After Dinner Gossip AND Echoes of the Week

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 15, 15 April 1905, Page 17

After Dinner Gossip AND Echoes of the Week

Reserved Railway Seats. 'The proposal for "reserved seats” in railway travelling over long distances is one of those reforms in travelling which will ultimately tend so much for the general comfort, that like so many other improvements and innovations (obvious after the event), one wonders it has not been thought of and carried out long ago. One has used the qualification ‘■ultimately’’ because at first the new arrangement will upset a host of small customs and prejudices of railway journeying®, and will over-ride many popular traditions as to the rights of the individual when transporting himself from one location to another. At present, with the vast majority of mankind, railway travel brings out the least lovely—not to say the meanest—minor traits of human nature. It does more than this indeed —it positively creates the smaller social vices, for you find people who are conspicuous for unselfishness, kindliness, and natural truthfulness of word and deed develop on a railway train a sordid personal and contemptible selfishness, a disregard for the feelings and comforts of others, and a. mendacity of action, all too often backed up by petty and positive lying, which would be really and seriously shocking if it were not so much a custom as to be regarded as little more serious than the “not at home’’ tarradidille. The latter has, however, this difference iu its favour,that it has ceased to be more than a mere formula, and is not used for merely selfish motives, but as a shibboleth for mutual comfort and convenience in the complexities of everyday social existence. But on the railway carriage we lie and plan to deceive with deliberate intent. We go to work to add to our comfort at the direct expense of others. We pile rugs, bags, etc., all over the seats, and watch with a sardonic smile the frantic efforts of less sophistioate.d travellers to find seats for themselves and their Belongings. If the unfortunates, foolish enough to arrive after the pirate of seats has completed his or her work (and the “hers” are the least scruJmlous) look into a carriage tenanted say by two, and a multitude of bags, all the answer they will get will be an out-and-out lie, or at all events an equivocation, which is worse. It is strange that the moral Sense should be so blunted over this matter, but as every reader knows, both by sinning himself or herself, and by being sinned against, the fact remains as stated. Occasionally one sees specimens of downright impudence and colossal selfishness, which, from their very frankness, compel some sort of admiration in that they are free from pretence or subterfuge. Travelling down from Rotorua one very crowded day this summer, the writer saw two wealthy and very well-known Auckland ladies calmly appropriate an entire first-class carriage by the beautiful and simple expedient of stretching their limbs full-length on the seats, and calmly regarding those frantically hunting for seats with a stare of cold insolence when they peered in at the carriage. The guard looked his feelings, but had not grit to make a fuss, and the ladies held their position, to the grave discomfort of two other compartments, which were greatly overcrowded, while from Hamilton the down people were absolutely standing in the alley-way. The numbering of seats will abolish all this sort of thing, and after a time we shall grow to wonder what, sort of people we were in these present days to net as we did. Tlie Railway Department will, moreover, get some indication of when a rush may l»e expected, and over-crowd-ing passengers as at present will lie inexcusable. Sir Joseph Ward is therefore deserving of congratulation, for not only will he improve the standard pl

comfort in railway travelling, but he will free us of foibles and weaknesses almost universal and of which we ought all of us to be heartily and sincerely ashamed.

Americans on the Stage. Say, stranger, have you noticed how popular Americans are at the present time on the stage? I would beg to remind you of it if you have not. It is only within the last decade that actors and actresses hailing from the Land of the Stars and Stripes have made any headway at all in London, conservative old London, whose theatrical traditions are quite as conventional as some of its other traditions. A few years ago one never heard the American twang, or perhaps one should call it an accent, on the colonial stage, and many of us remember how difficult it was getting used to these sprightly ladies and gentlemen who talked about “dallars” and “Noo York City.” I don’t think the Americans will produce an actor in the full meaning of the word -—a Sir Henry Irving, for instance —for many years to come. Cuyler Hastings illustrates what I mean. The laconic, inscrutable Sherlock Holmes suited him to perfection, and fitted him as well as the part of Francois Villon in “If I Were King” fitted him badly. The “thank you so much, Miss Faulkner.” etc., style of diction was right into the American’s hands, but when a man treats the romantic, poetie, ehivalric part of the vagabond poet in the same style as he does the keen, clear-ent detective—well, there is something to learn. When he was reciting that delicate little thing,

“Ou sont les neiges d’antran,” one could not help thinking that all the time he was saying in his mind, “Say, Miss Faulkner, could you oblige me with the present locality of the snow that same down last year?” Hastings is typical of his countrymen. There is, however, one department of the theatrical art where Americans shine, and that is the comedy part, where there is plenty of “gagging” to be done. I mean the sort of thing that Mr George Fuller Golden has been successfully doing at Mr Rickards’ show. The Americans have such quaint turns of expression, such an upside-down way of looking at established conventions, that every line they utter carries with it a laugh. I was very much amused at Duffey, the runner, w hen he was here. After he had run into second or third place In one of the handicaps at the Domain, he was explaining to an interested knot that even record breakers were not infallible. “You train up for the event,” he remarked, “and they expect you to come up lo lay over the biggest toad in the puddle, but if you don’t deliver the goods there is an uproar.” That simile about the delivery of the goods is rather good. The latest Americanism I heard will not appeal to the fair sex (if they be kind enough to read these humble efforts of mine at all), but some of their brothers and papas will probably raise a feeble smile. A friend of mine who is now domiciled at Honolulu (he calls it “Haltnalulu”) went into a house of call for a drop of old rye. He helped himself, “not much, I assure you; not more than half a glass.” The barman put the bottle back and went to the other end of the saloon, and returned with a bit of soap, which he handed to my friend. “What’s this for? I don’t want. soap; I want si drink,” “Beg your pardon, suh,” replied the bar-tender without a smile, “thought you were going to have a bath!’’

Religions Revivals—Old and New. The religious revival in Wales nnd England is a fact, one moreover which is entirely modern in the magnitude of its influence. It would seem as if our

colossal industrial undertakings were finding their reflex in the religious world. Evan Roberts, the inspired' blacksmith, the genius of the Welsh revival, is said by conservative writers to have made thirty thousand converts among the inhabitants of the principality. Albert Hall, in London, where a revival is being conducted by our old friends, Torrey and Alexander, the American evangelists, has been filled with an audience of 12.000 eagerly taking part in the services, and these meetings have been led in singing by a choir of 3600 trained voices.

In Wales, at all events, there appears to be no doubt with .regard to the actual moral effects of the preaching. The ordinary crimes of the lower classes, such as drunkenness and acts of violence. have shown a very marked falling off. and the presentation of white gloves, the custom followed when a magistrate calls Court and has no eases to try. has become not uncommon in districts in which the miners and other workmen usually found plenty of work for the Justices.

Not only In Wales and England, but in New Zealand, and throughout the British colonies, the same revival of aeliglon is noted, and even in America there are very obvious signs of the same phenomenon. There arc said to have been 40.000 persons present at the Keswick convention.

Revivals are, of course, a fairly familiar phenomena to the. English-speaking peoples, but it would be interesting to discover just in what respects this religious awakening differs from its predecessors, and in spite of ail the writing which has been done on that point, we have discovered no satisfactory explanation. W. T. Stead, with his usual originality. to employ no harder term, has been at the pains to set out a list of former revivals, and endeavours to show thereby that in each case they have preceded social and political changes of importance. It eannot be said, however, that the logic of Mr Stead is convincing, or that the connection has been made out. In any ease, this would not explain the revival. There is little question that a period of religious activity has for some time been pending. The quarter of a century dominance of the agnostic and materialistic view was bound sooner or later to produce its own reaction. This reaction has up to now been more, generally observable among the intellectual workers and the literary men, who have returned to the ehurch, even in the centres of modern commercial and business life. The history of modern literature is full of such examples. It would be interesting to learn certainly if the same tendency is beginning to make itself felt among the. proletarians who have been supposed hitherto to be hopelessly materialistic.

If this should prove to be the case, what is the particular sociological phenomenon which is responsible for the same effect on classes so diverse?

Peers anti Actresses. There has been a great deal of talk going on in London lately, not alone among the members of the theatrical profession, whom it chiefly concerns, but among everybody, about five wellkjiown personages iu the social and public world of London—two ladies and three gentlemen. However, they don’t all appear in one group, there being really two separate and distinct little love romances, one of which involves but two of them; the other takes in the other three. The ladies are Miss Marie Studholme (called Studd’m. hy the by) and Miss Maudi Darrell. Both are lead

ing actresses on the musical-comedy stage, with perhaps a preference as to runk in favour of the former. Both are greatly admired nnd run after by all the young men. That is to say, admired by all. but run after by those only who have plenty of money. Never, in the present’day, have two actresses in London been so attractive to the jeunnesse dore of the smart set as have these two. As for Marie Studholtne; she is bewildered with the number of her slaves. At least, she used to be bewildered when that sort of homage was new to her, for the fair Marie is “getting on.” if the truth must be told. She was playing one of the leading part*

in “The Toreador’’ when it came out four years ago, and four years is a big slice out of the life of an actress who goes in for musical plays. She is unquestionably a very beautiful woman. She sings delightfully, dances divinely, and is altogether charming. She is also the most photographed actress iu the universe, there being no less than Tour hundred and sixty-two negatives extant of her different poses. This is an authentic statement. Of course, she has gone through dozens upon dozens of beseech merits from enamoured men, mostly young, but not a few old chapsTo one and all she has turned a deaf ear. and the hearts she has broken could be counted by the score. But to return to her latest loveaffair. which is answerable for half the talk which has been going on. For months past Marie Studholme has been playing the leading lady’s part iu “The Orchid” at the Gaiety Theatre, and for a good portion of that time there was one of her army of admirers who never missed a performance; even the matinees saw him seated in the stalls, if he didn’t occupy a box all to himself. This was no less a personage than Viscount Brackley, the eldest son and heir of tha enormously rich Earl of Ellesmere, who is the head of the ancient and distinguished family of Egerton. I believe that Lord Egerton of Tatfon disputes this; but it is all nonsense; Ellesmere is the man beyond a doubt. The admiration which the viscount so openly showed for the pretty actress naturally attracted attention, and, of course, people talked. Everybody thought there was more in it than met the eye; that eventually he would win where so many before him had failed, and that soon the ranks of the nobility would be graced by the addition of another bride drawn from the ranks of the theatrical profession. It would certainly be a grand match for the actress, everybody thought- Lord Brackley is a fine, strapping fellow, an athlete and k-'en sportsman, and one of the best amateur cricketers. He is also heir to an earldom and vast estates and property of great historic value. The famous Bridgewater House is part of his inheritance. Another thing: his admiration, though it may have looked it, was not the infatuation of a raw youth, for he is in his thirty-third year. Old enough to know better, some people may think. But after all. why shouldn't a man of his rank and position marry an actress if he choose? Not so much as a breath has over been whispered against the lady’s good name. It is now whispered that Lord Brackley has met the same fate as his predecessors, and has actually beeu refused.

Now for the other three. Maudi Darrell—mind you spell it with only the “i” —is a fascinating young creature who has for some time been slaughtering the young guardsmen. At present. she is playing in “The Talk of tha Town,” Seymour Hicks's new lightning musical play at the Lyric. In looks .she doesn’t compare with Marie Studholme. Her face has a massive look, though her dark eyes are most effective. There is one very curious thing about her. She never Jets her legs he seen. You would hardly think this was a feature likely to attract the gilded youths of His Majesty’s household troops. Yet it seems to do the trick. But how does she manage about it? Easily enough. She wears a certain nndergarment so long that it reaches to her ankles, and when she raises her skirts to dance, instead of the usual display of silken hosiery, this is what you see. They say it created consternation among the young fellows at first. t>ut now the fashion is regarded as rather chic and fetching. “By Jove, don’t you know,” said one young subaltern in the Grenadiers, but a few months out of Sandhurst one night, "one got rather fed up

on stockings.” One of Maudi's first admirers of the ardent pattern was Lord Dalmeny, Lord Rosebery’s eldest son. Ho wanted to marry her “right away.” It would have been a big thing for her. but she hadn't a long enough innings yet, mid didn’t want to settle down, just as she hud begun to taste the sweets of competitive admiration. That's what people said, for it happened last. year.

But whatever was the reason. Maudi wouldn’t smile on him. It was just ns well, for Lord Rosebery would never have permitted it. But now. the coining man is J>ord Gerard. He is a good looking young fellow--the Geralds ura a handsome family, like the Hamiltons

and the Geres —and having just toms of age, he walks into possession of his titles and estates at onee, and can do what he pleases. One of the things he pleases is to marry Maudi Darrell. Good heavens, how he is envied! But his family don’t like it, and are doing their level best to put a stop to it. Lady Gerard —the young peer’s widowed mother—is a friend of the King, and «he has begged him to reason with the boy. But King Edward himself is not proof against the eharms of pretty actresses even now. He is said to have lately expressed and shown such admiration for Mrs Brown Potter that consternation is no word for the state of mind of his regulation country house set who always make the party invited to meet him. Meanwhile, everybody is betting on Lord Gerard, and Lord Dalmeny mutters curses in pure Yiddish.

[To have acknowledged the above early in the article would have spoiled the reader’s enjoyment. It is the work of a clever Yankee London correspondent]