Just Before the Big Battle.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1904, Page 14

Just Before the Big Battle.

I am sitting alone by the fhe, My heart is right down in my shoes, And I'm anxiously awaiting a wire That will lift me right out of the blues. On Old England I have staked a few "casers," That will just put me right on my feet, But, oh ! what a crowd will get "facers" If the Biitisher goes and gets beat! My hands are thrust deep in my pockets, My hat is right over my eyes, My thoughts fly far swifter than rockets At the chance of scouring the prize. I have gone o'er the whole situation, My plans everyone are complete; But, oh ! what a dread complication If the Britisher goes and gets beat ! The matches down South I've been reading, The weather report with them all ; I've followed the team that was leading,

And joyfully sang "On the Ball." The Maoriland moas not, in it When the lion gets up on his feet , But I shall "go up" that same minute If the Biitishei goes and gets beat!

All, well' just an hour or two longei , And tidmgs will come thiok and fast; And my heait it will ever get stronger, With the news that is borne on the blast. I can bear all the winds that are blowing, I can laugh at the cold, driving sleet, I can stand all the knocks that are going — If the Britisher doesn't get beat' —'The Plunger," in "Taihape Post."

The Fisk Jubilee Singers aie on the warpath once again. Last heaid of, they were at Adelaide. * * * The London Crystal Palace is capable of accommodating 100,000 people. If "Mighty Atom" MaoMahon oould only get it sent out by parcel post ' * * * A casket of Mrs. Langtrey's jewels, containing thirty-six lots, was sold by auction in London last month, and realised 6000 guineas — all presents, of course. » • » Fir^t aotoi (in tragic whisper) "Are we alone 9 " Second ditto 'No, not quite. There's a 'dead-head 1 in, the stalls, two repoiteis in the dress circle, and a progiamme boy in the galleiy." * « * Mr. Ernest Fitts, whose wife (Miss Mane Mueller) has lately died fiom heart disease, ha® left the Raokaidiam employ, and drifts into J. C Williamsons hands, to whom also Willie Peicy is consigned. * ■» •» "Miss Maud Beatty, at present at the Melbourne Opera House, is a native of Chnstchurch, New Zealand. Hei father built the local Royal, and Maud Went on the stage at the early age of seven." So that Miss Beatty has been on the stage for at least ten years, if appearances are any criteuon. * • » A spectator in a Japanese theatre, on payment of a small extra fee. is peimitted to stand up, and the person behind him cannot object, although the lattei 's view of the performance is obstructed. And, as a Japanese play often lasts six weeks, he often wishes he hadn't parted with his coin. * * # Cinquevalh has contributed his life's history to "M.A.P.," and it is a "wellbalanced" tale. Since his cannonball hit him on the head, Madame C. has religiously hid that weapon, and he never now uses it A Home paper avers that "Chinky" is giving up juggling to take to art , he is a capable painter. * * * M. Maxim Gorki, the Russian novelist, has ]ust completed a new drama, entitled "Summer Visitors," which lepresents the life and manners of the upper classes in Russia. It is to be performed fiist m Moscow. But Gorki has foreotten the knouting and the Jewbaitinp: and the other "sports" indulged in bv the uppei -class in that delightful countiv.

The lute authoi -actor-manager Wilson Barrett was the son of a gentleman farmer, and, although he began on the very lowest mug ot the theatucal Jaddei, it was not a matter of financial necessity. He could have been a gentleman farmei too. * * * Plays to-day seem to be w 1 itten round the cameia, simply with a view to effective reproduction in lllustiated papeis. Only the other day we heaid of an actress who declined a part because she thought she would not look nice in it when photogiaphed — "Ladies' Field." * * * ! Hamlet" is to be .played in Greek by the students of the Calif 01 man Univeisity, in an open-air theatu c, at Los Angeles, U.S.A., next month. How very interesting ' I w ould deai ly love to see the audience watching the fa.ces of the professoi sto disoovei the moment when they were expected to laugh 01 applaud * * * Claude Whaite w i ites to ' Pasquin" — "Dunedin surprised me, and gives the he to those who say it is no good as a theatrical town, still, I think now, as I have done for years, that Wellington is absolutely the best show town in the world for the- size of its population " But, Claude was piloting Mel. B. Spun. He should' try it with melodrama A Russian law that oould have been used with good effect in Wellington recently In the lamd of the Czai no manaiger is allowed to take ai show on tour before he has deposited with the Government sufficient to pay the fares of the professionals back to their homes sihould the venture piove a failure. It keeps yoTtlg entiepieneoirs in the narrow path.