ADA REEVE'S WAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 7

ADA REEVE'S WAY

i SINGING TO SICK SOLDIERS

VAUDEVILLE AT LOWRY BAY

Should there be those in Wellington who doubt the whole-hearted sincerity of Miss Ada Beeve's interest in the returned 60ldiers it would have cured them to glance from the shady verandah of tho Taumaru Convalescent Homo of LowTy Bay yesterday afternoon. into the cosy sittnig-room arranged, for the nonce, ns a tiny concert chamber, and watch Hiss Keeve at tho work she calls a pleasure. She is not the sort that steps in, shakes a" favoured few by tho hand, eings a eong,. drinks a cup of tea, and says "good-bye.". That is not Miss Eeeve's stylo at all. In the first instance she took the whole of her company out, and minus the lights and dresses, gavo practically tho whole show as performed at night. Arriving at the. lovely, seelnded spot (lent to tho State by Sir Francis Bell), Miss Eeeve simply bounced on to the verandah, and with a "How are you, boy.s?" sho was one of thorn immediately. By some occult power she arrives at a stage of hearty, healthy intimacy with the soldiers that would take other young ladies years to Teach; and, curiously enough, there is neror t,je slightest donbt about trio response—it is there waiting for her. Taking charge ot things at once, Miss Eeeve greeted Sister Jennings' and the voluntary helpers warmly, got tho soldiers comfortably seated, and called tho order_oftho show. : And what a good little "show it was! ■ Tfiere ■'were only some thirty .convalescent soldiers present, tho majority on tho high road to health, but all the members of the company appeared to bo out to do their very best. Alvin and. Williams sang and chortled; little Lucio Linda <lnnced vimfully; Harry _ Jacobs 'sang comic songs at the piano; Kennedy Allen sang'them away from tho piano. Louis Nikola showed extraordinary 6leight-of-hand dexterity at close quarters, and Frank Markley played adoiv ably, on his sweet-toned banjo, j'hen Mills'' Eeeve announced, with grave humour—"Miss Ada Eeeve will new sing!" And she sang, with heart and soul and voice and all tho iirecioua power of humour that is in her—sang "The Girl. With, the Picture Byes," ""Order,-There," "Farmer Giles," "Liko "Tennessee," "Foolish Questions,"' and last of all "The Long, Long Trail." There was no birking, so shutt-, ling, no persuasion oieeded —she sang'because it was her pleasure to do eo, and because the boys were eimply "'eating it." And in "Tennessee" she got the boys to sing the. refrain; then the ladies, then' everybody in the house—and everybody felt supremely happy and uplifted. . - ' ■How can the value 6f ench acts of mercy be appraised? Who can 6ay piecisely what the psychological effect of "a dose of Ada Eeeve" has on the mind of the. soldier who is just beginning to pick up the threads again ? Such de. .lightful. exhilaration its she radiates must be healthful, encouraging, good. At. the end of the entertainment an 'officer inmate came fonvard-aud thanked Miss Eeeve for the ringing treat she had given- them in coming all the way to the'bay. to entertain them, and one .of the. patients presented Miss Eeeve with a glorious basket of "roses* white and v roses red," the basket, having been made on the premises. In reply, Miss Eeeve -/oiced what.a.deep and abiding joy it was,for her to do the little ehfe was able to do; The'women throughout*,the whole, of the Empire were doing great and wonderful work. Some of them were giving up the whole of their time to war work, whilst she went on earning her giving, but in her leisure she was only too glad and happy" to do anything at all for the soldiers-who had taken part in the greatest struggle -the world nad ever known, and, please God, would ever know, again. She also thanked the Sisters and voluntary' workers who were ' looking after the boys ; 6o tenderly. "Get better soon," said Miss Reeve-to the men, "bat not toosoon—and feel proud that you have played your part in the conflict that is going to end" in a lasting peace, lfavin" the ' world a purer and better place for us'all to live in. God bless you." ' - . "" v Miss Eeeve was accompanied by Lady Ward, Mrs. Thacker, and Mr. Thomas Bolt (secretary). The cars for the trip were' supplied by Sir Joseph Ward. Dr. Thacker, Mr. T. Lloyd, and Miss Eeeve. It was regrettable that the matron (Mrs. Eolleston) was not' present. In her absence Sister Jennings (late of the hosnital ship Marama) did the honours, and showed the guests over the very delightful old' home. '..'..■'■