HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2053, 13 April 1907, Page 4

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL

AN IRISH ACTOR.

Bv “Ponolopo.” Wellington. Mr. Andrew Mack lias captured Wellington with his clever acting anil delightful voice—so sweot and sympathetic that there is a tendency among his uudioncos to wipe away many a tear when ho sings a pathetic Irish ballad. Ho is not slim, but ono forgets that in the excellence oi his acting. Bike Father O’Flynn, he has a wonderful way with him with children, and in “Tom Moore” —-hit opening piece, the most charming scene is laid in the schoolroom, where the hoys and girls sing and dance. Mr. Mack is a horn raconteur, Nod can sit for hours tolling good stories in his quaint brogue flavoured with American twang. Tlio drosses ol “Tom Moore”—George IV. period are rather picturesque, and the heroine acted by dainty and small and fair-haired Miss Jane Kclton, wore a ravishing rocoption gown. It was blush-roso brocade, patterned in stripes and decorated with narrow scarves of silver tissue caught with roses. The poke bonnets with theii drooping feathers, and the silk scarves we are wearing to-day wore also most becoming to her. Her acting, I however, was somewhat stiff and forced, especially in the love-making scenes, in which Mr. Mack, as one might expect from an Irishman, was irresistible. His coaxing blarney was potent enough to disarm bis old dragon of a landlady, who bursts into Tom Moore’s room, fiercely demands her rent, and leaves later without it in tears, calling down blessings on her tenant’s head. The piece has been appreciated by tremendous audiences, Irishmen turning up in largo numbers, and a nuniboi of Japanese oilicors were also present on several occasions. They were politely attentive—they could not be discourteous —but stealthily yawned at intervals. Tlio dialogue would be incomprehensible—they complain wc talk too fast for thorn to follow —and the melodious Irish airs would, to judge from thoir own idea of music, be discord. On Easter Monday Mr. and Mrs. Wilford were in the circle. The latter has boon very ill, but is bettor, and lias boon convalescing at Mount Cook.

OUR JAPANESE VISITORS.

Tho brown-faced sailor-men have certainly been the heroes of the week, and it would bo quite easy to find heroes who do not half as much deserve their flattering attentions. For these men are brave, history and their modals—some of them wear six and there is scarcely a seaman who is not decorated—show that, though they themselves will scarcely speak of their doings. “It is nothing,” said one officer, showing an immense picture of a naval fight, where he sank ono of t-lic Russian cruisers. It is extremely difficult to get them to talk of themselves, for they arc most curious about 11s, and ask innumerable questions about all sorts oi things. One little middie inquired of a girl friend whether it was right to say “Ivdy” or “lady.” Tlieir search for information takes them to everywhere—even behind the counters in the shops. I met a solemn band passing through' tlio underclothing department of one of our largest shops, eyed with giggling amusement by the young ladies. 011 their walks abroad they were beset by small boys demanding postcards, coins, stamps—in exchange for others—and several times I have noticed a gold-laced, white-gloved officer writing his name, ill the street, in tho autograph book of ail importunate youngster. But they were always patient, polite, and even good-humoured, and not a single ease of drunkenness or disorder was heard of. though hundreds of men were ashore. They spent pounds 011 postcards—fifty flocked in at' one time to a stationer’s—and they bought clothing, greenstone, and quantities of white kid gloves.. The middies have as delightful manners as tlieir superiors. The Mayor had three of them to dinner ono evening. Asked to take wine, they refused. “It is not allowed for us to take wine while still midshipmen,” they told their host gravely. The various implements troubled them somewhat. “You will excuse our table manners,” ono said anxiously. “They are not good.” But they wore quick to imitate what their host did anti made no great blunders. All tho officers are keen to improve their English. Most of them speak a little, and all read and write it—as a rule —pretty well. Certainly by now their vocabulary should bo extensive, for there were heaps of pretty girls eager to act as tutors to quite as ready pupils. They were so quaint sometimes in expressing themselves in Sydney one little officer is reported to have, said commenting on the variety of costumes' a colonial girl has, compared with a Japanese. “111 the morning she wears a morning dress, in the afternoon she puts 011 an afternoon dress, and in the evening she wears a night-dress. All 1 I do like your night-dresses best!” THE CONSUL’S RECEPTION.

This was the pleasantest of the various functions given in the Japanese honor. Mrs. T. Young was the hostess, and slio introduced her guests—there wore about 150 —to the Admiral. Ho is, for a Japanese, tall, with tho kindest of faces, lean, brown, with a straight hanging moustache. His name is Tomioka, corrupted, by t'he boys into Tapioca. About forty officers were present, and introductions wore wisely dispensed with. They lose their value when you are unable to pronounce the name, and incapable of distinguishing ono officor from another. They are absurdly alike, The superior officers have longer hair than those of lower rank. Tho Admiral has sent the Consul a very large picture of the naval battle of Tushima, and I had, with half-a-dozen others, the great pleasure of listening to an officer who had taken a very active part- in the fight, describing the whole affair. The music of the hand, the great chatter, tho chink of china and silver, made a quaint accompaniment. to his scraps of vivid description. After champagne and othci refreshments, some of them played croquet. They were fearfully interested and keen over the new game. The Admiral was much struck by the tall women who were present. One stately lady over six feet he could not keep his eyes off. A small lieutenant said to mo, commenting 011 the same—“ Yes, we are small—but we’re very smart 1” OTHER FUNCTIONS.

The Navy League braced itself up and entertained the officers in the Town Hall. It was not a hilariously cheerful entertainment, but the girls talked to the men, and gave them tea and cigarettes. The most interesting five minutes of the afternoon was taken up by a weird song ol about fifty of the Japanese. It was a war-song, and would probably have the same power as the bag-pipes in driving the enemy, panic-stricken, from the field. There was neither rhythm nor harmony in it, and the men sang with-all their hearts and lungs, and tlio officer at the piano fingered a desultory acompaniment with his gloves on! The Japanese are keen to give their neatly printed cards to people who take an interest in them. One man, moved by the charm of my conversation, took my name ami address down C.iici ally, and said “I write you every mail.” The Government: also were hosts to the Admiral and his officers last I'ri-j day iu the Parliamentary Buildings. It was a warm—not to say, torrid—reception, and badly managed, congested doorways, and an overlong programme of a most uninteresting

character, except, for tho Japanese itom, the show of Ju-Jitsu. It was quite marvellous. Four seamen in loo,so white costumes, throw one another over their lioads with tho great-, ost case. The lull caused sickening thuds, and tlio horrified crowds shuddered and exclaimed, but the victim got up smiling and was at it again immediately. Sometimes tho two, so mixed up it was impossible to say who owned-a particular leg or arm, would roll about tho floor in a wild tanglo. Another impressive feature of the evening was tlio Admiral’s little speech, short, eloquent,, and to the point, somewhat ol a contrast to the words of Mr. McGowan, who, though an excellent mail, is no orator. lie and Dr. Findlay represented the Ministry. There was a good deal of discontent over the way in which the officers were taken about the building in a drove, and not allowed to mix with the crowd. Many who hoped to have a talk with them wore •disappointed. The variety ol costume was astonishing. One lady in white satin and diamonds brushed shoulders with a girl in a tweed coat ~,i(| felt hat, and a huge erection of this persuasion effectually shut out, from me any view of the proceedings at- first.

A JAPANESE AT HOME. The reception by the Admiral on tho Hnshidntc was notably different in perfect arrangement and comfort. Tlio invitations wore limited to 50, and consequently many wore leR lamenting. The ship was elaborately decorated, the upper dock being laid out like a garden with quantities oi cherry blossom, chrysanthemums, and pot plants—those stunted trees of such great ago. Japanese games and sports wore held ill fancy costumes, one man dressed as an English young lady in a sort of white bed gown with a bolt, and a little straw hat on a mop of tow hair, cheating most horribly. Tho guests left loaded with gifts, mostly tho work ot the officers and men—which wore drawn for, and included silk cushion covers, carvings, books, and paintings. One man secured a fine silk parasol, and Miss Cooper won the beautiful book ol' pictures given by the Admiral. In all those parcels was the card of the giver, and one girl got a letter 111 English written by tho man who made tho girt. The Japanese proved ideal hosts, generous, courteous, and most eager to please, and the guests are now glowing advertisements to tho worth of the nation.

A 'PICTURESQUE WEDDING.

No prettier bride could bo imagined than Miss Brenda Hacon, who was married to Mr. Charles Pharazyn last Thursday at St. Paul’s. Miss Hacon, whoso father was the late Dr. Hacon, of Christchurch, is a relation of Sir John Logan Campbell, and Mr. Pharazyn’s first wife, who left two little girls, was- Miss Izard. Tlio bride is tall, with a beautiful figure and delicately lovely coloring. She wore an Empire dress of ivory crepe, falling loose from a short yoke, and caught in at the waist by velvet ribbons. She wore a very large diamond crescent, which, with some other very lovely jewels and beautiful white furs, was the gift of the bridegroom. Five bridesmaids in

white satin and palest green scarves and rosettes were in attendance, Miss Imcy Brandon, Miss Phyllis Higginson, the lirido’s future little, stepdaughter, a small cousin, and Marjory Joseph. Tho frocks were extremely smart, and Golder’s Hall—flic reception was held at Miss Part-ridge’s—-was a gay scene with many motors, carriages, and cabs, and an attendant crowd of sightseers. Another lovely girl is to he married this week—Miss Morna Fell—tho second of tho trio, of pretty sisters to bo married. The bridegroom is Captain Erie Johnston, son of Mr. Charles Johnston, of Karori. Captain Johnston is at present 011 furlough from India. A garden party was held last Friday at Karori as a farewell to Miami Mrs Johnston, who go Homo after the wedding is over.

SOCIAL NOTES.

The latest engagement is that of Miss Elsie McTavish, who lias just come back from a delightful trip to England, to Mr. Howard Richmond. Ho leaves for Home —where 110 is to stay six months —in a week. Judge and Mrs. Williams are in Wellington just now.- Mr. and Mrs. lewsloy have moved into tho fine now hoarding house —built by Mrs. Riddiford in Hill street. Mr. Percy—tho interim inspector of the Union Bank—and his daughter are in tlio samo place. ______

M. E. Coo, writing from San Francisco to the last number of London Public Opinion, says lie will not be angry at that journal for taking the wrong view in regard to the Japs, because he is convinced that the outside world has been in blank ignorance of the truth. The Japs in the San Francisco school are mostly grown moil, learning boside the white children. This is not thought good for the girls. Morality imposes caution. As a somewhat less important matter, yet serious, the Japs brought in a formerly unknown diseaso of tho eyes called trachoma, and some whito children caught it. San Francisco arc unanimous on tho necessity for divided schools. No white party opposes it. Give due weight to tliis. The Japs men, all wanting to go to school if they can, have been pouring in at the rate of a thousand per week. They actually take the school prizes away from the little white kiddies! Tho special Jap schools are in every point as well taught as tho others.

Now that tho majority of the sports meetings are over, contractors expect to be able to proceed faster with road works (gleefully remarks the Taranaki News). Taranaki produces a greater crop of sports meetings to the acre than any other district, we think, in tho colony. The opening of a school is generally the fore-runner of a sports mooting, and as the schools generally follow the establishment of a store, it will be seen that nearly every settlement has its annual athletic jollification. And this, despite the fact that the city journals grow hysterical about the “child slaves of Taranaki.” The 100yds handicap is generally covered in a little over ten seconds, despite the alleged, dwarfing of tho people mentally and physically.