People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 326, 20 January 1932, Page 6

People and Their Doings.

Some Pleasantries from Competing Bowlers : Stories about Melba Previously Told by Beverley Nichols : When Suzanne Lenglen Cut the Famous Singer Out .

VIVID STORIES about Melba will be revived as a result of the publication of “ Irela ” by Beverley Nichols, the precocious young person who patronises the world with his literary and artistic infallibility. In a book issued last year, “ I Hope They Won’t Mind,” the author of which conceals his name but flaunts his identity, the following paragraph appeared concerning the imperious diva and her way with a rival: Melba was not popular with her fellow artistes. An incident that occurred during a performance of “ La Boheme ” gives some idea of the reason. Bemberg and I were in a box that evening, and, in the second aet, just as Mile Fritzi Scheff, who was playing Musetta, was carefully preparing to take the high B natural at the end of the Valse, a clear angelic voice in the wings landed on it with effortless ease and sang the rest of the phrase with her. Everyone whispered, “ Melba! ” There was a long wait after the curtain fell and, finally, the manager, Mr Neil Forsyth, came in front and announced that as Mile Fritzi Scheff was indisposed and could not continue to sing, Madame Melba had consented to conclude the performance with the Mad Scene from Lucia. Bemberg went behind to see what was the matter, and when he returned he told me there had been a frightful row, almost a battle, as Fritzi Scheff had tried to scratch Melba’s face, and then had hysterics. & 9 ® yyHEN SUZANNE LENGLEN was at the height of her popularity she was immensely sought after, the same author wrote. At a luncheon party at Monte Carlo at which Melba was present, Suzanne quite cut her out, to the great disgust of the famous singer, who is not accustomed to playing second fiddle. The tennis champion does not under-estimate her own importance. She came once to the hotel in Nice at which I was staying to inquire about rcfoms. The manager, Joseph, a charming Southern Italian, had never heard of her, and being very busy when she arrived, could not immediately attend to her. He related the incident to me afterwards. “ Such a strange young lady came to ask about rooms to-day,” he said. “ I don’t think she is quite right in her head. She marched up and down the hall, and kept saying, ‘ I am Suzanne Lenglen! I am Suzanne Lenglen!* Dio mio, who is Suzanne Lenglen?”

THE FORM OF MEMORIAL to the late T. P. O’Connor is to be a replica in copper (the material of the original) of the famous processional Cross of Cong made for Turlock O’Connor, King of Ireland, in the twelfth century. It has been selected by Dr Downey, the Archbishop of Livernool. for the central

feature of the monument that is to be raised over T. P. O’Connor’s grave at Kensal Green, London, and the sculptor, Mr Richard Goulden, is about to begin work on the memorial. Mr Goulden’s endeavour has been to design a memorial that will at once harmonise with the general lay out of the cemetery, have distinctive individual character, and be easily seen from a distance. Mr Goulden’s previous work stands in several examples in London, including the well-known memorial seat to Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s wife, Margaret, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and the war memorial figures of St Michael in Cornhill and of St Christopher at the Bank of England. 52? SS? 52? SIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star” of January 20, 1872) : Artesian Wells.—During the past year there have been about 111 artesian wells sunk within the boundaries of the city, making the total number now in existence about 629. It is therefore no wonder that the supply of water should have visibly decreased. Half-holiday.—The second mid-week halfholiday was observed yesterday, but there was more than one secession from the agreement to close, and unless the promoters take active steps in the interim, it is probable that the closing next Thursday will be a very partial one. Several tradesmen feel aggrieved at the neglect of one or two of their number to close yesterday, and threaten that if repeated next week they w’ill follow the example. Major Ropata.—The “ Southern Cross ” is informed that Major Ropata has acted really handsomely in his method of dealing with the well-earned £IOOO reward paid by the Government for the capture of Kereopa. It is usual for the leading chief, who may sell land or otherwise obtain money, to appropriate all -of it, or as much as he possibly can, for his own exclusive benefit. Upon receiving the £IOOO, however, Ropata divided it evenly between himself and followers, every member receiving as large a share as their leader. Such an act is not only creditable to Ropata, but shows that the confidence which the Government has reposed in him is not misplaced,

QNE OF the outstanding bowlers at the Dominion tournament is Maxwell Walker, Professor of Modern Languages at Auckland University. In section play of the rinks his team won all their games. Mr Walker was Dominion singles champion in 1915, 1919 and 1923 and, with A. Brackcbush, won the pairs championship in 1927 as a representative of the Auckland Club. At the bowlers’ social last evening Mr Walker revealed his versatility by indulging in amusing pleasantries from the stage and then gave a fine dramatic recitation descriptive of a war incident at Soissons. Mr Walker quoted the familiar couplet dealing with women, the second line of which is, “ uncertain, coy and hard to please.” Uncertain and coy, he believed women were on occasions, he said, but after observing bowlers on the local greens for a week from “ Harry ” Mayer to “ Claude ” Piper he would say they were not hard to please. The sally was appreciated by the many ladies present. 9 A T A LATER STAGE in the proceedings, Mr Mayer, of Wellington, vice-president of the Dominion, had his revenge on Mr Walker during a short speech. Maxwell Walker was allegedly asked to name a New Zealand rink to play in a test match, said Mr Mayer, and the reply was, “ I would put Max Walker lead, Max Walker 2, Max Walker 3 and I'd jolly well skip the rink myself.” $ 9 V JJR CHARLES GORE, whose death is announced by cablegram, made his home in London after his retirement from thr Bishopric of Oxford and his name appeared regularly in the list of preachers at London churches. Without being a great preacher, he was nevertheless a convincing and pleasing speaker, above all impressing his hearers with his tremendous earnestness and sincerity. Standing rigid in the pulpit, the white bearded face turned upward, and the blue eyes gazing into space, he poured forth deep mystical phrases which may or may not have been understood by the congregation. At other times he was more alert, and lashed with words of burning indignation the evils of modern civilisation. Bishop Gore was a ritualist, and the leader of the Anglo-Catholic movement, but he believed in the social mission of the Church. He was hardly strong in humour, and as he grew older he seemed to feel in increasing measure the sadness of life.