MUSIC HALL HUMOUR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10390, 13 July 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

MUSIC HALL HUMOUR.

Once upon a time a gentleman in evening dress was wont to reel about the stage of a music-hall with his tie under his ear, and sing "Bi-taddledy," and similar expressions of inarticulate bliss. He explained that he was "out upon the spree, and' just a trifle gay." That tipsy ecstasy is not so prominent as it used to be in the humours of the people. .The patriotic song languishes just now, because it needs the stimulus of exultation, and exultation is not exactly the prevailing mood. One of the champions, when I was at the Empire (writes a visitor) entertained some friends in the promenade with -his view-3 about the war. Very soon he was the centre of a little crowd, his sergeant's uniiorm', his air of affable authority, and hjs freedom with the magic names of Kitchener and De Wet proving moro attractive than any turn.', on tho stage. He spoke of De Wet with sttern impartiality: "Tou've got to praise him; you oan't help it; he's a wonder." The crowd took this with melancholy resignation. A drinking bar was handy, 'but nobody could bear to driuk. The sergeant hastened to change the subject. "But there's a British general wha blacks his face, puts on a beard, disguises himself so that bis mother wouldn't know him, and steals in and out of the enemy's lines, and attacks them just where they are . veaki3t- That's Kitchener." The crowd gasped. "Yes," said the ser- ' £»cant, meeting this criticism boldly, "you may say it's a bit risky, and a general ought not to do it, but when a man's made like that — well, then, he's Kitchener." Here the handincss of the bar beeime evident to the- crowd, and tho sergeant was invited to refresh himself at thnt bnsc of supplies. I hope some- minstrel will turn this incident into song.