By Footlight.

Free Lance, 30 March 1901, Page 18

By Footlight.

DIX'S GAIETY COMPANY keep the fun going brilliantly at the Theatre Royal, and the public keep the house packed to excess every night. The new programme presented on Saturday night is full of good things, and scored bull's eyes right along the line. Mr. Bob Hall comedian, renewed his acquaintance with Wellington, and was cordially received. Frank Clark introduced a fresh budget of funnyisms, and Hayden and Cowan, Olive Lenton, and Little Nina all appeared in new turns, which produced the usual string of encores. Johnny Coleman and Lottie Lome also contributed further novelties and the never-tiring scarecrow dance had, as usual, to be repeated again and again. The Gonzales Sisters cot through some wonderful indiarubber feats, and the Tylers reached the top notch with their great risley act. lne Tylers made their farewell appearance on Wednesday night, and the whole of the present company will be withdrawn after next week to make room for new arrivals from England, America, and Australia. • • • Fuller's Empire Vaudeville Company easily keeps the Choral Hall filled night by night. As usual, there was an entirely new programme on Saturday night, and every item struck home. New songs, bright, topical, laughterprovoking, and sentimental, were furnished bv Misses Maud Faning, Lena Young, Bessie Young, and Coralie Warlow, and up-to-date comicalities were kept on tap and flowing freely by-Fred Bluett, Geo. Williamson, Jack Williams and Smnotte. while Mr. W. B. Cadzow fairly brought down the house with his fine tenor songs. Mr. Fred Bluett made his farewell appearance on Thursday night, on which occasion he received a complimentary benefit. It was a fitting and a graceful way to celebrate the completion of his three years engagement with the Messrs. Fuller. * * * Mdlle. Rhodesia, the clever and handsome juggler, now performing at FitzGerald Bros.' circus, was at one time La Belle Florence, a clever slack-wire performer with Fillis's circus in South Africa. It was there that she took her present professional name, Rhodesia. She was one of a few ladies chosen by Mr. Frank Fillis to meet Mr. Cecil Rhodes at the Adderley-street station, Capetown, on his return from Rhodesia. The name "Rhodesia" struck La Belle Florence as a novel and pretty one, and she adopted it on her return to London, where she became famous as Mam'selle Rhodesia. » * * The burlesque bull-fight in the circus ring produced novel and striking results while the Fitz-Geralds were at Gore a week or two ago. On the opening night the circus was full of backblock squatters, who had ridden in miles to see the show. Each squatter was accompanied by a dog or dogs. When the mock bull-fighting act came on, and the dog-bull, or bull-dog, in its mask, barked and dog-bellow ed, rushed

and rolled upon the toreador and matador, what a change' Every mother's son of those other dogs rushed into the circus ring to find out what sort of animal it was that looked like a bull, yet barked like themselves. They were not long left in doubt. As soon as the actor bull-dog saw the avalanche of approaching doggydom he lowered his head and rushed here at a mastiff, there at a mongrel, over to the other side of the ring at a too inquisitive fox terrier, back and over the ring amongst a host of breeds, which he scattered right and left. In a few seconds the barking; ceased silence leigned in dogarvdom, and there was not a dog to be found within a radius of 50 yards of the tent. A very pretty wedding took place at the Terrace Congregational Church on Wednesday afternoon, when Miss Janie Archibald, only daughter of Mr. D. Archibald, of the Government Printing Office, was married to Mr. William White Greig. The Rev. J. Reed Glasson conducted the ceremonial, and the church was filled with interested spectators. The bride, who was given away bv her father, looked charming in a handsome dress of white figured silk, with chiffon and pearl trimmings. She was attended by Miss Ethel Grady, Miss May RobertsonBarry, Miss Kathleen West, and Miss Hilda Staples, all of whom wore costumes of white silk, with transparent sleeves and yolk. They also wore gold brooches, the gift of the bridegroom. Mr. C. E. Maudsley was best man, and the groomsmen were Messrs. C. E. and E. J. Archibald (brothers of the bride), and Mr. R. Wilson. • • • After the wedding, a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents, and a large number of friends attended to offer their congratulations. The presents were both numerous and valuable. They included a handsome cheque from the firm of Ross and Glendinning (the bridegroom's employers), and a choice set of cutlery and a dinner service from the staff. The happy pair have gone north for their honeymoon, the bride's travelling costume being a cinnamon-brown tailormade, with hat to match. The splendid collection of oil paintings, by Mr. James McMaster, now on view at Beadnall and Sons' Gallery, is

attracting very considerable attention, and it will be interesting to the many who have admired them to learn that the whole are to be disposed of by art union at an early date. Mr. McMaster, it may be mentioned, has been commissioned to paint a portrait of the Hon. the Premier, and is now engaged thereon. A hot light luncheon, served up daintily, and at a moderate price, is a felt want in Wellington, and it is just that kind of want that Messrs. Wright and Co. are now taking the necessary steps to supply. Their new luncheon and tea-rooms will be styled "The Burlington," and are to be opened in Duthie's Buildings, Willis-street, on Wednesday next. The polo tournament, which has been proceeding at Miramar during this week, will conclude on Saturday with a gymkhana meeting, for which a splendid programme has been prepared by the Wellington Polo Club. It embraces bending competition, polo ball race, Wellington Polo Cup and Wellington Polo Hurdles (the first two events in heats), as well as potato race, ladies' bracelet, Gretna Green race, wrestling melee, and cigar and biscuit race. The programme starts at 11, and a large attendance of the public is anticipated.