TOPICS OF THE DAY, (For the Mail of Friday, February 11). (From Our London Correspondent.)

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 199, 16 April 1887, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY, (For the Mail of Friday, February 11). (From Our London Correspondent.)

Unparliamentary Language—" Shame !"— an Epigram— Lord R Churchill Beats a Retreat— vi" R8 Langtry's strictures on the English Aristocracy— 'Babs's" Birthday—" Giddy " Hoott's Sister—Fred. Archer's Jewellery -Unlucky Studs - Mrs Kendall's Visit to Osborne— Tbe Queen on "Swkethearts"— *' Who is Mr Gilbert?"— The Best Paying Property in London— A Music Hall Dividend 46 per cent.— Unhealthy, Bilious Weather— "Good Lord Re liver Us"— The American Company for "Ruddigork"—Suliivan's Fiancbe— Vkrdi's Nkw Opera— Turf Chat- Tbe Bard— Death of Mr Pryor— Spring Hanuicaps, &c, &c.

London, February 11. The new ruling of Mr Speaker, that to interrupt an honourable member by crying " Shame !" is unparliamentary, and will not in future be allowed, haa naturally caused a good deal of "chaff." Several epigrams are current, the following being perhaps the neatest : The Irish patriots now mast curb their spite. Nor fllug their "Shame!" at gentlemen eaoh night, A paradox it was, I must confess They threw away what they did not possess. Mrs Langtry's strictures on the English aristocracy, as confided to the interviewer of a Philadelphia paper, and reprinted over here by " Truth,*' have given great offence, and will assuredly " get the lady disliked " in high quarters unless she promptly denies them. Mrs Langtry declares she was taken up in the first instance when she came to London by such granchs dames aa Lady Rosslyn and the late Duehees of Westminster. What about those Sunday night dinners with the late Lord Ranelagh ? Was it not at one of those gay, not to say giddy, Sabbath night festivities, the Dean's daughter met Sir John Millais, who aeked leave to paint her, and set all the world raving over the " Jersey Lily ?" Methinxs even 1 remember that much. To refresh my recollections;of those days I have, however, turned up a volume of " Vanity Fair " for that eventful summer. 'Tis there set forth that Mrs L. was not in really good society at all till the Prince of Wales took her up. Three professional beauties blossomed then, Mrs Wheeler, Mrs Langtry, and Mrs Cornwallis West. The latter has "gone off" sadly in her looks, and the former one seldom sees. As a matter of fact, even Mrs Langtry isn't what she was. The sociel event par excellence of last week was the birthday dinner of Mies " Babs " Scotti younger sister ot the famous Mies "Giddy" Scott, whose matrimonial adventure with Mr Sebright recently formed the subject of inquiry in the Divorce Court. The invitation (printed in Bilver) ran thus : — BA.BS Asks you to dine on Tuesday, February Ist, Her 18th birthday, at the Bristol Hotel, 8 o'olook. The table was smothered in priceless orchids, and the company were (from all accounts) unrestrainedly merry. The sale of Archer the jockey's furniture and effects realised £4,000, but this did not include his jewellery, which will be disposed of at Christie's. It includes hundreds of pins, studs, rint,s, watches and other costly souvenirs presented to him in recognition of successful rides, and will undoubtedly fetch fine fancy prices. I remember being tempted into buying a set of sleeve links that had belonged to the late Marquis of Hastings. They were what are known as " lucky links," i c, t on each of the four ovals ol gold was enamelled a spade court card— ace, king, queen, and knave making up the set. The enamelling was exquisitely done, aod as the Marquis had four lots altogether (diamonds, clubs, hearts and spades), they must have cose him more than a trifle. Well, it was no doubt a fortuitous circumstance, but from the moment I bought those studs the most inexplicable ill-luck dogged me. Misfortune followed misfortune till —at length overpowered with superstition— l gave them away. There's a humiliating I confession for you. I often say I wish I could get them back, but I know in my inmost soul I wouldn't have them at any cost. The Kendals' visit-to Osborne to play beiore the Queen will not heighten the loyalty of Her Majesty's theatrical subjects, if half the gossip afloat about the affair be true. It seems that after the performance Mr and Mrs Kendal were invited up to the drawing room, to have a chat with the graciouß lady who rules our destinies. Poor Rowley Cathcart, however, although he had supported the happy pair both in " Uncle's 1 Will " and IC Sweethearts," was completely ignored. The Queen expressed herself much pleased with "Sweethearts," and asked the author's name, "It is considered Mr Gilbert's best comedy, madam," replied Mrs Kendal. " Oh! indeed !" said Her Majesty, sweetly, "and who is Mr Gilbert ?" Some interesting facts and figures have just been published in the "Pall Mall Gazette" about the Alhambra, which has been a huge success ever since it became a music ball again, three years back, and now pays the lucky shareholders an annual dividend of 46 per cent. One curious fact in connection with the Alhambra (as a typical music hall) is that the consumption of liquor in the building lessens every year, and is now only about a third of what it was ten years back. We ore certainly getting much soberer and leßa rowdy. 111 1 can remember the time (not so long ago, either) when certain nights at the Pavilion and Alhambra were" set aaide as sacred to r-ampant rowdyism —Buch_ $a Derby night and boat race night,. Wall, .last Derby night I Vent to the "Pavvy" (to give; it tbo proper designation), and found the audience perfectly quiet and welJbehaVed^ Tebvpora 'muikntur, &c. , ,'., The' ph^ngeab> weather we are having just ,at jpre^enf plays, the yery d,euce with people's digestions, and half the men I meet look yellow* and out of temper. A current

yarn relates How Cbrney Grain,, th> comic vocaliefc, feeling queer teh,betooli himself to Dr. Quain, who told him his liver, was all wrong, bat added, by way of consolation, that nine ' persons out of ten \yere in a. similar bad case. "Ah !" eighed the entertainer, "if that is indeed so, we had better change the responses in the Litany to *'Good Lord, re-liver us.' " » \ The company which Gilbert and Sullivan have been drilling to play " Rudciygore " in New York gave % matinee at the Savoy yesterday,'which attracted a tremendous house, The occasion was specially interesting as it introduced to the London stage Mies, Geraldine Ullmar, Sir Arthur Sullivan's fiancee. The lady is young, fascinating, and has a beautiful voice, In the volt of the modest village maiden Hose Maybud she completely snuffed out memoirs of Leonora Braham, whom I noticed in the stalls looking the reverse of pleased. But the entire company is first rate, Mr George Thorne, Mr Courtice Founds, and Mr Fred Billington being almost replicas in' appearance of Grossmith, Durward Lily, and Rutland Barrington. The chorus is not perhaps as pretty as the Savoy chorus, but the dresses and mounting, etc. , are precisely the same. I only hope the Australian company may be as good. By-the-bye, I met your old friend Deane Brande at the Savoy yesterday, and'he told me that the preliminary provincial canter of " Rhoda " has been most successful. He and his wife (Kate Churd) netted £500 in six weeks, and that in such comparatively small towns as Portsmouth and Southampton. The papers are full of the production of Verdi's "Otello" at La Scala last Saturday evening, which seems to have been one long triumph from beginning to end. Even such critics as Dr. Flueffer and Mr Beatty-Kingsto'n, who leldom praise, and never "gush," are. moved to speak with enthusiasm of the opera itself, though they have plenty of fault to find with its execution, Great regret is on all hands expressed at the retirement of Christine Nil B son (who marries the wealthy Count Miranda next month), as it eeems probable she is the one living artiste who could at once look and sing the part of Desdomoaa to perfection. No doubt Patti will be the first exponent of the part in London, Maurel retaining the role of lago, in which he appears to have made such a hit. The death is announced of Mr F. Pryor, who was at one time in a prominent position on the English turf. The best hordes, he owned were The Rake, Triponnier, and Cardinal York. The Rake carried off the. Middle Park Plate in the year of its inauguration, beating a field which included such clinkers as Achievement, The Palmer, and Knight of the Garter The colt was winter favourite for the Derby of 1867, and would certainly have played a prominent part in the race but for breaking a blocd vessel a week beforehand. Mr Pryor nevertheless insisted on starting him, but the colt never figured in the van. With Cardinal York Mr Pryor won the Cesarewitch of 1870, and landed a big coup. The horse was not, however, much fancied outside Joseph Dawson's stable, and Btarted at 20 to 1. Next year, with 9st in the saddle, the Cardinal was second to Baron Rothschild's Consande (3yrs, 7et 121b), running that brilliant filly to balf-a-length. This was thought a great performance at the time, and was much talked abbut. The acceptances for the spring handicaps are numerous, and augur well for the coming season. The " talent " have selected Mr Manton's Loved One, the filly that won the Wokingham Stakes at Ascot so easily last year, as a good thing for " the Lincolnshire, " and Lord Ailesbury (late Viscount Stomachache) is saiel to fancy Gallimile for tbe same event. There will, however, bo no real market either on this or the Grand National till after the " battle of the bow-wows " at Waterloo next week. The famous bitGh Mies Glendyne, that divided the Derby of the leash in 18S5 with Bit of Fashion, and won right outlast year, is again a hot favourite. She has been kept specially for the coming Waterloo Cup, and her connections seem confident that she will emulate the great deeds of Master MeGrath by winning a thirdtime.