The New Zealand Graphic AND LADIES’ JOURNAL. With which is incorporated "The New Zealand Family Friend.’ SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1890. CURRENT TOPICS. ECHOES FROM THE NORTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 23, 7 June 1890, Page 9

The New Zealand Graphic AND LADIES’ JOURNAL. With which is incorporated "The New Zealand Family Friend.’ SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1890. CURRENT TOPICS. ECHOES FROM THE NORTH.

[By

Graphic Contributors. ]

The 24th of May, Queen’s Birthday, and what would appear to interest us more, public holiday. His Excellency, mindful of the difference between Colony and Old Country, very considerately held his levee on the evening of the 23rd that no holiday-maker should suffer for his loyalty. He also instituted a very grateful reform—the substitution of morning for evening dress for those who attended the ceremony. Apart from the fact that the present evening dress looks singularly bad by daylight even at its best, it is painfully but incontestably true that in the majority of cases evening suits bear too plainly the marks of years’ dissipations and funerals. But then the question arose, what was the meaning of morning dress ? The Governor’s staff considered a black coat as an essential part of it, and the result was that more than one important functionary, arriving in his work-a-day clothes, found himself turned back. This was hard, but nothing to the grievance of one of our newest Hedged M.L.C.’s. Lord Onslow does not, as his predecessor did, extend the privilege of private entree to members of th e Legislature, and our friend took this very much to heart. So while the oldest members of the Legislative Council were filing past, this gentleman retired to the hall denouncing those who hail subjected him to this imaginary insult with great loudness and vigour. Needless to say he was greeted with inextinguishable laughter and most effusive sympathy ; and, altogether, there was a liveliness about the ceremony that was most refreshing. It is lamentable to notice what a change has come over us in 150 years. Then a levee was a levee—at all events in France, whence the word was borrowed. People would crowd on high-days and holidays to see Louis XV. go through what Carlyle calls an official washing (only of his hands, be it noted) and the grand business of changing his shirt. ‘ They put the clean shirt down over the King’s head,’ so we read, ‘ and plucked up the dirty one from within, so that of the naked skin you saw little or nothing ;’ really rather an astonishing feat. On great occasions the shirt was handed by a Prince of the Blood. Then the King finished dressing and sat down to have his hair frizzled, still devoured by the eyes of the privileged, and finally His Majesty did his morning-prayer, which was

the shortest part of the whole business, consuming, in fact, less than six seconds. Napoleon’s levees were different. He would go round the room with his hat under his arm, quoting to the people who had a reputation for cleverness some historical or other fact that he had got up for the occasion, and leaving ladies ar.d inferior mortals with the remark that it was very hot. This latter observation he was heard to repeat twenty times to twenty different groups in the room. But Napoleon would occasionally enliven matters by violent abuse of some unhappy ambassador representing some country which was obnoxious to him. We all know of the scene between him and Lord Whitworth, when Napoleon, not content with hard words, took to menacing gestures. ‘ What would you have done if Napoleon had struck you ?’ Lord Whitworth was asked when he returned to England. * I should havedrawn my sword and run him through the body,’repliedhislordship, who,though he kept his temper on this very trying occasion, was not a man to be trifled with. If this actually had taken place, this particular levee would have changed the whole course of history — no first empire, no Russian invasion, no burnin" of Moscow, no battle of Waterloo. Mho shall say after this that levees have no interest, even though they now be reduced to a cold bow or a shake of the hand ? The observations made by a tourist during a Hying journey round the world are not usually very clearly defined or accurate; but the address delivered by Mr T. Peacock, M.H.R., describing his recent visits to Paris, Rome, and Pompeii, was remarkable for lucidity and fulness of detail. The lecturer probably erred in endeavouring to crowd so much matter into one address. Like a country viewed from a railway carriage the passage from scene to scene was too rapid to admit of deep and abiding impression, and ultimately became somewhat wearisome because of the number of marvels which were presented to the mental vision with kaleidoscopic rapidity of change Mr Peacock was particularly happy in describing Paris and the buried city of Pompeii ; his account of Rome suffered through the effort to compress into the compass of half-an-hour’s description too many of the features of that ancient city, whose every street and by-way is identified with some historical association. The musical interludes during the evening were of a high-class order, and creditable to the good taste and judgment of Mr Philpott, the choirmaster of St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, who officiated as conductor.

Colonial students have as a rule been very successful in pursuing their course of study in the Mother Countiy. The proportion of prizes that have been won by them is a verygood one, and they have worthily upheld the honour of their native land in competition with the brightest intellects of the older lands. New Zealand has sent a fair share of these successful students, and it is pleasing to note that she still continues so to do. The latest successes recorded are those of Messrs W. H. A. Tebbs, son of the Rev. W. Tebbs, of Auckland, and E. J. W. Waters. The former has been very successful in the examinations he has undergone during his medical course, and he has just lately succeeded in winning the prize for medical and pathofogical study at Westminster Hospital. Mr Waters has passed the first examination for the highest medical qualification awarded by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Edinburgh. Sir Julius Vogel is at present in much better health than he has enjoyed for a long time. His success in floating the company for the working of the Taranaki ironsand has done him a deal of good. It is not improbable that in a few months he will return to this colony-; but he has given no intimation of any- intention to enter political life. But Sir Julius does not always shout forth his intentions to the world. It is almost certain that the Hon. E. Mitchelson, the present Postmaster-General, will contest one of the Auckland city seats at next election. Mr Mitchelson is popular whereever he goes, and will make a good fight in any constituency he may- choose to contest. The Australian cricketers are meeting with very failsuccess at Home, and those who predicted for them nothin" but disaster must feel that their prophecies were a bit ‘ previous.’ Their victory- over Surrey is a very meritorious performance, for the Surrey men have probably the best allround record of any eleven in the world. < >n the whole the players new to international cricket are shaping very well, and unless something goes wrong we may expect the present team to return with a good record. Captain Olive left Auckland on Tuesday last to take up his new position of secretary for the Australian Club in Sydney. He takes with him the good wishes of all his Auckland friends. By the last San Francisco mail Mr and Mrs H. W. Heath, of Princes-street, Auckland, returned to Auckland after an

absence of two years in California. Mr ami Mis Heath ap pear to have thoroughly enjoyed their prolonged stay in the Golden State. After spending a few weeks in New Zealand Mr Heath returns to San Francisco to complete some busi. ness arrangements. Mr R. K. Garlick, of the well known and old established firm of Stewart ami Garlick, kauri gum meichants, of Auckland, leaves for a trip to the Mother Country by next San Francisco mail. Mr Garlick has been engaged in business in Auckland for many years past, and though not taking a very prominent part in public affairs, has formed a large circle of friends. It is to lie hoped he will thoroughly enjoy his well-earned holiday. Mr E. W. Page, for many years manager of Messrs Owen and Graham’s business in Auckland, left for England in December last to complete some business arrangements in connection with his new venture. Prior to his departure Mi Page purchased the flourishing business of Clarkson and Co., general drapery importers, Christchurch. Mr Page returned to Auckland by the s.s. Mairarapa, having performed the journey to Australia in the s.s. Valetta. Last Thursday he left Auckland for Christchurch to take personal charge of his new business. The firm in future will be known as E. W. Page and Co. Mr Page’s familywill follow him South in about a fortnight. rhe Arts Society brought their most successful season to a close on Saturday- last. All through the week the attendance was remarkably good. The evenings were specially popular. < In M ednesday night last the prizes were distributed to the successful competitors by the Mayor, Mi I pton, who made his usual speech in his usual happy style. The prize winners all looked very proud and happy. I he Art I nion was drawn on Thursday evening, w-hen the attendance was very large. It is to be hoped next year " e may- have fewer still life pictures and more subject and figure painting. There is a want of originality about the local art. The statuary lent by an Aucklander lately returned from Paris was much admired, especially Cupid and Psyche. Miss Dobson’s pictures have been the subject of much comment, both friendly and adverse. Mr T. S. Drummond s landscapes seem as popular as ever. There was a musical selection every evening. The Early- Closing Association are trying to secure a universal half-holiday on Saturdays, and they will be successful if they act fairly and squarely and stick to their text. But they must not attempt persecution, as they have threatened to do. As the Yankee said, ‘This is a free country, and everyone does as he darn pleases. If he don’t by Thunder, I’ll make him.’ They want to persuade the Auckland shop - keepers to close on Saturday afternoon. Some of them already do so, others are willing to do it if Queen-street is unanimous, while others again say they will do so provided all in their particular lines of business in the city agree. The only way for the Association to attain its object is to • boom ’ the thing properly. They have been nobly helped by the press and the pulpit, and they must do the rest of the work themselves, with the assistance of the working-men. The Association is affiliated to the Trade and Labour Council. Let the latter send forth the fiat, that no member, nor his wife, nor his son, nor his daughter, nor the stranger that is within his gates shall buy anything after 6 p.m., or afternoon on Saturday, and — hey I presto ! the objects of the Early Closing Association are accomplished. I hear that a Savage Club is to be formed in Wellington. Auckland has had one for two years ami Dunedin for twice as long ; so I hope the experience of both will be utilised before anything definite is done. Personally, I have generally noticed that successful clubs of this kind generally contain a large professional element, and indeed, without it it is hard to see how the evening entertainments are to be made much more attractive than evenings at an ordinary Club. Music, for instance, is one great resource, but how many male amateurs can be found in one town of suflicient skill to give pleasure week after week ? Even at home the difficulty is found, and the membership of professional musicians, reciters, and so forth is a sine qua non. Here the scanty number of professionals, properly so called, increases the difficulty fifty-fold, though even so I do not regard it as insuperable. The most striking combination of talent as musician and reciter that 1 ever encountered was in Mr Clifford Harrison, a gentleman whose entertainments are, or at all events used to lie, very popular in London. He delivered his recitations sitting at the piano, and accompanied them with a constant undercurrent of music expressive of his subject.

Th a- in reciting lined* Belle of the Ball, while speaking the text with great force and humour. and gazing ilirectlv at his audience. he never cease-1 to produce with his hands a flow of dance music subordinate to the recitation, l-ut supplementary to it and highly effective. Xor did he ever *h*-w the least inclination to sing the words though the tern] ration must have been almost irre'istible. Indeed it was hard to believe that the performance wa- the work of one man. so independent of each other did the two j-art- -eem to be. and yet so perfectly blended.