LETTER FROM WILLIAM EDWARDS.. He Defeats Hart, of Boston, by Over Nine Miles.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 58, 12 July 1884, Page 5

LETTER FROM WILLIAM EDWARDS.. He Defeats Hart, of Boston, by Over Nine Miles.

Private letters have been received here from William Edwards, the Australian longdistance talking champion, who left Auckland for America several months ago. His incarceration prior to his departure doos not appear to havo affected his walking form, seeing that he defeated Frank H. Hart, of Boston, in a six days contest ali Denver, Col. , by 9 miles and 9 laps. Writing to Mr M. Gallagher, Edwards says: — "I know that you will be glad to learn that I have walked and won my iirst race in America. I enclose a newspaper clipping giving an account of the finish. No doubt you will be surprised at the small distance accomplished, but that is accounted for by the fact of Denver being situuted at an altitude of 5,500 feet above the sea level. Neither horses or men can perform here the same as they can elsewhere, and in fact before we started bets were made that neither of us would do 400 miles, while many thought we would not do the week at all. The attendance was very large, so that I get a nice little bit out of it, besides a really handsome gold medal surmounted on the cross bar with the American eagle. I won with the greatest ease, and could have won by 40 miles more. I walk here again in 10 days' time, and hence I go to Chicago, New York, and London. Kern ember me to all the boys." The newspaper cutting referred to gives an interesting description of the race. Hart gave up after finishing 410 miles 10 laps.

The once celebrated Pasta is still living. Madame Alboni discovered her living obscurely in a villa on the shores of Lake Como. The door was opened by a dirty, unkempt, old woman, who showed the visitor in, saying " The Signora Pasta will be here directly. " Madame Pasta presently appeared, and Alboni saw her to be the venerable person who had opened the door, but with her negligent toilette slightly repaired. After some conversation she opened her piano ; her fingers strayed over the keys as though she were seeking some forgotten melody, and then her voice suddenly broke forth in the magnificent cavatina f rom ' ' Tancredi, "' ' Ditanti palpiti. " Itwas like the evocation of a magic world from the past. The aged lady had become transfigured ; she had recovered her youth, and belonged again to the era of her triumphs." Mr Owen Dove's "Not a Word," is voted an outrageously vulgar and irredeemably stupid failure at the Avenue. It is compounded of touches of Palais Royal farces and Boccaccioan reminiscences. "0, fond dove ! Oh, foolish dove " is tho critical refrain. In Rangoon at present there is a Russian Theatrical Company who hold out threats of appearing in "India, Australasia, America, and &very part of the recognised universe." In order to give to local theatregoers an opportunity for pome preliminary jaw practice,- I subjoin portions of a playbill just issued by the Company :— A dissipated young painter, Mr Bambookopewshtcky ; an old gentleman, Mr Simpampomtchits ; a bold cavalry officer, Mr Vsemikabakah Nivashenky; a young wife, Miss Zprootenkevetcs; a wrinkled matron, Mrs Creme de Cacahchouva; alovelace, Mr Sopelotchkin ; the heroine, Miss PaniBerrjpshebendovitch,

Edwards .. Elart 111 o. npa 0 9,

Edwards . . lart M iilo 77 0

Edwards .. lurt a Miles, G8 G7 Lap3, 8 0

Edwards .. Hart XV 06 CO 6 XI IS,

Idwards tart .. A vines. (iO U2 Laps, Si 3*

Idwards ,, fart J\ Miles, 47 J3 .apg,

Id-wards .. tart j MUGS. 420 410 La] 5 10

FIJIST DAY.

SFCOND DAY.

THIRD DAY,

FOURTH DAY.

FIFTH DAY.

TOTAL FOR SJX DAYS.

The following is tho score for the six days :—

SIXTH DAY,