SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1351, 31 January 1912, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

A Welcome to Mr. Irving. Sir' John Findlay very truly remarked yesterday afternoon, in the course of his welcoming speech to Air. Jl. lj. Irving, in tho Town ilall, that there hail been more dust removed from tho covers of ".Shakespenre" lately than Mr. Irving could possibly imagine, for people whoso "Shakespearcs" Jiave been allowed to slumber peacefully for many a long day have been industriously studying their "Hamlets" with a view to a greater enjoyment and understanding of the play as presented by so distinguished an actor as Mr. Irving. At the reception, which was a civic one, given by tho Acting-Mayor, Mr. Smith, speeches were made by Jlr. Smith, Sir James Carroll, Sir Jo'hii Findlay, Mr. I'lsher, M.P., and others, appreciative of the good fortune which bait fallen to citizens generally in being given the opportunity of witnessing the performances ot .Mr. Irving, and regret was expressed over the fact that Mrs. Irving, owing to indisposition, was not able to have been present that afternoon with her husband. Although Jlr. Irving, in his response to the various speeches, modestly disclaimed the announcement that ho was a "firstrate speaker," it soon became evident that his audience was of an entirely different .opinion:'

An amusing story told by him of one of the performances of •'Hamlet" in Auckland concerned ii man and his wife who had been to witness it. On tho way. home a discussion began as to tho merit's of Ophelia and Hamlet "To my mind," said the husband, "the best part'of the whole thing was Ophelia." Tho wife objected. "I think Hamlet was," she said decidedly. And so they discussed and argued (as husband ana wile sometimes do; for a long time, till finally the husband said, "Well, alter all, peruups it was • neither Hamlet nor Ophelia, but me bloke who wrote the play." And so it was, Mr. Irving pointed one, that in the innumerable discussions ( whieh arose over pluys— as to what, they meant, and wliai they did not mean, now they wore presented, and how they should not have ueun \ ssuted—that "the. bloke" who wrote them was sometimes altogether lost sight oi. One .of the greatest tributes to the. sanitv of Shakespeare's genius was, he thoughr, the tact .tuiit. ho retired with u fortune. ■ilr. Irviiig does not believe in placing the hiasterpieco of ttto English Janguajjo beloro children. One of the previous speakers had related that on reading "Hamlet" to his sons he had looked up to find them both asleep, "i have two children of my own, - ' said Mr. Irving "but I have never tried so dangerous an experiment as to road 'Hamlet' to them." To place tho great works of literature boforo children before they could possibly havo any appreciation of their beauties was to'turn thorn into a task, and so run the risk of destroying all sense of future enjoyment. He believed in teaching them style and construction, but, in doing so, to give them models suited to their present requirements. Among thoso present on tho platform were Lady Findlay, wearing a frock of grey crepe de chine, trimmed with embroideries, and a large black hat; and Miss Smith; in a dark vieux rose frock and white hat 6wathed with white silk.

The marriage of Miss Maude Cox and Mr. G. Morris takes placo at the residence of the bride's mother on Saturday morning, .February 3. Tjie engagement has been announced of Miss Nora Bennett, "Otahuno" (Masterton), to Mr: Rishworth, of-Mastorton. Mr. and Mrs. Eric Webster (Queensland) are visiting Dr. and Mrs. Webster. Mrs. and Miss Saunders returned to Hawko's Bay yesterday from a visit to Wellington. Mrs. Eames ami family, with Miss Kingdon, have returned to Pahiatua, aftur having spent an enjoyable holiday in Wellington. Mrs. J. Logan (Dunedin) is visiting Wellington, and is staying at tho Grand Hotel. Misa Morpcth (Auckland), ivho has been on a. visit to Mastortou and Wellington, is at present staying with Mrs. Eames, in Pahiatua. Mrs. Ray, of Levin, has taken Mrs Ostler's house for a month. Miss Arrow (Pahiatua) is the guest of Mrs. A. L. Warburton. Miss Newcombo (Wanganui) is leaving Wellington shortly on a trip to Europe She intends going by the Grosser Kutfuret, which leaves Sydney on March 20. Mrs. R. J. Collins, who has been on a short visit to Auckland, returned from Wanganui last evening, having travelled down the Wanganui River. Mrs. Ormond Cooper (Masterton) and her children are- spending some weeks at Scatoun. Mr. nnd Mrs. Chaytor and Miss Constance Chaytor, of Marshlands, Marlborough, are leaving England on their return to Now Zealand on February 15, by the Eemuera. Mrs. A. H. Colville, who recently returned to New Zealand from a visit to England, is at present speadinc a few days with her mother, Mrs. Peat, in Feilding. ~ * The death is announced of Mrs. Emma Cable, relict of the late Mr. James Cable, of Hastings. The deceased lady, who was 65 years of age, was a very old resident of tho district, having arrived in New Zealand thirty-eight years ago. She is survived by five daughters nnd one. son. Miss Carncross, daughter of the Hon. W. C. Carncross, M.L.C., is at present on a visit to Wellington. A Press Association message from SydJioy announces the death of Lady Salomons, widow of the late Sir Julian Salomons.

At the Age of Sixteen. Siiys our I'Vikliny correspondent:—A new departure is k'iiig made bv the Vwuig.inui hdueation Board in the temporary appointment of Me:-* Hangi OriimiiKinii, of Aorangi, as assistant tit (lie Hfn- school at Cnmenm , , Line, which is to be called 'IV An Ivura School. Miss J-lriimmond. who is only Hi years of aw, was the dux nf (In. "Turnkina Maori Inllege, and had same leaching experience there. There will be over twenty .Maori pupils at the school, many of them very ynniiff, and it is (bought that (he experiment- will be especially .successful there. The Maoris have done a preat deal for the school, parlicttlarlv 'IV Ar.-v Kiira. the chiefta.iness (alter whom the school is to be named) and Mrs. Katahi, of the Kai Iwi pa. At the opening ceremony of the school To Ara Kura, who was one of the speakers, referred to tlic fact that the .Maoris luul given '1-00 acres of liiml in that locality to the Government to pay th« cost of survey and raiding, and had <loue their duty in regard to public requirements, as well as subscribing money towards the erection of the school.