People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 6

People and Their Doings.

Prince Favours The Waltz : A Professor Wall Story : When Melbas Aesthetic Taste Was Outraged : New President Of Finland.

WHEN visitors t/ London are honoured ' by an invitation to call on the Prince of Wales at York House, a hint is usually given that the occasion shall be treated as “ private.” But Herr Johann Strauss, who visited York House recently, evidently received no such caution, and he has made public not merely an account of what happened, but part of his conversation with the Prince. If the Prince is correctly reported, one thing he said may have a considerable effect on dance programmes. They were speaking of waltz music. Herr Strauss played waltzes on the piano, and the Prince danced with a lady guest. Then the Prince played while Herr Strauss danced with the lady to demonstrate that in Vienna waltz partners hold each other in closer embrace than in England. But the most interesting happening was a declaration by the Prince that the walt’z is “ the only dance that interests me now, and the only one I dance with pleasure.” Hitherto the Prince has been as keen as any young man to master every new step, but when it becomes known that “ only one dance gives him pleasure,” the course for courtiers is plain. In this respect the Prince is pronouncedly Edwardian, as his grandfather, King Edward, showed a preference for the waltz. W W ® JYAME NELLIE. MELBA was as unconventional as she was courageous. She was also artistic and could not bear to live with ugly things. Once she was singing three times a week in the Opera at Sydney, and was staying in an hotel in order to be near the theatre. Going out one morning for a drive, some pots placed in the hotel entrance attracted her attention and she remarked to her companion:—“ Those pots are hideous enough in all conscience, but they’re ten times worse in that ridiculous position. Let’s push them back against the wall.” Her companion, rather appalled at the prospect of moving pots in the entrance of an hotel, mumbled something about waiting. Melba looked at him scornfully. “Wait?” she said, “what for? Come on.” Without any interest in the sensation she was causing she began to move the first pot into position. A tall red-faced individual stood glowering down at her. “ Excuse me,” he said. “ I’m Melba,” she replied. “ I’m doing some furniture-moving for you.” He was speechless for a moment. Then he managed to gulp, “ But, Madame . . " Oh, I shan’t charge you anything,” she retorted. Those pots arc as she placed them to this day.

GIRL, you are going to travel a great deal. You will visit almost every country in the world. Not only that, I see you everywhere in great halls, crowded with people. And you are always the centre of attraction—the one at whom all eyes are directed.’ ” These words of a fortune-teller were addressed to a little girl, aged ten, in Australia. That little girl became Dame Nellie Melba. How many thousands have heard Melba sing Tosti’s “Good-bye”! Here is a story, told by her, of Tosti sitting in the front row of the stalls when Melba and Caruso were singing at Covent Garden:— “The opera was ‘La Bohejne,’ and as soon as I came on to the stage I noticed that Tosti was sitting in the front row. For the first act, all went well, and he behaved perfectly. But in Act 11., where we neither of us have very much to do, Caruso suddenly whispered to me, ‘For heaven’s sake, look at Tosti.’ In a rash moment, I looked. He presented such an amazing appearance that it was only by exercising an almost superhuman selfcontrol that I was able to keep my face. He had taken a white handkerchief from his pocket, and attached it to his mouth so that it looked exactly like a very long and particularly ludicrous white moustache. Nor was he content with this. He puffed out his cheeks, pushed his head forward, and stared at us with great goggle eyes, an expression of the utmost solemnity on his face. You know how infinitely funnier every incident of that nature seems when one is in such a position that it would be fatal to laugh, so you may imagine the plight I was in for the rest of that act.” the births, deaths and marriages of morning contemporaries to-day are to be noted names that emphasise the simplicity and antiquity of British nomenclature. There are Cork, Stone, Marsh, Fright, Woodfield, Manhire, Lightband and Snell (the last of which is a common Scottish word). .Some of the homeliest names can trace their ancestry furthest. But Professor Wall, who, like Professor Blunt, rejoices in a fine old English name, once sounded a timely warning about pride of ancestry. He found himself in the company, so the story runs, of somebody who was very proud of his claim to be descended

in a line of clergy dating back to mediaeval times; but he pointed out this was a doubtful distinction, as the clergy at the particular period under discussion were supposed to be celebate. & 9 W photograph of Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, who was elected incoming president of Finland on February 17, has just been received by Mr Waino Sarel iu s, Consul for Finland. The new President, the third, will take office on March 1. Born at Saaksmaki in Finland on December 15, 1861, he has filled many high offices with distinction. He is a Doctor of Laws at the University of Helsinki, and is one of the best-known judges in Finland. He has been a member of Parliament in various sections since 1594, and in 1917 he was AttorneyGeneral and Prime Minister, and in 1917-18 became Regent of Finland until the first President (Professor Stahlberg) was elected. He is at present Prime Minister, and is a champion of Finland’s independence. €p 9 9 JpROM TIIE “STAR” of February 24, 1871—The following is the decision of the judges appointed to award the prizes given by Mr Wynn-Williams for pleasure gardens and cottage gardens: “ Pleasure gardens—Mr Wynn-Williams (gardener Mr G. Milne) 1, Mr G. Gould (gardener, Mr A. Davidson) 2, Mr R. H. Rhodes (gardener, Mr H. Cookson) 3. Cottage gardens—Mr Crooks 1. Mr Jackman 2, Mr Davis 3, Mr Nairn commended. The judges take the liberty of suggesting to the committee the advisability of having a paper read before the society on cottage gardens, as they observed a want of taste and order in many of the cottage gardens, which might be obviated by a few practical hints on the formation of walks, etc., several of the gardens being without any bordering to define the beds.”—H. R. Webb, John F. Armstrong.