MARY ANDERSON AND THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 30, 29 December 1883, Page 5

MARY ANDERSON AND THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Mk Consul Gkiffik furnisher us with the following facts in regard to the stories in circulation of Miss Mary Anderson, the young American actress, having refused an introduction to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales : — An invitation to Buckingham Palace was sent to Miss Anderson through the United States Embassy at London, but she declined to accept it on account of her mother's absence from the city. At a later period Miss Anderson was invited by Lady Paget to a soiree, which she also declined because her mother was not present to chaperon e her, although it was urged that His Royal Highness would be present. Both the Prince and Princess were very desirous of making Miss Andersons acquaintance, and an opportunity was given them to do so by Dr. Griffin after the performance oi the " Lady of Lyons " at the Lyceum on the 27th of October. The presentation was made by Dr. Griffin, who had met the Prince "on several occasions previously ; and it is said that the Princess bestowed on Miss Anderson many marks of esteem, and expressed a desire to see her in all her characters. Dr. Griffin Avrites to his brother, Consul Griffin, in this city, under date of the 28th of October, as follows ; — " In my office at the theatre the manner of the Royal pair was charming, with no shadow of patronage or condescension. They seemed to like the fact that Mary did not ' Highness ' them, but talked to them as if they were old friends. You can imagine Mary addressing the Princess as 'Madam,' and the Prince as 'Sir.' You will be glad to hear that your favourites, Blanche and Juliet" (Consul Griffin's nieces) " come in for a full share of honours, and have been invited by the Princess to play with her children ; but I must tell you of Mary's triumph as Paidine. The shouts of the audience are still ringing in my ears. The Princess applauded Mary enthusiastically from the Royal box. The people seemed perfectly wild with delight. We have met many distinguished men and women. Mr Gilbex-t is perfectly entranced, and Mary will make her appearance soon in his play, "Pymalion and Galatea." Miss Braddon, Lord Cairnes, Miss Fortescue, Baroness Burdette-Coutts, James Russell Lowell, and many others have called to see us." The " London Times " of the 28th of October says — "Not even on the first presentation of one of Shakespeare's plays under Mr Irving's management have we seen a more crowded or more fashionable audience. But it was not the play that had attracted so large an audience, which crowded every part from floor to ceiling, but the first appearance of Miss Mary Anderson as Pauline, who was honoured on the occasion by the presence of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and the Princess of Wales — a compliment which, no doubt, Misb Anderson will highly esteem. Judging from the reception the lady had, her performance may be considered a great success. The audience, at the close of each act, manifested their approbation in a most decisive manner. In the second act there was very little opportunity of judging of the acting of Pauline, who was more (juiet than we have been in the habit of seeing other Pauline's in the same act. In the third act Miss Anderson gave indications of refinement, combined with power and energy, that fairly roused the house ; and from this point to the end she retained her hold of the audience."

Dunedin Board of Education propose to reduce their stafl of officials by one inspector and two clerks. At a recent Mayoral banquet at Adelaide, unfermented colonial wine was the only " tipple " used, on account of the new i Mayor being teetotal.