A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON. (By Elise.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 374, 5 June 1889, Page 4

A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON. (By Elise.)

PRECIS. Spuing— The Laths Duchksb of Cambuidgw— aPkophecy Fulkillbo— T«:k Austkujan lvi)y mill.inlbks in court— a culuous Case— Tn k Lahkhtoucuks IjOsk— Cki^ibk's Nkw Opkra, " Douis "— Elabohatk I'hkpakations—Mk Gilhkkt Ilt His Mook ok Likk Descki«kh~Suwcs— Amklik Rivks's Last Hook, " Tiik Witnkss of the Sun "— ExTKAonniNARY Wojuc— Gissino's "Nethek Would"

London, April 12. Wk aro just now enjoying a spoil of de- ; lightful spring weather. Walking through I Konsington Gardens on Saturday I wa s inesistibly reminded of Browning's lines : » "Oh ! to be in Rngland. vow that April's fcbero' And, whoever wakes in ILncland, sous som° morning unawnro That tho lowest boughs and tho brushwood shoaf, Round the olm tree bolo arO in tiny loaf, Whilo tho chafllnch sings on tho orchard bough In England— now !" The Duchess of Cambridge, who died suddenly of extreme old age on Saturday last, was (it is not generally known) a remarkable personalty, exorcising from her rooms in St. Jamos's Palace great influence over the Queon and the Royal Family generally. Her faculties remained unimpaired up to tho last ; in fact, only a few days before she died tho phenomenal old lady gave a dinner party in honour of her son's the (Commander-in -Chief's) seventieth birthday. But Her Grace's prime recreation was to " rominisce " for the benefit of the younger members of the Royal Family. She had a. great deal to remember, and, with her art of telling a story, she turned it to the best account. She had lived in touch with all the principal persons and tho principal events in Europo for a century, less eight years. "If memory hnd been anything but a pleasure to her,'" writes an appreciative friend, " she must long since have found her store of recollections an intolerable load." In 1797, when she was born, England was alarmed by the mutiny at the Nore, and people were still talking of Napoleon Bonaparte as a promising young man. He had conquered at Rivoli, but Marongo was yet to be. In the year of her marriago, 1818, Byron published the fourth canto of "Childe Harold," and Warren Hastings died. It was an old, old time, a most distant "long ago." In the same year, the wager of battle was still a right by law, and a villain named Thornton, who had committed a most atrocious murder, claimed it, and so saved his neck from the gallows. There was no one to do battle with him, and there was no hanging him, in face of his persistent demand to prove his innocence with his sword. The mail coach system was still so much of a novelty that its " inventor " was living at the beginning of the year. In 1818, too, Ross and Parry returned from their unsuccessful attempt to find the North Passage ; and the Duke of Kent married the Princess of Saxe-Coburg who was to be the mother of the Queen. Theso events, all belonging to the year of her marriage, formed by no means the first crop of the Duchess of Cambridge's recollections, while the last embraced the most recent occurrences of our own time. If the Duchess began to remember at nine, her memory might well have extended from the battle of Jena to the flight of General Boulanger to Brussels. She had leisure for remembrance, as well as health, and her honoured position in tho Royal Family gave her whole generations of listeners of her own rank and of her own kin. The Duke of Cambridge acquires a large fortune by his mother's death, and the circumstances of tho Teck family generally will be materially improved.

A Prophecy Fulfilled. An extraordinary story is going the rounds on the authority of the companion of Mr Ingram, the son of the prop of the "Illustrated News," who was recently killed in Egypt by an elephant. Shortly before his death Mr Ingram purchased a mummy, amongst the wraps of which he discovered a papyrus covered with writing. Translated, this proved to be solemn malediction on any person who disturbed the corpse, accompanied by an assurance chat the dosecrator (be it man or woman) should die a violent death within three moons (months), and his or her body should be I scattered to the winds of heaven. Mr Ingram's death took place just within that I period, and only a thigh bone could bo found when his friends attempted to recover the bodj. This is nob a traveller's tale, I am assured, bub solid facb.

The Australian Lady Drossmakors l n Court. The three Sydney ladies, Mr* Labertouche, Mx - s Captain Loftus (daughter of I Lord Augustus Loftus). and Miss Labertouche, who, after coming homo and gadding about in " society " during the j "Colindies" season, started in business os fashionable court milliners, under the norn de commerce of "Victoire et Compagnie," are not finding trade altoerethor playwork. They were defendants last week in an action brought against them by the professional expert (a Mdlle. Louise Baldossi) in conjunction with whom they initiated their roah venture. Mademoiselle, it seems, had a fairly prosperous business when the Labertouches (introduced by august patronesses) came to her. This business they purchased, after valuation, by promissory note, agreeing to engage Miss IJaldossi at £250 per annum, and 5 per cent, on all profits as " managing premiere." You will easily guess what happened. No sooner was the partnership deed fairly signed and sealed than the ladies began quarrolling. Mamma La- | bertouche's notion of a fair division of labour was that she and her I daughters should supervise the showroom or atelier (as they prefer to call ifc), whilst Miss Baldossi overlooked the workroom. Miss B. appears to have given way to this at first, till she found Mrs Labortouche attending to her own old customers instead of sending for her as had been agreed. Then she did rebel, exhibiting, according to Miss Pauline Harriet Ellie Labertouche, " such a violent temper" that "ma" was " quite afraid of her." Further differences ensued in consequence of Victoire et Cie not giving satisfaction to august patronesses like Lady Caledon, Mrs Percy Nutford and others who complained of misfits. These misfits the Labertouches attributed to Miss Baldossi, who, they alleged, proved, on being tested, a very second-rate dressmaker, and not worth half the salary she claimed. Miss Baldossi retorts thrt she had been in business for ten years, receiving from Mrs Mason £120 and from Kate Riley £220 a year. She tried on the bodices, etc., ab Kate Rileys, and there weie no misfits there. Misfits, in fact, Miss Baldoasi thinks, are generally attributable either to the whims of the customers themselves, or to tho "interference of uninstrucbed amateurs like Mrs Labertouche." The constant friction between "the amateurs" and the "professional" ultimately led to the Labertouchos (despite lawyer's advice) breaking thejr three years' agreement with Miss Baldossi and dismisaBing her, Furthermore they refused to

meet their ptomissory note, alleging fcbat tbo value of Miss B.s business (both stock and goodwill) had been over-rated. Miss Baldossi, of course, claimed the full amount of the p.n. as well aj her share of salary and profits, £1,358, and damages for wrongful Mr Justice Charles, after hearing the case with great patience— a large number of witnesses wero called by both sides — gave Miss Baldossi £100 damages. Plaintiff, ho said, was probably an uneasy person to work with, and the Labertouches, unfamiliar with business expeiienco, had found her quick-tempered and difficult to deal with ; but neither these nor any of the other grounds placed boforo him by the defendants justified plaintiffs dismissal. Ho found for the plaintiff on every point, consequently the Labertouches will have to pay up some £4,000 odd. JChoy soem to have a good Anglo-Colonial connection, as amongst the customers — I beg pardon. I should say clionts — named wore Mrs Honnikor Heaton, Mrs Fairfax, Miss Pondor (whose Court) dresc, made by Victoire ot Cie, was a great succcesa), Mrs T. Russell, Mrs Sankey, Mrs Toler, Miss Frost and others. So many people either know the Labertouches in Melbourne and fcvjdnev (where they cut a conspicuous figure during Loid Augustus Loftus's vice-royalty)or met them in London during the '• Colindies" season that I urn sure the foregoing will bo read with consido/able interest. Sydney folks more parbiculaii}' aro nob lilioly to have forgotten the social sensation created by Captain Loftus'n engagement to the dashing Ethel Labertouche, and Lord and Lady Augustus's very modified inbilation thereat.

Thoatrical Notes. Any amount of gossip is current about " Doris,"' Mr Collier's new Eli/cabethan comic opera, due at the Lyric Theatre on Saturday evening. A privileged few who have heard tho good-natured composer hum over the principal airs, pronounce- the music a great artistic advance on " Dorothy," and in this thoy are confirmed by Arthur Williams and Hayden Coffin, who both profoss themselves delighted with their parts. The mounting, Mr Loslio tells everyone, has cost £6,000, and finally we tiro to make tho acquaintance of Miss Amy Angarde (who plays tho part originally destined for Maiie Tempest-), a young and " mashing '' maid on with whose charms vocal and personal town-talkers will soon be busy. By the way.l see it mentioned in connection with the run of " Dorothy " that when tho pioco was removed from the Gaiety to the Prince of Wales', business suddenly gave out, and for three weeks tho depressed com- . pany played to empty houses. Mr Leslie, ' however, believed in the opera, stuck to it, and was rewarded. After the first month matters improved gradually. Then came the turn in tho tide, and for three years the theatre was ciatnmed from floor to ceiling seven times a week. A second move to the Lyric once more depressed business, and this time Mr Loslie found it did not pick up again after a week or two. He therefore manfully withdrew the opera, although the temptation to let it run the coveted 1,000 nights must have been considerable. Altogether, no fewer than 250 persons will be employed in " Doris." There will be a chorus of 62, an orchestra (led by Cellier himself) of 48, and a small army of " supers," extra ladies, and ballet dancers. The chief spectacular effect of the pioce is in the third acfc, and is called "The Masque of the Spaniard." The European and Indian costumes are highly effectively blended, and all concerned anticipate a great triumph. For the first time in his life Mr W. S. Gilbert is unwell, and has had to temporarily give up work. Ordinarily the popular dramatist has the constitution of a Her cules, eats little, drinks little, sleeps little and works hard. Seldom in bed before three, he is always up by eight. Indulgences of any kind (save and excepting tobacco) he scorns, and for the valetudinarian, the tippler, and backboneless individuals generally his contempt is scathing and intense. Of clever and beautiful women, Mr Gilbert is an ardent platonic admirer. He has generally some clever and ambitious girl on hand, from whom he expects great things, and with Miss Fortescue and Miss Julia Neilson ho has (as you know) scored indubitable triumphs. Failure cuts MiGilbert to the quick. He devotes much time, care and thought to even tho most microscopicdetailsof hisplaysancl when they do not succeed it seems to him incredible, inexplicable. After the collapse of " Brantingham Hall " Mr Gilbert sulked like any child. It was Miss Neilson's nervousness on tho first night ; it was Clement Scott's wicked critique in the " Telegraph ;" it was anything but the I inherent weakness of the play itself which caused the catastrophe. He would, he swore, write no moro dramas for this callous and unappreciativo generation. Since then Mr Gilbeit has been at work on a novel — a topsy-turvy story of the sort in which Mr Anstey delights, and on an edition of his operettas illustrated by himself. Mra Stannard (Jno. Strange Winter) produced a dramatic version of her unpleasant novel, " Garrison Gossip," at a matinee at tho Wanderville last week. The Prince of Wales was present, together with a smart , crowd of the author's friends, but the play proved too bad for oven the lattor to aflect approval, and tho curtain finally fell amidst stony silence. Mrs S. is a good-natured, buxom, fruity-faced, middle-aged lady, with a certain amount of literary ability of a sort. " Bootle's Baby " and " Houp La !" were, no doubt, pretty tales, but scarcely justify the author's phenomenal popularity. Now, of course, John Strange Winter is completely written out, and the attenuated shilling shockers she periodically produces are rubbishy to a degree. Nevertheless, I am told that for "Harvest" (Mrs Stannard's last, and in many respects feeblest effort) MrTrischler,of the Hansom Cab Publishing Company, paid her £300, and that she ha? just refused a similar offer from Tillotsons with contempt. "Launcelot the Lovely, or tho Knights of tho Round Table," is the title of the burlesque about to succeed "NAdgy" at the Avenue Theatre. Arthur Roberts, of course, plays Launcelot the Lovely, and the dashing Vanoni, Queen Guinevere.

Miss Amello Rives's Last Boole. The talented author of " The Quick and the Dead " has altogether outdone herself in "The Witness of the Sun," which is, I should imagine, as fantastic and repulsive a study in erotic hysteria as ever emanated from a woman's mind. At the mature age of ten, Miss Rives's heroino, Ilva Demarini, has hair " like moonlight seen through amber," " bluish-grey-violet} eyes," and a skin as " white as almonds soaked in water." She is dis- { covered by her future lover, the ( great Russian novelist, "AloxipNadrovine, "readinc " Ariosto " and inveuting cynical epigiams, as, for instance, "Married love is like champagne with the sparkles out." Nadrovine takes away Ariosto from the little girl, hints that epigrams anont married life are improper, and loaves her, whereupon she naturally loves him passionately till she is seventeen. The pair then meet again, and Nadrovine, "intoxicated by the girl's sensuous beauty," proposes. "My heaven-hearted one ! my spirit love !" he observes, giving Miss Ilva a kiss "long and gentle," "how ami to puo into my bluab man's words the story of

my love for you ? You are sun and stars, the night and the day, the inland and the ' ocean roality, dreams, ambition, fruition." Presontly, Nadrovine tells Ilva he has never kissed her as " a man kisses a woman whom he loves above all others," and asks permission to give her that " kiss of kisses." The result of the " masterful caress " is peculiar. Ilva sobs and cries, " Something is gono, something that can nover be tho same. It is like those roses in my belt. Thoy are ro&es, but their stems have been broken as they have been gathered '." Tho course of true love runs smoothly, if j somowhat hysterically, till Madame Nadrovino, the novelist's mamma, comes on tho scene. Madame is a plump replica of tho Vonus do Medici, with a taste for cigorottea and a talenb for intrigue. She admires Ilva's "broad hips" (s-?'c) and " firm, whito bosom,' 1 but considers her a fool and unworthy to wed the brilliant Alexie. In ordor, therefore, to break oil' tho mutch, Madame llirts with Demaiini perc, eventually allowing tho stern Alexis to catch "0' owd rip"" kissing her. This obliges Nadrovine to challenge his beloved's paront and run him through the body, after which there is a slight coolnoss between the families. Nadrovine, for prudential reasons, decamps, and Ilva, in costume de, vail, rolls on tho mat before Madame N.'a bed-room door, and moaningly imploies the inexorable matron to love her. Finally, Nadrovine turns s*erious and bocomes a monk. After two year 3 he meets Ilva accidentally near some dangerous quicksands. She exhibits an alarming disposition to embrace him, and he is just on the point of giving way to his leelings when a cry is heard, and a child isseentcbe sinking in ohe adjacent quicksands. Alexis rescues tho child, but sinks himself. Ilva's mind is instantly made up. " With a swift movoment she springs into the quicksands at Nadrovine's side. She put her arms about his neck, her lips to his, and the story ends with these words, " the sun alone had been a witness." This last line is the sole apparent explanation of the mysterious title.

"The Nether World." 11 The Nether World," like " Demos " and 11 Thyrza," is a photographic picture of life amongst the London poor, painted by a sympathetic aod comprehending, yet utterly hopeless, pen. Many of our novelists from Dickens downwards have tried to convoy to the uppor clashes some notion of the terrible truth on this subject, but none have succeeded quite liko Mr Gissing. The characters in "TheNother World" are intvvsdy real. One feela instinctively that S3'dney Kirkwood and Pennyloaf Candy, Clara Howetb and Jano Snowdon are not mere puppets of tho imagination like Farjeon's chartcters in similar stories, bub living, breathing men and women whom the author has known well and studied closely. Mr Gissing is Zola without Zola's coarsenes". The description he crives of the Crystal Palace on Bank Holiday errs, if anything on tho sido of optimism. And yet it is gloomy reading. Mr Gissing has no panacea to suggest for the ills he describes. The gospel he preaches is summed up in a sentence : " Be helpful, be compassionate, be long-suffering." " The Nether World " has no plot in the ordinary sense of the term. It is simply the history of several poor families and their fruitless struggles with circumstances. No one ia allowed to be happy in the end. We leave the hero worse off at the close of the third volume than he was at the beginning of the first, though safely married to his early love. The evil geniu3 of the story is a virago named Clem Peckover, a coarse, cruel, cunning woman whose character is unredeemed by a single good quality. Read "The Nether World."