OUR LONDON FLANEUR Social, Theatrical, and Literary. (FROM OUR STAR CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 194, 12 March 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

OUR LONDON FLANEUR Social, Theatrical, and Literary. (FROM OUR STAR CORRESPONDENT.)

London, New Year's Eve, 1886. Boxing Day, 1886, will long be remembered &3 the occasion of the heaviest snowstorm the metropolis and the South of England have known for many a year. The streets vest of Piccadilly were impassable throughout the greater part of Monday, and how the vast audience which filled " Old Drury " from floor to ceiling in the evening got there is a conundrum which would take cleverer folk than the writer to answer. The "boys in the gallery" will not, however, be baulked of their annual treat by any sort of weather. A strong phalanx (which grew with every hour) assembled outside the pit and gallery doors soon after two in the afternoon, and waited patiently in the frozen Bnow and icy slush till the doors opened at half -past six. Ten minutes later the legend " House full " was displayed outside the principal entrance, and then (as Toole would say) " the fun began." *' The Forty Thieves " ib a colossal pantomime—one really can't use any other word. From the first scene to the last everything ia on the biggest, greatest, grandest, and most gorgeous scale. According to reporb, Augustus Harris has spent; more money on the Bhow than be can ever hope to get back again. That, at any rate, is what he would like us to believe, and really this fable does not seem altogether impossible. I have seen a good many spectacles in my time, and am not given to gushing over them, but I must confess that in thiß particular pantomime both scenic artist and costumier have excelled themselves. The opening tableau of Mahomet's Paradise, where a host of Arabian Knights are discovered reposing in luxurious ease, attended by houris who dance before them, sets the keynote. From this we pass to a bustling Eastern bazaar, and so on through some thirteen beautiful sets — which merge into one another without the interposition of what are known as "carpenter scenes," and in a way that would have been thought little short of magical a few years ago — to the culminating glory of the show. This is an elaborate allegorical representation of England's power, and takes the place (a most daring innovation at Drury Lane) of the usual transformation scene. The act (as one musb call it) begins with the annexation of India, and ends with a general tribute paid to Britannia by her dependencies in honour of the Queen's Jubilee 9Tirst, we have a ruined Indian temple, of ■which a va-t assemblage of Eastern barbarians are about to perform the terrible ceremony of suttee. The sacrifice is on the poiut of taking place when Civilisation (in the parson of the famous flying fairy, Hiss (Enea) descends to the rescue, and by planting the Union Jack typifie3 the advent of English rule. A cloud of steam envelops the stage for the twinkling of an eyelid (certainly not longer), and we are upon the deck of a massive and noblyappointed man of war, upon which hundreds of baby saiJoia aredanoing a hornpipe. Little soldiers- Englifh, Irish, Welsh and Scotch — follow with charactoriaticgyrations, and then again the scene mysteriously breaks up. This time we aro in the Temple cf Fame, -which ernb-aces the whole vast F*ageof Prury Line, and seems, by an artful perspective, to stretch miles away in the rM^ancs At the far end etands the iii .i?afc.c> golden Image ot Britannia. The band Ptrikes up an inepiritingr, patriotic rcs^ch, and forthwith commences one of t!'O-e portentous processions which the soul <.. Au-r'.stus Druriolanus loves. From all part? of her dominions — not in me 5 or twos, but by battalions- come Q .:en Victoria's subjects. Australia's cont/i''Ufion takes the form of some bundled p f &l.vart miner?, bearing a pyramid of gr)]d. a-id supported by buphmen, colonial rr?:ps, explorere, &c. Upwards of 1,500 person* gradually fill up the stage, and >-J en the tableau is complete the entire c:owd celebrate the Royal Jubilee in a rr.i £ htj patriotic chorus. The effect on B .xinjr Night was electric. Tho house rose to ir- f-et like one man, and cheered, and ch-.ered, and cheered again. Nofinerstage picture could, in point of fact, be imagined. The arrangement of crowd and the harmonious mas-ing of colours were perfect. Augustus Harris sensibly left the manage irent of lha scene entirely to tho famous Itr.lion arti-t wLo invented the celebrated *' ExceV.or" ballots and processions, and he Lr« nobly justified his reputation. You must not, however, suppose that this pintornioae depends for puccesa on the clitrax alone, 'Tia almost impopdble to paint verbally modern thoatricai effects so ap to give an adequate idea of them, or I might dilate on the wonders of the "Robbers' Cave," with its countless monkey gun'ds, on the "New Club of the Forty Thieve?," where a ballet can be as easily or dered as a brandy and soda, or on the amusing scene in which Morgiana boils the entire gang in salad oil. The " fun of the fair " rests mainly on the shoulders of Harry Isicholic) and Herbert Campbell, who are supported, as in former years, by the attractive eieters Mario. The massive goldenhaired goddeße, Edith Blando, heads the Forty Thieves, who are fine stalwart girls standing full six feet in their stockings. Connie Gilchrist has not been seen on the ptage for more than eighteen month?, and met with a great reception on her entry as Morgiana. Many strange and interesting eights aro to bo seen in this great metropolis at Christmas tirce. The distribution of toys at the h ppitale is one of the pleasaatest, and the eating of tho Christmas dinners at the various work-houses one of tho most curious. Then there is the annual sale of damaged tcjs in the Lowthor Arcade on Boxing Day, and the cutting of the historic Buddely cjke at Drury Lane on Twelfth Night The Lowther Arcade affair would amuse joua gesd deal. The fcale is attended by hordes of children from the neighbouring h'lums, who save up every farthing they nan bide from the parental eye for the occasion, and bargain for armless dolls, headless horses, and such trifles with appalling phrewdneßa and cunning. The eight of the season par excellence ip, however, the General Posfc Office on Christ- I rtViS Eve. This year, between six on FriFriday morning and the same time on faturday (Christinas) no fewer than ten million letters and newspapers parsed through the head office in A'.dcrsgate-streer. No was this all. In addition to tho ten million postal packets 50,000 parcels were dealt with, giving the enormous total for the week of twentyfour million ietterH and 200,000 parcels, a result never hitherto approached in this or any other country. It reflects, lam bound to admit, the utmost credit on the preparedness of the executive that the whole of this vast pile of London letters were delivered before noon on Saturday. The utaff of Borters and porters (excluding latter-carriers) numbered 4,000, ard they remained on duty from Bam, on Friday to 11 30 on Saturday morning, when the worst vm over.

The Christmas .Card craze probably reached its apogee this anniversary. It is reckoned that over four million more were sent from London alone on Christmas Eve, 1886, than on Christmas Eve, 1385. The vagaries of philanthropists on Christ mas Day took various forma. A Liverpool gentleman had 3,000 hot-pots cooked and distributed them in the very poorest districts of " the good old town." Your erstwhile acquaintance, Mies Lingard, assisted by genial J. L. Toole, Miss Edith Woodworth, and other actors and aotresaes, provided a good dinner for the children of the poorer members of the profession ; and clerical feeds, combining prayer and pudding, were innumerable. By-the-way, there is such a pathetic little story of a street waif in " Longmans Magazine " for January called " Tim : A sketch." The author, Miss B. A. Key, looks like making a name on fiction of a certain sort, There waa some rather good work of hers in the •♦ English Illustrated " not long ago. " She," the.exciting tale of adventure by Mr Rider Haggard, which has been running through the "Graphic" for several weeks, is published to-day at 6s by the Messrs Longmans, who, on dit, paid £1,000 for the privilege. The came firm have purchased for a stiffieh sum the sequel to "King Solomon's Mines/ just commenced in their magazine as "Allen Quatremaine." The old trapper and hunter is once again the narrator, and Captain John Good and Sir Henry Curtis the companions of his renewed wanderings. Tired of the restraints of civilisation, the trio set off to Zanzibar, and pursue their way far into the unknown heart of Africa, in the hope of discovering a white race alleged to reside there. The opening chapters brim with adventure, and give promise of a tale to the full as exciting as the quest for the famous mines. Another story that opens well, though it is not without a suspicious resemblance to "The Moonstone," is "The Danver's Jewels" in "Temple Bar." A malevolent old Indian general bequeaths a number of priceless jewels, looted from Brahmin temples at the time of the Mutiny, to Ralph Danvers, the son of his ancient lady-love, The old man has hardly entrusted their carriage to England to a thick-headed but well-meaning Colonel jusfc embarking for Calcutta, than he is mysteriously murdered. Moreover, the most unpleasant adventures befall the luckless Colonel. Association with a mysterious fellow paßsenger (one Alaric Car?) seems to bring upon him aU sorts of misfortunes. After dining with Carr in London he is set upon by thieves and half murdered. The housea he stays at are twice burglariously entered, and but for the merest accidents the Danvers jewels must on each occasion have been stolen. In Carr the foolish Colonel confides implicitly, even telling him where he hides the jewels at night, 6tc , but every time a trifle subsequently changes his resolve. At length the jewels reach the hands of Ralph Danvers. From the fact, however, that Carr appears almost immediately on the ecene, we may infer the Danvers family will not be allowed uninterrupted possession. The latest on dit in connection with the Campbell trial ie that Lord Colin has resolved to take the case to the House of Lords, and is Bupported in his determination by the Duke of Argyle. The clan are furious at the tone of the press comments on the verdict. An article in the " World," written by an intimate friend of Lady Colin, has especially roused their ire, and but for the wise advice of Mr Finlay might have roailted in a libel action. The new comic opera at the Savoy ia underline! for the 22nd mat. Mr Gilbert never fixes the title till the last moment, but the cast gives a fair idea of the nature of tlie work. IMr Groasuaith will take the part of Robin Oakapple, a bucolic personage, and the other characters are Richard (Oakapple's fo3ter- brother), Sir Despnrd, Sir Roderic, Old Adam, Rose Maybud, Mad Margaret, and Zorah. Act 1 : A seaport village. Act 2: A v baronial hall. Time 1810,