OLD COUNTRY GOSSIP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16918, 24 December 1925, Page 12

OLD COUNTRY GOSSIP.

ANOTHER GRAND Ol'KIiA SEASON. LONDON'. Nov. 11. —Another season of j IItornsitionul opera will be given no; I May and .Time at (Invent Garden |iv the London Opera Syndicate. A coniplete cycle of IDo "Ring,” two or three of Mozart’s works, the "Otello” and "Falsiall'” of Verdi, sonic French operas, and "one or two complete novelties” will be included in the repertoire. It is stated that the linnl balance sheet for 192.> shows that the eight necks’ season this .year resulted in "a very considerable loss.” An average booking of !H per cent, of iho maximum capacity of the theatre would have been necessary to cover expenses. The actual booking was 78 per cent. An interesting' feature of the statement is the close analysis of the results of the opera season. It is shown that the most popular operas—gauged by the average bookings per per for in a n e.e—were ‘ * Tosca, ” " Rosenlea valid,” " Al'eistersinger. ” and ‘ ‘ Fedora. ’ ’ The most costly wore " Rosen - ka valicr. ” ‘ ‘ Alcistersingor, ’ ’ “AValkttre,” and "Tristan.” The most profitable were "Tosca,” "Rigolotto.*” "Butterfly,” and "Lucia di I.ammet'inonr.” The ttverage loss on the six least profit able operas was nearly five times as great as the average loss on the I:ist live. The average booking for the German season was 7 h per cent, better than for the Italian. On the other hand, the average cost of the German production was 20 per cent, higher, and in consequence the loss on this part of the repertoire was twice as great as on the other. ' The statement adds: "A complete season of works as expensive its Hie late Wagnerian operas and * Bosonic n valicr’ would show n loss if every available seat were sold every time.” CHANGING OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. The Bank of England is undergoing a strange change. So long familiar, with its low, dirt-grimed walls buttressing the northern side of the square named" after it, it is soon to emerge with three additional storeys. For years the batik’s business has been Too great for the present quarters. At liesi it was decided to demolish the present building entirely; but now the reconstruction leaves the old lower walls and foundations, with their famous vaults. To-day the Bank of England stands for financial stability—a sort of invulnerable fortress of capital. Yet it was founded by a scatterbrained gambler, one William Patterson, who put forward the proper! when the Government of the country was hard-pressed for money with which to prosecute the seige of Namur. He got his charter, despite the opposition of the goldsmiths, in lfi94, and launched, out with a capital of £1,200,000. The original offices—one large room —were in the Mercer’s Hall. It moved to Ihc Grocer’s Hall later, and then a bigger building was erected for it in Throadncedle street between the churches of St. Christopher and St. Bartholomew. Expanding business led 1 o the demolition of the two churches and the extension of the bank’s premises—the erection of the big building now being reconstructed.

J’TXK CHEEKED DAIRY-MAIDS MAY SOON BE LEGEND. ''LONDON, Nov. 14— England's picturesque dairymaids, whose pink cheeks and fair complexions have for generations been at once the envy of their city sisters and the inspiration for countless artists anti pools, may soon be a legend. And all because the English farmer has found what many American farmers found long ago, that they can make more money by selling their milk than they can by making butler. It takes two and a half gallons ot milk to make a pound of butter for which Ihe farmer can get about, two shillings and two pence. Even in summer he can sell his milk in the cities for a shilling a gallon, so that there is much more to be made by the latter transaction. As a consequence fanners are discarding their bultor making apparatus and are buying butter in many cases for their own use'. The importation of butter into Great Britain is increasing.

HOOT, MON, HOOT. BUT. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, OMIT PIPES. LONDON, Nov. 7.—England and Scotland hav6 been one nation for over three hundred years, but they are still at war over bagpipes, and the newest Scots offensive ill London has been repulsed with loss. 'Hie Loudon Highland Club established its headquarters quietly in an exclusive residential district. Neighbors did not know they were there until the weird squeals of the pipes began to pierce the air each night around the club. People thought at first the noise was a, new and strange sort of wireless oscillation, but Londoners who had fought in Scottish regiments during the war disclosed its origin. Formal protest was sent to the club in the form of a round robin. The club responded that bagpipes were a blessing. The neighbors, ictorled that they were a blight, and threatened to take the ■ matter to court, declaring that they would have bagpipes played before the judge to clinch their case. Consulting a lawyer, the clubmen were told that they might have won if the judge’s decision had been left to a mere description of the noise made by the bagpipes; but that a demonstration would prove fatal! The club agreed to cease its playing and the pipes wore hung upon •I W all. It is reported that since l hen one has been eaten by club members in mistake for a haggis, ilie Scottish national dish. ODD MYSTERY OF HYDE PARK HOUSE ENDS IN MYSTERY. LONDON, Nov. 7.—A twelve-year mystery ended in more mystery when Mrs Janette Oliver Vetch, Sti, returned to take possession of her palatial sixstorev mansion at I Hyde Park Gate, in iho mosl exclusive residential quarter of I lie West End.

The mansion years ago was the scene of gay entertainments. In IDi;; t lie occupants left: suddenly, Irnving liic house luxuriously furnished, vacant. Dust: gathered a halfinch thick on the windows. It became an eyesore in a neighborhood of wellkept homes of wealthy people. 'faxes on the house —amounting lo over £2OO a year— were promptly paid, bui there was no sign ol the owner except once, six years ago, when slu' appeared for an hour and disappeared again. Occasional stories had been published about the mysterious residence, and people often paused to look at it. A coii|dc of them were looking at it 1,,-dny when a little woman, aged and white-haired but sprightly, appeared on a front balcony of the. house waving a liny British flag. She called I wo passing workmen from llie street, and with them and a middle-aged maid who accompanied her, began lo bring our articles of furniture on to llie balcony and dust them. A hand organ drew up. attracted by the growing' crowd. 1 lie little woman bent time to the music with her flag, unperturbed by the stares ot those below. The woman was -Mrs Voteh. She refused to explain her long absence or her sudden return. It is known I liar she had been living in a villa on the Riviera. It is said that her husband was a general in the British army, and that her great grief at his death caused her voluntary exile, at whose end to-day she showed such obvious joy. JOYS OF THE ROAD. To tho poets of the Bench must, be added the name of Air. Justice Eve. He does not write in metre, but he speaks with lyrical ecstasy. Given ihc occasion and what bettor occasion could Ihcre be than Ihc dinner of the Caravan (flub? —he can express the joy of the open road as magnificently as Walt: Whitman, who also condescended not to tin' fetters of verse. Lord Ailesbiiry proposed to the Caravan Club the’toast, of "The Road.” and in reply Mr. Justice Eve said that to his fellow (liners and caravanners such a toast did not conjure up tho Portsmouth road, the Great West road, or any other of the arterial tracks just laid down in repulsive stretches of black adamantine ugliness, of width and continuous uniformity equalled only by that road "which leadeth to destruction.” The road they thought of was the white ribbon of some unfenced track across tho breezy upland, or guiding them on their idling journey over moor, or forest, or downs, or it .might be the narrow lane winding its tortuous way, past orchard and meadow and homestead, or llie quiet, shaded stretch where they leisurely travelled in the valley alongside the laughing water, refreshed by the moistened atmosphere around them. MUFFIN GIRLS OF LONDON. Muffin-selling in London streets is the latest " profession ” to be invaded by women. The muffin bell, as sure a sign of autumn ns tho falling leaf, is now rung by girls, who in many parts of London have replaced the men. The girls carry baskets on their, arms, instead of tho familiar Iray covered with green baize, which the men balanced adroitly on llioir heads. Trim figures parade the quiet bystreets "of London, adding one more picturesque touch to the changing modern world. Man’s sphere is becoming more and more woman’s sphere. The Lord Chief Justice’s car is driven bv a woman "chauffeur,” who is an adept driver. Mis. l’igott. daughter of Hie late James Manfield, has been appointed chairman of the famous boot linn of Manfield and Sons, Ltd. Her sister is also a member of Ihc board of directors.

SLOWER DANCING. Partly because of the increasing vogue of the tango, with its unhurried and effortless steps, the tempo of foxtrot music is reflecting the trend of public inclination and is becoming slightly slower. There is now a general tendency to dance a little more slowly and some dance bands are coining down lo -18 and fiO bars a minute. The Tango craze has spread from London and has; the provinces in Its grip. . Gome of the pupils of the West End dance teachers come 100 miles for a weekly Tango lesson. One West End hotel is planning 1o bring, before Christmas, seven choir boys from Toledo Cathedral, in Spain, to sing Tango chants. FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. The latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is a most serious one, judged from a 1! angles. Overseas trade lias nuioninticnlly ceased, just at the times it was reviving; hunting is curtailed in many "countries”; maikets, sales, and shows are either closed or abandoned; and the taxpayers will have to meet a heavy bill for compensation if this recurrence of the trouble gets out of hand. The officials of the Ministry of Agriculture realise that they have a stern light ahead of them to prevent the further spread of tho disease, and they natuially call upon the farmers, police, and all" local authorities to act quickly in any suspected cases. ’I he re-apperu-mice of the disease, after the country bad been almost cleared of its presence, is rather mystifying, as is the f a( s ilia! this time the scourge has appeared in some few areas that escaped a serious visitation in 3923*24. The control of foot-and-mouth disease is clearly a matter of national importance, and the whole cost of dealing with it should be defrayed by the Government. BANKING MARRIAGE. Lin'd Gnncliffe, said to be the wealthiest bachelor in England til the moment, has married Miss Joan Lubbock, the pretty second daughter of Mr. and Mrs Cecil Lubbock, 'and a cousin of Lord Avebury. Ilius two banking families are united. HUSTLE. Admiral of llie Elect Earl Jellicoe of Scapa, has been showing Binning-hnin-how the Navy hustles. He arrived in the city at noon on Snturdnv, had luncheon with the Lord Mayor,’ inspected some ex-sailors, opened a naval club, addressed a mass

nice! i ng, ;i)nl tli i'll round lime lo open n branch of 11n* Brilish Lotion. MOIM'] SCOTS rOJi ENGLAND. Il is curious that here in England there I'l'inains an incessant. demand for Scottish. foolhaliers. Preston North End have paid nearly £20,000 for three Scottish inside forwards; Cardiff City have spent a small fortune on Cassidy and Eerg'uson, and other important deals concerning Scottish players are pending. Yet presen 1-day football under 1)10 new offside rule is supposed to lie faster than the old game, and Scottish players generally have a reputation for being slow. CHANCES IN ENGLAND. This is a great and a free, country. Who complains that there is no out - lot for talent.’ The Durham miner’s son who has arrived in London to take up his scholarship at the Royal College, of Alusic is only one of Hie many who find the door of a humble cottage opening on the prospect of a glorious future. Mr. Lloyd George was bred in a cobbler’s cottage. Mr. .1. H. Thomas drove a railway engine. Lord fneheape, the shipping magnate, was a clerk in a City office. The Viceroy of India was a boy before the mast. Air. If. G. AVells was a “counter jumper.’’ There is .1 chance for us all- —if ontv we will take

TWO NOBLEMEN RESTORED TO THE JOCKEY CLUB. The Jockey Club lias re-elected Prince Eestetics and Count E. Bat-tli-yanv as honorary members of the (dub. At a meeting of the Jockey Olufi in March. JOIN, the chairman, Captain Greer, said there was no rule which - gave the stewards power to deal with honoraVy members who had become enemy aliens. The stewards however, took upon themselves to leave nut of Iho list, of honorary members in the club’s calendar the names nf the Khedive of Egypt, Count E. liatthynny. Prince Eestetics gild Prince Kinsky. Prince 'Eestetics belongs to an old Hungarian family. some members of which have held high office in Hungary; others are allied by marriage to wealthy American families. The first Prince Eestetics of Tolna — a title created in 1011—married Lady Mary Hamilton, daughter of the eleventh Duke of Hamilton, who was so often a hostess to King Edward. She died three years ago. Members of the wealthy Batthyany family have also held high political office in Hungary.