say, ' Mary, you are a splendid cook, you wash very nicely, you iron beautifully.' and go on enumerating all her virtues, finishing up with, ' But you can't do so-and-so,' mentioning the defect. This puts her on her mettle, and next time she does her very best." "Oh,"' said my friend, "it's all very well to talk, but the fact is yours is an easy place." Sot that was all the thanks I got. ,

The Sydney shops ore all holding "sales"' or "spring shows."' To tell the truth, there has been 5,0 little winter this year that the large wholesale houses have not been able to get rid of their winter goods. Now the windows are full of muslins and embroidered canvas voiles. The pouched bodice is still to the fore, and there is a great demand for the straight-fronted corfet. Lace is very much worn, both on skirts and bodices. Muslin dresses are very frothy about the feet, and trains are still worn. For evening wear sleeves are worn to the elbow, either transparent or latticed with stripes of velvet or lace, showing the arm between. Seme fulldress bodices reveal far more than they conceal, fitting round the shoulders and held up by a strap of Bowers or jewelled net just over the arm. Hats are wide, many being of the Marquise shape, turned up at each side. Streamers at the back are seen on some of the newest shapes, and chiffon is much used for lining. Sailors are not worn, but it is too early to say what sort of hate will take their place.

Sydney folk have had a musical feast in the visit of Jean Gerardy, the great 'celloplayer. If possible, he has improved since his last visit to the colonies, and when he comes to New Zealand (which he intends to do) you will be charmed with his genius. He plays with such soul that he penetrates through, one's whole being. You lose consciousness of the player, the accompanist, the audience, and all surroundings, and just revel in a paradise of sweet sound. He i& accompanied by Herr Gottfried Gaiston, a brilliant piano-player, and Miss Electa Gifford, a high soprano. At Gerardv's final concert the audience rose and cheered the wonderful player, which was great praise from phlegmatic Australians. "Had he been a woman he would have been buried in flowers," was a remark I heard when leaving the Town Hall.

The Broughs fe.re now "farewelling" in Sydney, and many are the regrets they will leave behind them. Robert Brougli is a genius we are loth to part with. No matter what his role, he does it to perfection. Many look upon the departure of the Broughs as a personal loss. They have presented to us high-class plays, the pick of the London theatres. Robert Brough is the only actor who has succeeded in portraying a gentleman on the Australian stage. Take Sir Christopher Deering in "The Liars,' for instance, or Richard Carewe in "When We Were Twenty-one," or Lord Algy in the name part of that play — each one in itt>elf is a triumph. Another part m which most actors fall short, but in which Brough excels, is that of an elderly lover. In "Iris," for instance, Pinero's latest play, Brough takes the part of Frederick Maldonado. a Spaniard. He is heavily handicapped by a hideous make-up, but his love-making is superb. He lets himself go, carries you away on a torrent of passion, till you feel you could join with him in his cry to Iris (who turns a deaf ear), "Oh, you devil of marble 1 ." "Iris" is a play of the passion*. Mrs Brough tuke& the name pait, and acts with gieat reserve in a most difficult part. Hers is> a most ariibtic study, and, notwithstanding the unpleasant character she reprc-f-nts, our sympathies are with her all through. Mr Leslie Victor, as the staunch fnend of Ins, is good ; and Miss Temp'e, as usual, is highly satisfactory Mr Lovell is ill-suited in the part of Laurence Trenwith — a thankless one throughout. Mrs Biough's costumes aie nio4 becoming in this play ; one particular white fiock, with pouched bodice, narrow white s.itin ribbon, and rows of tiny flounces at the hem, is a dzeam of loveliness.

Bland Holt is coining money at the Lyceum. Night after njght the house is ciowded to the loof. He certainly knows what the public likes, and gives it to it. Each play that he stages is a success. Fust, "Hearts Are Trumps" — to my mind, the best play he has staged since "White Heather." Both Mr and Mrs Bland Holt vrere excellent — the former as a Jew money - ltnder, the latter as a music-hall star. The piece is full of fun, and there are plenty of novelties — a floial gymkhana, a theatre in which the audience sat facing the real audience — a most clever arrangement, and very fascinating. Then there are a cinematograph (which causes no end of laughter) and a baccarat scandal (which makes a highly effective scene). "The Great Rubjr' was the next piece with which Bland Holt dazzled the public. It is a fort of detective •story, which haneb on the

theft and the restitution of the ruby. Neither Mr nor Mxs Bland Holt is sufficiently in evidence in this play, which, however, is beautifully staged. Miss Frances Ross wears some exquisite frocks, in which her splendid figure is shown to perfection. Walter Baker makes a handsome Indian Prince, and there are some very pretty girls in the piece. A moai thrilling event is the ascent of a real balloon in the last act. The audien:e holds its breath while the huge thing slowly rises ; the earth falls away beneath ; there is a man clinging on to the basket; another leans over, thrusts him ' off, and down he goes into the abyss of clouds below ! You will see it for yourself by-and-bye when it comes to New Zealand, so I need not tell you all about the "test match" and the other good things in the play. "With Flying Colours" is now runniug to crowded houses, but I have not seen it vet.