Twice Nine.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 272, 16 September 1905, Page 16

Twice Nine.

Written by Sir Alfred Stephen, Chief Justice of New South Wales, in 1859 (about himself), during a long speech by counsel on the trial of a squatting action which lasted four days. Of children this "Knight" had no less than eighteen, Twice nine little heads with a marriage between : He had nine when a barrister, mine when a judge, And of "sex" — thus to Nature he owed not a grudge. t Nine exactly were girls, the* other half boys, An equal division 'twixt quiet and noise; While if by marriage the number be •• reckoned , There were nine of the first and nine of the second. Nine in Tasmania, nine New South Wales, Then (to show with what justice he still held the scales), Since nine it was clear he could not divide (A third sex yet having never been tried"! Five sons and four daughters in Hofoart were born, Four sons, five daughters might Sydney adorn, Twin daughters, twin sons, complete tlie strange story Of this patron of "Wigs," though constant old Tory.

Ferryside, the new seaside suburb at Day's Bay, is godng to be a popular residential district, and Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson, and' Co. have sixty-six sections for sale thereaway. The firm intend auctioning these sections — which range in area from an eighth to half-an-aore each — on Thursday evening, October 12th, in their Exchange Land Mart, Lambton Quay. For a detailed description of Ferryside the attention of readers is directed to tihe advertisement elsewhere in this issue. * • • Extraordinary interest is being taken in the forthcoming boxing carnival, to be held in the Opera House on Wednesday next, the booking being exceptionally heavy. Enthusiasts and exponents of the noble art from all over New Zealand — and in some oases from Australia — are making special trips to witness what is looked upon by the Association as an historical event in the annals of the sport locally. Apart from the chief contest, several matches between particularly smart amateurs will ' make up a good' entertainment.

The Brough-Flemmg people are due in Wellington during October. • * * Miss Freda Brandon, the lady cornetdst, who was recently m these ports with Fuller's Entertainers, is blowing at Sydney Tivoli. • * * Stately Jennie Opie got to San Franoisco in time to find small-pox pretty well established. Her fiist engagement was with the doctor who vaccinated hex. * • • The Dunedim Amateur Operatic Society has the scenery for "Rip Van Winkle," and has no use for it. The Wellington Amateurs threaten to do "Rap/ 5 so they might make a deal. *. * * "You always want to thank an interviewer — or punch his head." Thus Comedian Dallas, of the J.P. • Company. I am doing "Sandow" every spare minute I can devote to it, until Dallis arrives. Miss Maud Jeffries takes Mr. NottOsborne home to America next year, to let him shake hands with her people. The twain will afterwards settle, down to a pastoral life on the wool-growing estate of Mr. Osborne. • * • Again Julius Knight. He is am. expert aictor, we know. He can sing, we have heard. And now we are asked to take note that he is also a tip-top wood-carver, who cuts out elaborate stage "props" with a pen-knife. * # » "Pasquin" puts it rather quaintly : — "Miss Beatrice Holloway is the next unfortunate member of the profession to be laid aside with sickness. Miss Holloway was at latest in an hospital in. Melbourn©." Theatrical "tips" about the people who are going to get ill next year would be a boon to managers. Rose Musgrove, who struggled with difficulty out of the Valley of the Shadow, is a plucky girl. She- wasn't expected to show up for quite a while, but one evening she suddenly appeared at Melbourne Her Majesty's, and played her original part of Peggy Sabine, m "The Cingalee." The people gave Rose a tremendous hearing. * # * Good news to hear that G-eirtie Campion "is well on the way to complete recovery." Years ago consumption was a hopeless malady, but it seems tihe open-air treatment has made Miss Campion gain in weight. She is going to sleep in the open-air all through the summer. Melbourne papers say Miss Campion has lost the wan look characteristic of the wasting disease. Everybody's glad. ♦ • • Miss Margaret Thomas, the Welsh singer, who made a hit as Nassoya, in "The OLngalee," was a Methodist Sun-day-school pupil and teacher, and, until quite recently, only lifted ur> her fine voice at "good" entertainments. She toured with the Parkinia-Foldlesley Company, and was "discovered" by J. C. Williamson. George Edwardes got a refusal when he asked! her to play Veronique, but J. C. scored. She is going to play Veronique, though, when she is done with "The Oingalee." • • • G. Homan Barnes —it used; to be "George H. Barnes" — the eurly-ihaired young gentleman with the superlative clothes, sends me a swag of press clippings re the "J.P." Company, now playing at Melbourne Princess. Clyde Meynelll, the English entrepreneur, has brought the "J.P." out, and consequently gets a column about himself. He remarks that J. C. Williamson has a marvellous grip on the theatrical industry. John J. Dallas is a new comedian with the company, and also "cuts some ice" in Melbourne papers, while Australian Florrie Lloyd runs to a column and a-<ha'lf andl a big photograph. She says she is awfully ainxioua to see New Zealand. Miss Maud Chetwynd, Gregan McMahon — he playHorace Parker really well in "Message from Mars" — and Tom Carman — who has been seen at various times in Wellington — are all with the company.

If he who grows two blades of grass Where only one had place Deserves the thanks of every class And benefits the race. Then worthier still of honoured name, While coughs and colds endure, Emblazoned on the scroll of fame Is Woods' Gkeat Peppermint Cube.