OUR LONDON FLANEUR. SOCIAL, THEATRICAL, and LITERARY GOSSIP. [BY THE AUCKLAND "STAR'S LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] London, May 31.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 61, 2 August 1884, Page 5

OUR LONDON FLANEUR. SOCIAL, THEATRICAL, and LITERARY GOSSIP. [BY THE AUCKLAND " STAR'S LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] London, May 31.

With the decision of the Oaks, this afternoon, the great " horsey " week of the Londoa season comes to an end, and after "society" has duly discussed tho race, congratulated tho winners and condoned with tho losers, people will forget all about Epsom, and once more settle down to the milder delights of driving, dawdling, dining, and dancing. I must say I don't think many of us would relish two Derbies in the year. We scarcely go as mad as tho Melbourne folks do when Cup Day approaches, but during the fortnight immediately preceding our great race of the year, the "horso talk" fever runs tolerably high. This anniversary, owing to several e'quino celobrities (notably Sfc. Simon, Archiduc, Duke of Hichmond, and Busybody) not having been entered, the opidemic was at first milder than usual, but as Wednesday approached tho excitement increased, and I can quite imagine that people who abhor horse-racing and loathe anything in the shape of sporting jargon must have suffered much. Nevertheless, the crowd on tho Downs on the afternoon of tho 104 th Derby was something to see and remember. As I stood on the top of the giand&tand and watched tho assembled tens of thousands waiting breathlessly for tho start— all eyes on tho little white ilag — ifc seemed to mo as if the veriest Stoic must catch the infection of the moment— "They're off." What a shouc it was. The coloured specs in the distance fly round. In another moment the ■winner will be here. Tho murmurs of the crowd swell into a great shout, ringing cheers fill the air, the horses flash past, and tho race is over ! Tho ca&c of Lord St Leonards, who was charged at the Central Criminal Court last week Avith improperly assaulting a maidservant, has raised quite an outcry against tho creation ol hereditary peerages. Thi.i young man's grandfather was a small tradesman, his father became a famous lawyer and Lord Chancellor of England, now he himself show s a distinct inclination to revert to the .social status of his ancestors, and become roturicr again. Tho first Lord St. Leonards did not, by all accounts, leave his heir much beside the title and a certain amount of native shrewdness— cunning, nasty people call it. With this capital, however, the present peer has managed to live up to hiis rank, and plunder the London tradesmen for fifteen years. About twelve months ago lie was declared bankrupt. I remember tho fact because I met him just then at a lawyer's in tho city. I£e wanted my legal friend to arrange some business connected with his insolvency, but the latter had been warned against tho young " rip," and politely declined. I must confess there is something very fascinating about the man. Everybody s eems to like him, even the tailors and tobacconists whom he has victimised. On the occasion I mention we adjourned from the awyer's oiHce to an adjacent Bodega for iquid refreshment. Asked what he would :ake (it was about 11.30 a.m.), Lord St. Leonards ordered a pint of champagne in a pewter, which be " laced " (I think that ,vas the elegant expression) with a stiff of " old Cognac." The lawyer's face, is he put down half-a-sovereign to pay for :he drinks was a picture. It seemed to <ay, "I would believe anything of him iow," and, indeed, the drink cost His Lord?hip more than it was worth, for when i few minutes later he asked Mr Solicitor if 10 had "any loose gold about him," the worthy man buttoned up his pockets, and leclined to "part " even a " fiver." As regards the assault case, I understand Lord St. Leonards is, comparatively speakng, innocent. The true story' (much jpposed to the police reports) runs thus :—: — <V few Sundays ago the young man, who 3f\n row a fair our, w ent for a day on the •iver. In the evening he stopped at Eel Pie Island, where Andy Anderson, the :-eady-money bookmaker, has a swell establishment. Now, although Andy tvould never dream of noting down i bet to his lord-ship without receiving the stake in cash, he (Britonikc) venerates a title, and welcomed his Tuest with effusion. Several other betting md rowing men were there, and the whole party dined " not wisely but too well," and spent a very jovial evening. Towards )lcven o'clock, Lord St. Leonards, accompanied by a Mr Crawford and another man, started tor Twickenham. Mr Crawford is i gentleman, and throughout the evening ie had felt slightly irritated at tho air of trcc-and-easy patronage assumed by the young lord to himself and other members of tho company. When therefore tho three of them reached liis house at Twickenham he murmured "Good evening," and prepared to leave his companions to their own devices. Lord St. Leonards, however, said, " Come, old man, you promised us a drink," so that there was nothing left for him but to ask them in. Onco in the house, it is feared that his [ordship, who was half-tipsy, behaved badly. Mrs Crawford (it transpired later she i? not Mrs Crawford at all, but a Mrs Knowles) 2ame downstairs to make herself agreeable to her noble guest, and so effectively did she :lo this that Mr C. got jealous, and after saying "Good night," followed his Lordship Dut of the house with hideous imprecations, Three or four days afterwards Lord St. Leonards called in the afternoon, and asked for Mr and Mrs Crawford. On tjiis occasion boo, the young fool had dined, and when the servant told him her master and mistress were out, he (not believing the statement) pushed past her into the houso. Sho followed him to the sitting-room, and there, he observing she was rather a pretty girl, stole a careless kiss. Presently the gardener came in and asked him to clear out, which lie did without paying much attention to the man's words. Later on he came back, and got the girl to give him hie pipe which he had left on tho table. That same evening the girl complained to the gardener that " that there Lord " had taken liberties with her without so much as giving her a sixpence. She further announced her intention of telling the "missus," as, "lords or no lords," she wouldn't stand such couduct. Mrs Crawford mentioned the matter to Mr Crawford, who jumped at the idea of bringing Lord St. Leonards to grief. Against the girl's wishes he sent for the police, first warning her that she had made a serious charge which she must fully substantiate, or she would get into trouble herself. Lord St. Leonards seemed paralysed with surprise and horror when he was arrested. He at once admitted he had been tipsy, but repudiated even tho possibility of his taking liberties with " a common slavey," At the trial the girl's antecedents were proved to be extremely shady, and the whole affair looked so like a got-up job that everybody expected an acquittal. The Judge summed up strongly in favour of

the prisoner, pointing out that charges of indecent assault are easy to make and difficult to refute. In this instance, certainly neither the prosecutrix nor her supporters came into Court with clean hands. The jury nevertheless found Lord St. Leonards "guilty," and though sentence has been postponed, ho will probably got twelve months' imprisonment. This case should be a warning to young men not to fool about in strange houses. In your part of the world, no doubt, hospitality may be safely accepted, but hero in London the man who allows himself to bo beguiled into a house without knowing the character of the inmates deserves whatever may befall him. The "dodges" forj extorting hush-money are innumerable, and oftener than not they succeed. The production of the dramatic adaptation of " Called Back," at the Princes Theatre, has saved Mr Edgar Bruce from bankruptcy—at least, it is to be hoped so. The piece was received with thunders of applause on the first night, and the papers all prophesy a long run. Tho history of " Called Back," and its author, is almost as remarkable as tho book itself. "Hugh Conway " is the norn cle plume of a wealthy Bristol" merchant named Furgus, who some years ago saved one of the lads belonging to the training ship " Conway " fiom drowning, Henco the namo "Hugh Conway." Mr Fur^us has long been a contributor to Blackwoods "Magazine," but "Called Back" made him famous. It came out as a "Christmas Annual" issued at 6'd by Arrowsmiths, of Bristol, and .attracted very little notice at first. M. Labouchero took it up one day to beguile a short railway journey, and was much struck witli tho plot, ilo wrote a favourable notice of tho tale in " Truth," and very soon everybody began to ask for it. Within the last four months, 70,000 copies of "Called Back" have been sold, and the demand is still considerable. The story of tho novel has been slightly altered in the play. For one thing, Gilbert Vaughan is made to have a knowledge of Pauline beforo Iho murder. The first .scene indeed takes place at Vaughan\s home, where we find him in bitter despair about the blindness v. hich has overtaken him. Hither Pauline (whom he hah met and loved tho previous year in Italy) comes to ask for help and succour. She is mixed up Mith a lot of miserable Polish and Italian conspirators, and ■\wshcs to escape from them. Vaughan wants her to stay then and thcie, but she says she must return to acquaint Dr. Coneri (her guardian) of her intention. He forthwith insists upon accompanying her. At first Pauline demuis, but upon her blind lover promising 1 to remain out in the garden at Conci'i's till he is bent for, she reluctantly agrees, to the plan. From this point the story of the novel is fairly adhered to. At Ceneri's lodgings the Italian conspirators aie supping, amongst them being Macari tho spy. Young Anthony March (Pauline's brother) arrives, and angrily demanded from his guardian, Ceneri, his sister's and his own fortune, Coneri, who has spent the money for " the Cause," tries to pacify him. Macari endeavours to kiss Paulino Her brother slaps the spy's face. la another instant yomig Anthony lies stabbed to death at the feet of the horrified gill, who in her turn falls swooning to the ground just as the blind man gropes his way through the window into the midst of the aghast conspirators. This murder scene is capitally worked up. The curtain descends precisely at the right moment. Macari, his knife still gleaming and bloody, rushes at the supposed witness of his crime. Another coaspiritor holds him back. Ceneri flashes a candle before Vaughan's eyes, cries "He's blind," and down comes the drop scene. The rest of the story is so well-known that it would be wasto If timo to detail it. Miss Lingard's representation of "Pauline" after the girl has lost her senses is really very fine. She must, as the papers said, have studied this form of madness from life. The vacant far-away look, the placid childishne&s, tho fitful gleams of memory, tho pained endeavour to recall something of the past, the shriek of repulsion on being brought accidentally face to face with Macari, all these were admirable. Truly artistic, too, was her acting at the moment uhen through Macuri's persecution she is suddenly " called back " to memories of the past. Altogether, I don't think I have ever seen Miss Lingard to greater advantage in England. She is a very painstaking actress, and excels in an elaborate study such as "Pauline." Her failures have usually arisen through attempting highly emotional characters. Mr Kyrle Bellew docs not altogether satisfy as the hero Vaughan, neither is M r An son a good Dr. Ceneri. The success of the play is Mr Beerbohm Trco's Macari. It doesn't seem like acting. The real man, the sky, the mock patriot, the writhing, watchful, knifefumbling Italian stand beforo you. One of the best scenes of the play is where Macuri traduces Pauline to poor Vaughan. His malicious glco and mock sympathy arc fiendish. After a most successful season of six months, pretty Minnie Palmer leaves the Strand Theatro to fulfil sundry American engagements, but she will come back again next yoar. Meanwhile, Mr David James has taken the house, and opens to-morrow night with the long - promised revival of " Our Boys." I doubt if it will "go " as well as it used. The public seem to care more for screaming farces like "Nina's First" and "Contusion," which is approaching its 400 th night. I went to see Charles Wyndham in the "Great Divorce Case" last Tuesday, and laughed heartily throughout the evening. To my mind this volatile gentleman is the best comedian living. His art lies in concealing art. Nino out of ten men wonder as they leave tho theatre whatever they have been laughing at. You feel vexed at being so easily moved to "giggle," and yet the next timo you sco Wyndham you succumb as before. Now, Toole appears to mo always tho same. When you've seen him in Id on Parlo Francais or "The Steeplcchade " you know his method. "Nell G wynne" which drew big audiences to tho Avenue Theatre, has failed completely at the Comedy, and on Friday last tho ever popular "Mascotte" was revived, with Florence St. John in Violet Camerons old part. Tho "sacred lamp of burlesque " has been flickering for some time at the Gaiety, and a few days ago it went out altogether. Terry was opportunely attacked with tho gout, and Nellie Farren took to her bed with bilious fever, so Hollingshead shut up the houso, the first time he has done such a thing since it opened 13 years ago. A season ot French plays commences at the Gaiety next month, and in the autumn another attempt will bo made to restore the " sacred lamp " to its pristine brightness. George Rignold has moved from the Olympic to the Holborn Theatre, where he is playing "Amos Clarke" to indifferent business. An impression prevails that he will have to try the colonies again. Kate Vaughan is very ill, dying some say, but she still manages to play occasionally in "Lallah Rookh." Haverley's Mammoth Minstrels appear at Drury Lane on Whit Monday. With regard to the future, but few novelties are underlined. Irving and Ellen Terry open at the Lyceum to-morrow evening in

"Much Ado About Nothing," when one of those furores for which tho theatre has become noted may be expected. According to the Savage Club gossips, Irvine, after paying all expenses, cleared £25,000 on the American tour, and Ellen Terry, £8,000. Laurence Barrett's season at the Lyceum has been most disastrous. Beforehand, Mary Anderson offered him £1,000 to relinquish the theatre to her. He now wishes ke had accepted the offer, for not only has he lost £5,000, but his reputation as a " star "is imperilled. Yankee actors, who fail completely in London, unquestionably lose caste at home. When " Devotion "is taken off at the Court Theatre, Robertsons " Play " will bo ventured on. It was the one of tho series that only partially succeeded at the old Prince of Wales's Theatre And now for a few words about books. The "Queen's Journal" has, from a publisher's point of view, been such a success that a popular edition is to be issued almost immediately. The " Letters of the Princess Alice " is also selling well, though many think the book is priced too high. Mr Thomas Hughes has given a strong impetus to emigi'ation on the part of gentlemen's sons by the publication of a series of letters from his nephews, who went out some years ago to settle in Texas. The volume is called "Gone to Texas," and published by Macmillan at 4s 6d. It strongly resembles both in form and substance Mr Delisle Hay's " Brighter Britain," but "Tom Brown's" sponsorship will give it a publicity denied to the N.Z. work. Austey's " Giant's Robe" was published on Monday, and is in great demand just now. James Payn follows him as writer ot the serial in the " Cornhill." The story will be called "The Talk of the Town." Florence Mavi'yat, who turns out three novels a year on the average, has just completed " Under the Lilies and Roses." It is very poor stuff, not even up to the level of "Peeress and Player" or "Phyllida.' Some of this writer's earlier works were, if not exciting, at least fairly readable. I remember thinking "Petronel" pretty good, but of late .she has scribbled far too much. Walter Bcsant's "Dorothy Foster" should have been procurable at Mudio's yesterday, and Ouida's " Princess Napraxinc" is said to bo just ready. "St. Mungo'a City," by Sarah T\ tier, and "A Drawn Game," by Basil, whose " Love the Debt." was so successful, are announced for immediate publication. Amongst other forthcoming works of notion may be mentioned "Berna Boyle," by Mrs Kiddell ; "Lucia, Hugh and Another," by Mrs Necdell, author of "Julian Karslake's Secret," and "A Roman Singer," by Mr Crawford, of "Dr. Claudius" fame. Two of the most remarkable novels published last year can now be procured at 2s, viz., Mr Christie Murray's "Joseph's Coat," and Mr H. W. Lucy's " 'xideon Fleyce. " Hawley Smart's sporting story, "Hard Lines," Justin McCarthy's clever " Comet of a Season," and Miss Harriet Jay's "Through the Stage Door" are also just out in the cheap form.