The Lorgnette

Observer, Volume XV, Issue 828, 6 October 1894, Page 7

The Lorgnette

By Pbompter

' The man-fish,' alias Professor Beaumont, and his two clever daughters, opened a brief season at the Opera House on Friday evening. The fame of the Professor had preceded him and considerable interest was evinced in the proceedings, which included all sorts of difficult and dangerous feats by the trio of 'human fish.' ' Little Alice ' is a perfect wonder in the water. She turns in the big tank as easily and as gracefully as a porpoise. She also saug ' The Miller's Daughter' while under water, and played a game of cards with the Professor while at the bottom of the tank. Miss Lily gave an exhibition of sewing in the water/which fairly astonished all beholders.

But the Professor's feats were the most remarkable of all. With his hands tied behind his back he dived to the bottom of the big tank and picked up enough coins to form a church collection, with his mouth. Forty and nine halfpennies did the Professor collect and empty into a plate before he was through. Smoking a cigar under water is another wonderful exhibition, The Professor lights a cigar, sticks it in his mouth and covering the lighted end of the weed with his hands, dives to the bottom of the tank, smokes there for a second or two and returns with the cigar still alight.

But the most amazing feat shown by ' the man fish ' consists in his stopping for ten minutes under water, merely coming up now and then for half a second to breathe. The Professor holds the world's record for the longest stay under water without coming to the surface — 4min 35secs. This record he is endeavouring to beat in Auckland. As an amusing variety entertainment is ' thrown in ' by the Beaumonts, the show is certainly worth a visit, especially as the prices of admission are now very moderate. The Beaumonts go to America shortly.

The weather was execrable on the occasion of the Akarana Dramatic Club's second performance, but the attendance was nevertheless fairly good. The entertainment was for the benefit of the Ladies' Benevolent Society. Broughton's ' Withered Leaves' was staged, and very creditably staged, too. Miss S. McGeehan was unquestionably entitled to the honours of the evening. She played the part of May Rivers admirably, and in many respects her impersonation was equal to an average professional one. Miss D. Elsmore was also very good as Lady Conyers. Mr S. E. Coleman made up splendidly as the elderly Conyer Conyers, and filled his role most capably, while E. Fort took well as the rollicking Tom Conyers. The forte of the latter is evidently low comedy, however. Mr L. M. Morrin as Cecil Vane, was a typical stage villain, striking his match, and smoking his cigarette with all the sayiy froid imaginable, while the story of his wickedness was being told. Mr F. C. Ailpress, who is the professional of the club, was a bit disappointing as Arthur Middleton, and especially so in the scene in which he tells of the betrayal, ruin and death of his sister without a shadow of feeling in his face or a trace of emotion in his voice.

Mr Ailpress, however, retrieved his laurels in the comedietta ' Popping the Question,' played subsequently, in which he impersonated the- more congenial vole of Miss Biffins splendidly. The other characters were: Mr Primrose, Mr Brookburn; H. Thornton, Mr R. Clarke; Ellen Murray, Miss A. Reynolds; Miss Winterblossom, Miss L. Evans ; Bobbin, Miss K. McGeehan. There was a concert during an interval. Miss Morrin sang ' Whisper and I Shall Hear ' very sweetly and acceptably, and, with Mrs Morrin, the duet ' The Wind and the Harp.' Mr Alex. Smith gave one of his inimitable recitations, and was encored several times. Mr Hyland sang ' Two Little Girls in Blue ' very nicely, and a character song ' The Cabby,' by Mr Fort, fairly fetched the house. Miss Collings very kindly acted as accompanist during the evening.

Mr John Fuller scored another artistic and financial, success on Monday evening at City Hall. The bdilding was crammed,

while the programme submitted was thoroughly attractive all the way through. Mr Fuller sang • The Death of Nelson ' (with orchestral accompaniment) and being encored, gave • Alton Water.' His singing of ' The Anchor's Weighed' was so much appreciated that he was twice recalled, giving ' The Pilgrim of Ixhre ' and ' Gwendoline.' He also sang ' Hark to the Mandoline ' with Miss E. L. Featon, and 'Albion, on Thy Fertile Plains ' with Mr George Haswell (late of the Montague-Turner Co). Miss Featon, Miss K. Fitspatrick, and Miss C. Brabazon, Messrs Haswell, and Will Smedley, and Edwards' septette orchestra all helped to make this concert a success. The programme for the next concert is in preparation. It promises to be a ' hummer.

Empire Comedy and Burlesque Company opened on Saturday last at Christchurch. ' Dress-circle la 6d.' ! ! Walter Bentley opened a short season at Wanganui on Friday last. He is doing good biz. in the sleepy little township. The People's Company are still holding the fort at City Hall, Dunedin. ' Potter of Texas ' is the latest attraction provided by J. J. Kennedy and Company. The fancy fair in aid of distressed professionals, is to eventuate on October 10th, at the Sydney Association Ground and if ' mummer worship ' counts for anything, should be a successs. The Musical Festival, for which great preparations were so long in progress, is now on in the Empire City, where the only other show just now is a variety one at the Criterion Theatre. From the snblime to the ridiculous ! ' Henry V,' in the person of ' limelight ' George, is drawing well at Her Majesty's in Sydney. J.W. Sweeny has returned to this theatre after a brief absence, and will make his reappearance in ' Shamrock and Rose.' ' Julius Caesar ' is in rehearsal also. The Royal Comic Opera Company inaugurate a month's season at Sydney ' Lyceum,' with a grand production of their new opera ' Mamie Rosette.' Brisbane ' Courier ' says that the music is excellent, and suits Nellie Stewart's and Joe Tapley's voices to perfection. The Payne family sent me a Broken Hill paper this week, from which I gather that the combination has been doing splendid biz. in the silver city. On the opening night, it seems, • many had to stand.' That was not the Paynes' experience while they were in Auckland. Harry Rickards is back in Sydney from Melbourne, and fortune still continues to smile on the ' Tivoli.' Charlie Fanning and the actor-manager had a slight difference recently, and the former was to have appeared with Barrington's show at the ' School of Arts. The difference has now been settled, and Fanning will continue to draw his £8 per week from the ' Tivoli ' treasury. Heller's Bonanza Coterie left by the llotomahana for Wellington on Monday. They open a Wellington season on Monday next. Their Waikato trip has panned out financially successful. The Hellers go to London in April, but talk of revisiting the colony in two years, with fresh novelties and a new company. They are very favourably impressed with Maoriland. Walter Bentley, who has been doing wonders down South in the audi-ence-drawing line, opens very shortly at Auckland Opera House. He writes me that the opening attraction here will be ' The Silence of Dean Maitland,' concerning which there has been so much controversy in the Southern cities. The drama is, of course, founded on the famous novel of the same name. Dean Maitland it will be remembered, was a man whose whole life was a lie. He committed a great crime and allowed an innocent man to suffer for it. Then, when remorse seized him, he confessed the wrong he had done — from his own pulpit. Can any more powerfully dramatic scene be imagined? As the Dean, Mr Bentley has made a phenomenal hit. The impersonation is said to be one of the finest he has ever attempted. The New Zealand Times in noticing this production said:— '" The Silence of Dean Maitland " is a triumph for Mr Bsntley. A more admirable piece of acting we have not seen for many a day. The daily agony of remorse for his crime, and its consequences for his unfortunate friend, the innocent Dr., Everard ; the bitterness of being consequently praised, nay, almost worshipped in his family circle and in the church as the quintessence of righteousness and morality, whilst all the time knowing himself to be a mere ' whited sepulchre,' a moral coward, the actor of a base and wicked lie. All this was brought out by Mr Bentiey with a talent which proves him to be, as we saifi.last week, an actor of the highest rank.' Aucklanders are sure to flock to see Bentley in his latest and most thrilling part.

Abel and Klaus circus is now in Sydney, ._.. Gus. Bruno has joined the Coghills in Melbourne. Tommy Hudson reports satisfactory receipts at Broken Hill. Geo. H. Wood is back at the « Tivoli ' and was met by a bumper house on Saturday last. ' Rowing the Wind ' (by Grundy) has been successfully produced by B. and B. m Melbourne. Lance Lenton is off to Brisbane intent on opening the ' Gaiety' with a first •" class, variety show: Cyril Tyler, the boy soprano, is drawing well in Sydney, and the same may be said of Mrs Besant. The clever Perman family have already received two offers to appear in Melbourne pantomimes. Allan Hamilton the well-known agent is suing the Central Standard for defamation; damages £1000.

Messrs Mcjtfaster and Shalders, the well-known Queen-street drapers and direct importers, notify elsewhere the openm £ ?iP . T* ir new s P rin g goods (including all the latest novelties). Ladies should inspect these hew and beautiful goods. It will be of interest to the numerous friends of Mr J. Self, well-known in connection with Messrs Smith and Caughey's to learn that he is about to enter into business on his own account as a gentleman's mercer, hatter and clothier. He has concluded a long lease of the central and commanding shop under the City Hall, now occupied by Nelson Moate and Co. and will open it towards the end of this month with an entirely new stock of well-selected goods. Nr Self is well and favourabiy known in the trade ; he has been for five years buyer and manager of the clothing and mercery department at Smith and Oaugheys, and has had seven years English experience, three years of which was in London. Therefore, he is wellqualihed for business, and makes the start on his own account under most favourable conditions.

CONTEMPT for your ailments is simply committingsuicide. Every man is the centre of the universe to himself, yet how many do we daily meet who complain of weakness, lrver complaint, neuralgia, and so on? Hundreds of such sufferers are met with every week who neglect their cases -when therp is a reliable remedy in Clement's ionic at hand. This preparation is distinct from the many disguised purgatives called indigestion cures, the use of which are most harmful to the patient. Clement's Tonic does not give relief by drastic catharsis, but aims at curing the cause of the disorder, and then the unpleasant symptons cease. If you suffer, remember that without treatment the disease must increase, and that it is criminal on your part to neglect your case, at any rate your life depends on your getting proper treatment, and may be the lives of a wife and family Therefore, do not delay, get Clement's lonic, and do not be put off with vile purgatives or substitutes, and you. will meet with the same success as Mr M. Andrews, Wanganui, N.Z., whowrites on September 25th, 1893 :— Dear Sir —I have much pleasure in bearing testil mony to the advantages of using ClementsTonic. A few years ago— about seven— l was a great sufferer from a disorder of the liver and kidneys, in the morning I had a, most horrible taste in my mouth, and trying pains through my body after partaking of food. After being in the doctor's handt for five months and not getting any relief I was advised by a friend to try ClementsTonic, -which I did, and am glad to say that before I had used the third bottle I was well enough to go back to my usual occupation. Since then I have always kept a bottle in the house and it is an article in my opinion that should be kept in every household. You can please yourself what use you make of this letter.— l am yours truly, M. Andrews, Wanganui, N Z