LONDON GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7980, 26 September 1887, Page 4

LONDON GOSSIP.

One of the most amusing as well as delightful entertainments o£ a public nature in Londoa was Lady Folkestone's concert at Prince's Hall. The entire orchestra, chorus, and all the performers, were ladies, of whom Lady Folkestone wus first fiddle. The band was a string band, composed of firi«t and second violins, violas, violoncellos, and contra-basses. Aidode; the performers were Lady Florence Wilbraham, Lady George Nevill, Lady Margaret Kerr, Hon. Alice Hennikor, Lady Sybil Knox — fifty-seven in all, and at the piano. Among the chorus, were Countess Valda Gleichen, Lady Beatrice LeslieKaye, Countesses of Northesk, Cowper, Clarendon, and Romney ; Viscountess Folkestone, Mrs. Stanley Stubbs, Mrs. Alfred Trott Gatty, Mrs. Andrew Tver, &o. Lady Folkestone conducted, standing

in front of the platform, with her back to the audience,' and facing the entire band, who were placed on graduated seats. Lady Folkestone is a massive woman; she was dressed in magnificent old lace and white satin, the train of which overflowed the borders of th.e'dias.Herarmsare marvellous for size. To see her, wand in hand, conducting and controlling the answering musicians, was a sight to remember. The distinguished fiddlers, some of ' whom literally blazed in diamonds, was a unique sight, and intensely interesting. The music discoursed Wns of the best kind, and excellently rendered. The singing was, in point 6i merit, If not fact, quite professional — nothing amateurish or weak about it. The hall was filled with tho crime de la crime of society, beaded by the Princess of Wales and her two elder daughters, the King of Greece, and some minor additions from royalty. There was a band and chorus of d'ver 100 ladies, which had been trained exclusively by Lady Folkestone', performing concerted music to admiration. Ladies are poaching on the privileges, of the male sex. Another entertainment — a very unique and succesfsul affair— was held at the Victoria Hall, the Criterion. It w&s given by Mr. Broad ley, better known as Pasha Broadley, and Secretary to Mr. Augustus Harris. The "Pasha" celebrated his fortieth birthday. Katti Lanner's clever little ballet dancers danced beautifully, dressed ia pink — little xairies of from five to seven years old. Then Signer Foli sang " Father O'Flynn," and Mdlle. Sigrid Arnoldson gave Eckert's " Echo Song " exquisitely. Madame Alwina Valleria sang "A Lark's Flight" and "Home, Sweet Home." The hall was full of distinguished guests — ambassadors, Princes, and members of the nobility, and amongst them were the Marcbioness of Bristol, the Countess of Harrington, Lady Anna Chandos Pole, Lord aud Lady Lamington, Lord Claud Hamilton, the young Lord Athiumney, the Bishop and Bishopesa of Gloucester, and others. The Prince of Wales is reported to be terribly mashed on Mrs. Bernard-Beere. Well and good — everyone -to his taste 1 Mrs. Langtry is trying hard to carry a divorce in the States. Someone — an old friend — met Langtry at Victoria railway station the other day, and asked what he did there. " I've come to see my wife," he answered; "I hear she is to be hero en route to America." If she gets her divorce, for which she naturalises as an American cilizeness, Mr. G , her manager, marries her. Another Londou scandal is that the Prince of Wales is very jealous of his lovely wife. Not a bad joke. There are no less than 425 music halls in the great I ily of London, with a total seating capacity of 200,000. The seating capacity of the 60 theatres is not over 125,000; so it will be seen that the music ball is tue popular form of amusement with the British public. As a matter of fact, many of the so called theatres are little better than music halls, the entertainments given partaking more of the variety show "than of the legitimate drama. Jt is not above the mark to say that the popular taste of London demands " the sweets of variety's plan " for a quurter of a million of udult Britons. It is not claimed that a number us vast as this attend the music balta every night, but the managers could accommodate' an army of this size, and do, undoubtedly, on high days and holidays. Already in outdoor pastimes the ladies are beginning to hold their own, and, in cricket, bow] eplendidly. Thb Budget artist sends this week the portrait of the crack batter of the century, the lady who " scored fifty and not out." Two matches are recorded this season; one played near Harrow, and the other at Killashee, in Ireland. The match between Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire was concluded in the one day, with a result favourable to Hertfordshire. The losers (Bedfordshire) had in Miss H. Green and Miss M. Barnard two capital bowlers, but they were weak in batting. -Their first inning's score amounted to 55; but they were disposed of a second time for the very small number of 19. Hertfordshire, on the other hand, made 83 and 79, but the chief merit of these innings re a ted with Miss A. Drake (36 and 12), Miss Lofts (6 and 24), JUrs. Matthews (13 and 7), and Mr. C. Barnes (2 and 18). At Killasheo, Miss Booth's eleven, wnich included many of the leading lady athletes in Ireland, showed great superiority at all points of the game, and gained a most decisive victory by an innings and one run. In the losers' second innings Miss Martin, who seems at home in the cricket field, secured eight wickets. Most of the winning side- fielded remarkably well. The costumes were picturesque. The visitors (Miss Booth's team) wore white lrocks, with brown and yellow ribbonb to represent gorse and heather; while the Kildares stuck to their colours, their red caps, cream skirts, aud striped ekirtu being voted quite " the thing."