TOPICS of the WEEK

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 34, 26 August 1893, Page 122

TOPICS of the WEEK

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS.

THE muses must have shed tears of joy over the intellectual treat which the students of the New Zealand University prepared for their mothers and sisters and cousins and aunts last Wednesday evening in the Choral Hall. To be sure, the presentation of diplomas made a foil for the brilliance of the proceedings, but the presentation of diplomas was a mere by the way. Robbed of its foil, the genius which our students displayed in song and verse was such as to swell the bosoms of the parents present with exultation. That learning is a means to a great and mighty end the students of the University have sufficiently shown. With that end revealed last Wednesday who of us will not now fall down and worship at her shrine? who will not now uncover before the majesty and infinitude of her power ? • Give me wisdom that I may understand thy law,’ cried the Psalmist. ‘ Give me wisdom that I may construct a bad imitation of *• Ta-ra ra boom-de ay,” ’ cry the students of the Auckland University College. Tell me, ye gods and little fishes, if there breathe one man with soul so dead that it will not leap up in the pursuit of knowledge when knowledge ‘ married to immortal verse ’ publishes the following :—

Then all the little fishes waxed very, very vicious. And rushed with all their at the meddling eel, They shook him and they flurried him and generally worried him, Till all his courage left him, and away he did steal. Note the perfection of metre in the second and last lines. Observe with what fiery eloquence the writer describes the internal emotion of the little fishes towards the meddling eel. How artistically he leads on their passion to a grand denouement of ‘ shaking him and flurrying him and generally worrying him,’ and oh ! the infinite pathos with which the last chapter in the life of the meddling eel is told ' • All his courage left him and away he did steal.’ The wonder is that even politeness restrained the audience from following the example of the meddling eel ! This thrilling tragedy was—how shall I put it ?—effectively mumbled to a tune whose name—Kiimbambimbuli—is, if anything, rather comprehensive when compared with the subtle intricacy of the poem. Take another example :

‘ The people who last year refused with us to stay behind. The manner we were spoken to—so cruel, so unkind.

They’d none of them bo missed, they’d none of ’em be missed.’ Reading this critically, the question arises, can * manners ’ be missed ’ For obvious reasons we think that where the students of the A.U.C. are concerned they cannot. And again :

Steady workers now are we, If we ever mean to be -. Now we strive for a degree, Third year undergrads!’

The vagueness is delightful. It leaves such scope for imagination. The author does not enlighten us upon what the students mean to be, or if they mean to be anything. Our own notion is that they had better stop at ‘ meaning to be.’ It will prevent disappointment.

Rumour whispers that several lady-students assisted in creating the brilliant specimens of verse whose reflected radiancehasherewith been imparted toour Graphic readers. This we cannot believe. Even their singing on Wednesday night will not shake our faith in the superior intelligence of the sweet girl graduate. As for the others let me point out a useful profession which their talent has suggested. As writers of * Nursery Rhymes, ‘lnfants’ Verses,’ ‘Gems for the Little Ones,’ the students of our University will, no doubt, some day acquire celebrity, but present efforts still show considerable room for improvement. The little fishes will require a good deal of flurrying before they can hope to attain such excellence as the following :— ‘ I have a cat Her name is Tit, And by the Are She loves to sit.’ Hope springs eternal, however. With so high an aim in view, students of the A.U.C. must eventually reach success. A n i > again : ‘ We will burst forth into song All on account of Aldis, We think the Council very wrong All on account of Aldis, Rather foolish do they show All on account of Aldis, Though their funds they suy are low All on account of Aldis. Of the above eight lines, four are a repetition and a sup posed effective parody of the song to whose tune they are

sung, ‘All for the Sake of Sarah.’ It has not yet been our inestimable privilege to hear ‘All for the sake of Sarah,’ but if that red-letter day ever comes, how highly shall we value it as presenting to our ears the original verse which first suggested to learned minds, the immortal refrain, ‘ All on Account of Aldis.’ Besides this refrain, four interesting items of information are graciously imparted to the public. It is the immediate intention of the students to ‘ burst forth into song ’ —which intention they executed to the visible distress of the public ; it is the opinion of the students that the Council are ‘ very wrong ’ —received with surprising indifference by the public; it is the opinion of the students that ‘ they ’—whether the Council, the students, or the public is wisely left to the reader’s judgment—‘do show rather foolish,’the startling grammatical construction, though it might be ‘ beastly grammar ’ in ’Arry or ’Arriet, is a correct English idiom in University students ; and finally it is the statement of the students that ‘ they ’ —this same mysterious ‘ they ’ —‘ say their funds are low.’ Are not these imtelligences calculated to arrest the eye and suspend the breath. As for the chorus—

* Aldis, Aldis, Senior Wrangler Aldis, We like Aldis, though there’s some who don't; Since he took the notion To come across the ocean, He’s tilled his place with great success, And part with him we won’t.’ Accompanied by a scraping of boot-leather on the floor at the last words the impression the song creates would be profound but for a slight possibility which suggests itself to the sceptic hearer—namely, whether the valiant students will be consulted when the question of Professor Aldis’ dismissal is imminent. As for the final gem—- * God make our council wise, Open their sleepy eyes, Confound their fads ; God grant Sir Maurice sense, Our prof’s strict diligence, May all attain the excellence Of Auckland’s undergrads.’ it is a proof of its excellence that there was certainly no sane man or woman in the audience on Wednesday night who did not heartily breathe that prayer with a counter-clause before the last two lines. Sleepyeyes! If University students are to be allowed to make fools of themselves by displaying an incapacity for verse-making that any public school child would be ashamed to own, we think it is decidedly time that some superhuman power should be appealed to toopen the Council’s sleepy eyes. Not the University alone but all Auckland, all New Zealand is disgraced by the stumbling doggerel that has been published and issued far and wide under the name and auspices of the New Zealand University. Such fads are injurious to the Council’s highname, and should most certainly be confounded. As for the professors acquiring strict diligence,’ the sooner they do so the better. Let us hope that when acquired, they will so exercise it that Auckland shall not again have to blush for shame at the wit (?) of her undergraduates.

His Excellency the Governor and Lady Glasgow patronised the Palmer Company one night in Wellington, when they produced ‘Sweethearts.’ Captain Hancock and several officers from H.M.S. Lizard were also present.

Lady Glasgow gave a very pleasant small dance at Government House, Wellington, last Thursday, when the guests were mostly dancing people. The house, as usual, was beautified in every available space with greenery and flowers, and a number of pot plants had been brought in from the conservatory to decorate the drawing-room, which was prettily lit with tall yellow shaded lamps. The supper-table also looked very pretty, and the mantelpiece in the ball-room was one artistic mass of ferns, plants, and flowers. The effect of this with the huge mirror as a background was lovely. Neither Lady Augusta nor Lady Dorothy have yet quite recovered from the measles, and were therefore not present, but His Excellency, Lady Alice Boyle, Miss Wauchope, Captain Hunter-Blair and Captain Clayton were included in the house party.

The second chamber concert given by Messrs Trimnell and Parker in Wellington was a great success, all the items being classical and mostly instrumental. Pauer’s quintet, by Messrs Trimnell, Harland, Curry, Sewell, and C. Hill, was one of the best items, and the Sonata by Mr Trimnell (piano) and Mr H. F. Edger, lately from Auckland, was one of the gems. Mozart’s trio was given by Messrs Parker

Spackman, and Sewell, and the only vocalist was Miss Gore, who sang a canzone of Haydn’s, and also another song, ‘Under the Snow,’ with ’cello obligato by Mr Edger, Mr Parker accompanying. His Excellency the Governor was present, and also Captain Clayton, Miss Wauchope wearing black, and long Gobelin blue cloak bound with beaver, and Miss Holroyd in cream lace, and long brown brocaded cloak.

The Grand National Meeting in Christchurch was held under most favourable circumstances on Thursday, when another fine race for the big event, the Grand National Steeplechase, was witnessed by a larger crowd than has ever been at an August meeting. The day was mild and bright, and competition very keen, as there were representatives of the various racing clubs from the far North and South. Accidents were numerous, but none of a serious nature, Mr F. Woodward, rider of Mr J. C. N. Grigg’s Matariki, coming off the worst, as he got a nasty fall and was kicked while on the ground. He was attended by Dr. Lomax Smith and the Doctor of the Spanish cruiser Nautilus, and apparently soon recovered. There was much lamentation that the favourite good.old Norton did not win the big steeplechase, especially at the finish when he seemed so distressed, but everyone admired the immense amount of pluck of Waterbury as he led past the post, and out of thirteen horses that made a grand start at the first attempt only four were left in to decide the winner of the Grand National. There was a great flutter over the Ladies’ Bracelet, six horses coming out, and Mrs G. E. Rhodes’ Master Royal -in the hands of Mr E. D. O’Rorke—proved the winner of a superb bracelet, Mrs W. O. Rutherford's Solomon, ridden by Mr D. Kimbell, coming second.

Lady doctors have long been established and recognised in America, and are steadily making headway in England. At length New Zealand has been favoured, and

Dr. E. F. M. Frikart, M.D., etc., has registered and begun practice as a lady doctor at 14 Brandon-street, Wellington. ‘ There are many cases in whicha skilled female physician can beof immense service towomen otallclassss, who would often suffer in silence rather than consult a medical man,’ so says a recognised London authority in speaking of the good done by lady doctors. Dr. Frikart is highly qualified, and should command success.

Since the reduction to popular prices of the Misses Aibu’s concerts—to suit the impecuniosity of the times—crowded houses have listened with much pleasure and frequent applause to these talented artistes. Encores have been the order of each evening. The Misses Albu are contemplating a pleasure trip to the Hot Lakes, and may possibly give a concert en route.

Immense was the fun at the Girls’ College in Nelson last Saturday when the annual meeting of all the old college girls took place, this time also, a number of friends being present. Songs, recitations, character songs, and similar items, soon whiled the time away, and supper time arrived all too quickly. Perhaps the best items were the Christy minstrel ones, the young lady who played the ban jo being particularly amusing and quaint, her song ‘ Cheer up Sam,’ being very insinuatingly sung. The song, in character, ‘Gipsy’s Warning,’ was excellently sung and acted, Miss McEachen being the lucky possessor of a sweet, true voice - and last, though by no means least, comes the song, ‘Johnny Smokes,’ by the girls, the lady who conducted being killingly funny.

Two very jolly dances were those given in Nelson by Mr and Mrs Booth on Fiiday and Saturday evenings to their friends, ypung and old. Friday evening was devoted to the smaller folk, and Saturday to their elders. Two rooms were used for dancing, which was kept up with spirit until a late hour on each evening. The floor being perfect and the supper excellent, it goes without saying that the dances were both a great success.

The little suburb of Mount Albert is hoping to attract many visitors from Auckland on the 23rd and 24th. This Wednesday (afternoon) a Sale of Work and Industrial Exhibition in aid of the Sunday-school fund is to be opened at three o’clock by Bishop and Mrs Cowie, and will remain open all that evening, andthe following day. An interesting piece of work is a pretty red and white quilt, with a deep border of small squares. For the sum of sixpence anyone could purchase a square and work his or her initials on it. Over a hundred have been collected and beautifully arranged by Miss Larkins. This unique quilt is for sale.

Mks Hadfield gave a large juvenile party at Bishopscourt, Wellington, and this was greatly enjoyed by about sixty children, among whom were the Misses Williams, (Charles) Johnston, (Walter) Johnston, Russell, Atkinson, Reeves, Butts, Gore, Harding, Edwin, Coleridge, Higginson, Brandon, Baker, Quick, Morrah, I’owles, Hislop, Sprott, etc. First they had a sumptuous tea, and then various games, a Punch and Judy show (given by Mr W. Moorhouse), and dancing amused the guests until it was time to depart. A number of grown up people were present helping Mrs and the Misses Hadfield to entertain.

About fifty couples ‘skipped by the light of the moon ’ in the Ponsonby Hall on Friday night. Captain Edwin must have had the ‘ At Home ’ committee in his mind when he made up the parcel of weather for Auckland. Sharp, frosty air, that maketh dancing a dream of delight, moonlight that causeth to wax sentimental—such was the edict of the all-powerful clerk of the weather to the elements which order poor human existence in Ponsonby as elsewhere. Happy faces and a universal atmosphere of enjoyment testified to the general and complete success of the function. Mr Mclndoe, as M.C., was a host in himself, forming * sets,’ introducing everyone to everyone else, and so skilfully directing the proceedings that they passed oft’ without a hitch. Indeed, the success that has hitherto characterized these monthly dances is largely due to the energy of Mr Macindoe, assisted by the secretary, Mr F. A. Clarke. Mr S. Adams and his band supplied the item which is of the most importance at a dance —good music. Mrs J. Hanna superintended the arrangements of the supper-table this month, her tasteful decorations being greatly admired. Festivities were not ‘ wound up ’ until a very late hour. A list of the dresses worn (including several most handsome costumes) appears in our Ladies’ Column.

On Thursday evening last the annual meeting of the parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, Picton, took place in the Sunday-schoolroom, and was largely attended, the ladies being, as usual, in the majority. After the business was completed, and officers appointed for the ensuing year, the meeting resolved itself into a social gathering, and a very pleasant time was spent in congratulations on the present success of all things parochial, even to a small balance in hand to start the new year with. It was unanimously resolved to make hay whilst the sun shone, and gather in a supply for the future needs of the church and Sunday-school by providing summer excursionists with refreshments, and initiating a church jubilee week for the winter, to take the form of an art exhibition. Tea, coffee, cakes, etc., were handed round, and a few sacred songs rendered by the Misses Linton and Miss Howard.

The fire fiend has again been busy in Nelson. This time Dr. Leggatt’s late residence was the one chosen for his attack, the house being burnt to the ground. Unfortunately, Mr Lyell had just bought the house and a number of fixtures, also a dining-room suite, and of course these all went. An enquiry into the fire elicted the fact that the house had been wilfully set on fire, but by whom there was not sufficient evidence to show. The sooner the fiend is caught the better, think all Nelsonians.

Blenheim is again flooded (the eighth flood in seven weeks), and as peregrination was impossible, very little business could be done. ‘ I am sorry to say,’ writes my correspondent, * that diphtheria and measles are spreading, and are likely to spread, with all this water lying about in hollows and low parts of the town. It is an undoubted fact that these constant floods are a great drawback to Blenheim, and render the town very unhealthy at this time of year, but it is very difficult to know how to prevent them, as a bank made in one place floods another part, and each man has his own pet scheme to protect his own property or interests. It is a great pity that anybody was so stupid as to build a town in such a swampy hole, especially as we all have to suffer in consequence.’

The second ‘At Home’ of the Christchurch Liederkranzchen was given at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms on Wednesday afternoon, and was a very interesting and successful one. The members have increased in numbers, and show much improvement with continued training, but there was a little unsteadiness in some of the concerted pieces, also in the piano duet. The solos were pleasingly rendered, Miss Fairhurst (president) being very successful with • Alla Stella Confidente,’ Miss Packer playing the violin obligato. Miss Wood played two pieces for piano beautifully, both without music. An interesting item was • The Song of the Liederkranzchen,’ words and music composed by their conductress, Miss Nora Gard’ner. It is a tuneful, taking part song, the words, of course, symbolical of their meetings. An invitation was given to the Spanish officers, about a dozen putting in an appearance, and with a few gentlemen by special invitation, made this a departure from the usual ‘ At Homes ’ given by these ladies. Each gentleman, was provided with a button-hole bouquet, and at half time, when tea and coffee was dispensed with every good thing imaginable in the shape of cake and sweets, they seemed to enjoy these things as much as the fair sex. The tables were beautifully decorated, the Spanish flag being draped over the stage, all the Liederkriinzchen wearing the colours.

The Rev. Mr W. Evans has been in Nelson a few days, and took the opportunity of delivering a lecture on * Carlyle’ in the Provincial Hall, which was listened to with great interest by his old friends. He is a most able lecturer, and Nelson people have missed him a great deal, so that they were glad to be able to show their appreciation of his merits by rolling up in good numbers to his lecture.

The recent Cinderella dance in Napier was notably successful. My correspondent expresses herself thus anent the ball : ‘ The floor was in first-rate order. There were crowds of men, and good dancers too, and the supper was most delicious. I believe the committee have quite given up using acid for the floor, and instead rub in some oily mixture, which is a marked improvement on the acid. I have heard several people remark how very good the floor was. There were not many country people at the ball, and I can assure you they missed a treat. Mr Muir, of the Bank of New Zealand, Hastings, I noticed among the dancers. He is a great acquisition to the balls, as he dances so well. The Tomoana men also rolled up in force—Messrs H. G. Warren, Cooper, and others.’

Whilst the Auckland capping ceremony was proceeding on Wednesday night at the Choral Hall, another and more eminently social event was taking place at a short distance. Mr and Mrs Isidor Alexander, ‘San Remo,’Symonds-streec, ' gave a very large dance. The decorations were capital. The verandah and balcony were completely enclosed with flags and canvas, and lighted artistically with Chinese lanterns. There were about one hundred and sixty guests present, the gentlemen predominating in large numbers. Excellent recitations were given by Misses Cora and Stella Alexander and Mr Montague during an interval of the ball. The minuet was also gracefully danced by half-a-dozen couples, under the able tuition of Miss Scott. The supper-table was most artistically arranged. In the centre a mirror was placed representing a lake on which graceful swans floated. The idea was very happily carried out. Around were sprays of ti-tree in full bloom, frosted with alum, and on the outer edge was soft white drapery in undulating folds, the effect of a beautiful snow scene in the soft light being excellent, and greatly admired. Supper, music, and floor were perfect, and a most enjoyable evening was the result. The Misses Albu were present. The older gentlemen who did not care for dancing adjourned to the billiard, card, and music rooms.

Mks Cutten gave a large musicdie at her residence, Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin. There were quite eighty guests, and the evening was a delightful one. Miss A. Cargill and Miss M. Cargill gave an original little sketch called ‘ A Modern Dressmaker." Mr J. Cargill contributed one of his humorous recitations, entitled ‘Leap Year.’ Songs were also given by Mrs C. Kettle, Miss Roberts, and Mrs A. J. Fergusson. The supper table looked lovely. The decorations weie of red and yellow silk with quantities of glass dishes of spring flowers, which are beginning to put in their sweet and welcome appearance. A few evenings later this same lady gave a small but most enjoyable dance to a few friends, among them being Mrs Williams, Mrs Ogston and Mrs Ridings, the Misses Williams, Tolmie, Rattray, Spence, Roberts, Dymock, Cargill, and a few others.

Another genial little dance was given in the Oddfellows' Hall, Ponsonby, on Friday night, in connection with the West End Social Union. Messrs Davis, McComish, Burke, and Gribben furnished excellent music. The floor was in perfect condition for dancing, thereby adding immensely to the enjoyment. Mr J. Rees made a popular M.C. Supper was supplied by the ladies of the committee, Mesdames Rees and Bartlett taking active part in the management of this important item. Dancing continued until after midnight.

Still another ‘surprise party ’ is reported from Picton, and this, says my correspondent, the jolliest of the season, at Cam House—the prince of houses for parties—eventuated on Wednesday evening. Once more the house was turned topsy-turvey, though when the party arrived darkness and silence reigned supreme in the house and all around. One window was found with a broken lock, and an amateur burglar got in thereat and unlocked the front door for the rest, who made themselves so thoroughly at home that the home party were fain to remove the barricades from the drawing room and join in the fun going on. Dancing was kept up till 2 a.m., and everybody was sorry to tear themselves away. In addition to Mr 11. C. Seymour and the Misses Seymour, there were Misses (A. I’.) Seymour, Mellish, Greensill, Allen, Western (two), White, Philpotts, Waddy (two). Hay, Mrs Allen, and Messrs G. Waddy, Western, G. Seymour, Wynn-Williams, and White (Maori Bay), Redcliffe (VVhaiehunga), Greensill, S. Fell, W. and T. Baillie.

The progressive euchre epidemic has spread to Onehunga, and Mrs Scott and Mrs Brookfield have successfully conducted several very pleasant campaigns on these lines.