HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 1 June 1907, Page 1

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

By “Penelope.”

Wellington. HUMAN HEARTS. This Amofican play has been running this weo'k at the Opera House, and drawing great audiences. The plot is sensational in the extreme—the villain is an export in wickedness and the leading lady ably seconds him—but it has a good 'deal of humor and some touches of true pathos. It ends happily with the arrest of the murderer and tho death of tho lioro’s wicked wife. But the finale—a tableau with a corpse in front of tho footlights, and forgiving frionds and relatives imprinting kisses on tho brow—is a ghastly piece of realism that might be left out of an otherwise rather pretty play. Mr. Leicester, who has an English reputation, is a splendid looking man, over six feet, with fine features, and makes a most artistic village blacksmith, though his performance with the red-hot horse shoo and tho anvil caused mirth in the audience. As I am not versed in the smithy business, I saw no reason for the laughter. Miss Sydnoy, tho faithless wife, ami cruel mother—a most unpleasant person altogether—wears very satisfying gowns. "When tho pangs of rcinorso strike her she lias on, a delightful pale blue chiffon-velours, with a vein of silver embroideries, which gives grent point to her agonised movements and tragic attitudes. Porliaps tho player whoso part is best liked by the audience is the tiny daughter. This little actress—though one cannot approve of little children on the stage—was captivating, sweetly natural, and gay—a real child in her winsome ways. All the female hearts in the packed house followed

the dainty maiden in her.varying fortunes, and accompanied them with audible murmurs of indignation or admiration. The prison scenes were really intensely humorous, and if they were drawn from life, the lot of a convict in an American gaol is quite a cheerful existence, with extraordinary liberty of person and speech, a| minimum of work, and a possibility any day of a pardon from a softhearted governor.

VARIOUS FUNCTIONS

This week has not been marked with many social events. The former pupils of the Wellington Girls’ High School held their reunion on Friday; and the same afternoon Miss Finch gave a large tea for her girl friend, Miss:.Rawson, and Miss ICirkcaldie singing. A small but charm-

party was given: on' Thursday by Mrs J. Pike, whose niece from Dunedin, Miss Nesbitt, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Nesbitt, is staying with her. Mrs Pike’s house on the hill is one of the beshappointed and most artistic in the city" "arid Mr. Piko 'has a fine taste ih"pictiires: ;! The -slipper,' served' on" little tables, was notable, not only for its 'dainty menu," but' 1 for'the charming- decorations', a : gilded rustic basket, filled with white iris' and autumn leaves'being placed in the centre of.oacli table, and gold and white satin ribbon trcllising -the "damask. Progressive bridge bids-fair to bo a very favorite amusement for winter evening parties. The first of these competitions was difficult to manage, but now it is. possible to buy scoringcards especially for progressive bridge"; that make the duties of the' anxious hostess simple and pleasant. Bridge—the:serious variety—is being much played this winter, ail'd afternoons, are set apart for-it : by many enthusiasts. Most players . prefer to have smaK sums on-the game,' but one : does, riot hear of gambling., among the women, although -away from tho Empire .City, great tales are told of-‘the amounts lost and won over feminine games of bridg'o Atf EXCITING ,ENTERTAINMENT iA large..‘marquee has.been orectcd at :the back of the Opera..: House and there O’Neil’s buckjumpers are to be seen every evening. All invitation has been issued by the manager to any who choose to endeavor to sit on these restivo animals, thp man who retains his seat for a minute to got £l. But a minute at the dentist's or on a buck,jumper is a lengtliy period, and few of the amateur riders, good as they fancied themselves, were able to keep the saddle while the infuriated steeds tried to turn themselves inside out. One lank Australian who advanced to mount with infinite assurance, was rolling in the sawdust the next moment- amid shrieks of laughter from a sadly unsympathetic audience. An amusing part of the programme was the turning into the ring of a number of ponies, and one donkey, the boys of the audience being allowed to mount them —-if they could. A wild scene ensued, for the ponies absolutely refused to be ridden, and riders and animals were mixed up in the most intricate fashion, fortunately escaping without being hurt. Tlie dauntless youths returned to tho charge again and again, hut with little success, and many tumbles. The donkey was more amenable, and trottec lazily about, with no less than three

hoys clinging to liis back. On Friday two good riders were fortunate enough to secure the pound each, by staying on the backs of their buckjumpers a minute.

SOCIAL LOTES. Miss Skerrctt, Mrs. Wyllie, Mr. and Mrs. Stott, and Miss Riley are all in Auckland, Mr. and Mrs. Stott and Miss lliley return on Friday. The Hon. Hail-Jonhs is niueh better, but has been very seriously ill, and it is reported he may relinquish politics. Mrs. Edward Riddiford and Mr. and Mrs. Holwortliy are at-Rotorua. The marriage of Miss Spragg—one of our very pretty Wellington girls—to Mr. Hamer, son of the Under-Seoretarv for Mines, is to t'ake place next Wednesday. Mrs. Ileury Hall has Miss Booth, from Kelson, staying with.her. .Miss Marchant, who has been staying in Wellington for her vacation, returned to Dunedin last week. Captain and Mrs. Munro, who was a Miss Shand, of Dunedin, are building at Hataitai, a suburb above Oriental Bay. Mrs. Frank Dyer has gone south for a change. Captain apd l\lrs, Ferguson are staying with Mrs. Boyle, of Christchurch. Pretty Miss Janet Boyle is shortly to he married to Mr. Algar Williams. Lieutenant and Sirs. Pickering leave for Englarnd, ■ where they intend to . settle, at the end of next month.