A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON. [By Elise] London, September 27th.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 420, 16 November 1889, Page 6

A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON. [By Elise] London, September 27th.

Dkar Mr Editor, — The first week of that blighting blast of autumn, the east wind, i has, besides exacerbating my temper and causing cruel desquamation to incarnadine a possibly unduly prominent olfactory organ, swept away three valuable lives, viz., Lady Holland's, Mr Wilkie Collins, and Mr Henry Brougham Farnie's. ' Lady Holland was seven-seventy years ■ of age, and had long ceased to bake an active part in society, though till Saturday last she enjoyed excellent health. By her death that' historic pile, Holland House — for nearly two centuries and a-half the haunt of the elite of statesmen, philosophers, noets, painters, and humorif-ts — loses one of its most famous chatelaines. The daughter of the eighth Karl of Coventry, the deceased lady, married the fourth Lord Holland in 1833, and in a few years her salon at Holland House became the despair and envy of other hostesses and the 1 talk of Europe. "It was," says a contemporary biographer, "to the mental gifts, personal influence, and tact of Lady Holland that these famous re■unions owed that fascination which may fairly be said do have rendered them aiocus for almost all that was best and noblest ia the rank and culture of Europe. J But charming 1 as was the magic of her presence, the mistress ot Holland House inspired no small amount of a^ye.'^ Jivjjhe wdrds of the Princess LiechteristeTnY" Beautiful, clever, and well-informed, she exercised a natural authority over those around her. But a habit ot contradiction— which, it ia only fair to add, she did not mind being reciprocated upon herself — occasionally lont animation, not to say animosity, to the arguments in which she engaged. It is easy for some natures to &ay a disagreeable thing, but it is not always ea"y to carry a disagreeable thing off cleverly. This Lady Holland could do." The lady who penned these linos was, it may be remembered. Lady Holland's adopted daughter, whose marriage with Prince Aloys Liechtenstein, at tho Pio - Cathedral in Kensington, is referred to in tho course of Count Beuf t's Momohs a" an " extraordinary ceremony." Extraordinary no doubt in the eyes of the Ambassador, because it was witnessed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, and thus represented the fii->l occasion since the days ot James 11. on which an English prince had attended Masb. "Lord Granville," he write?, "said to me when tho ceremony was over, ' 1 had my e\ es* on you to see how a good Protestant should behave.' Unusual and remarkable as the event was, it was not noticed in the newspapers. Mr Gladstone, who was not present, said to me, when I expressed my surprise at his absence, 'If I had come 3 r ou may be sure there would have been an outcry.' " Holland House now passes into the possession of Lord Ilchester.

Death ok Wilkte CoiiLinm. Wilkie Collins was getting a little better till the east wind came, when he caught a cold, and having no strength loft wherewith to combat it, sank rapidly. The popular novelist had not a blood relation in the world, and the sole attendants at his deathbed were his ljfelongjriend, Dr. CarrBeard, and his faithful okl housekeeper. It< is understood he leaves about €10,000, and that Dr. Carr-Beard, and not Mr Hall, Came (as stated some time back), hao been appointed literary executor. For many years Wilkie Collins took large quantities ot opium, and this habit had, no doubt, much to do with the premature break -up of a naturally strong constitution. He succumbed to the pernicious influence of tho drug soon after writing " Poor Miss Finch," and from that time his hand seemed ( to lose its cunning. Not that he 'weakened all at once. "Man and Wife" (for example) compares indifferently with " The Woman in White," but it is miles in front of such morbid rubbish a« "The Evil Genius " or Blind Love." - » . To posterity Wilkie Collins will probably he known only as the author of the three famous novels usually associated w^ith his name. The " Times," I see, pronounces " The Moonstone" the deceased's masterpiece, remarking that the last chapters of that famous story " will remain so Ions; as sensational novels aie read as a model ot all that is most sensational, most thrilling, and most ingeniously probable in the midst of improbability." Matthew Arnold, curiously enough, thought "The Now Magdalen" Wilkie Collins 1 best work, and it certainly did work up into a capital play. But the sLory has not the go and elasticity of his earlier novels.

Moke About Ajiy Levy. J'oor little Miss Amy Levy left behind a special request that her remains might be cremated, and though the Jews are by no means partial to the process of incineration, her family repentantly complied with her wishes. It does not seem to be true that the poor girl was in any way ill-treated by her relations. She was very impulsive, desperately self-willed, and yet intensely sensitive. Her Jewish friends say they were powerless to sympathise with her. It seemed to them horrible that this young girl should have used her clever pen to caricature her nearest and dearest, and to hold up her religion and the habits of the chosen people to contumely. The family were grieved, hurt, and, of couree, not a little angry. Miss Levy warmly resented their disapprobation, and went to live with Gentile friends. Subsequently, however, sho returned home, and, but for an unfortunate lovo affair would, her family believe, have become perfectly happy again. i The conduct of thej'ance, in. throwing over Mi3B Levy because of " Reuben Sachs " naturally, the Jews say, sounds very bad to us. It seemed to him simply an inevitable duty. _ ' ' f,, :„_ . j _Mr Henry Bro'ugft'&tti E arnie.'the dramatic author who succumbed tQ.,th,e east wind on Tuesday, was better known in London ten year 3 ago than now. He supplied libretto!* for various comic operas, wrote several successful burlesques, notably, " Nemesis" and " Eldorado," and was supposed to he facile, privceps as a stage manager of sucli pieces. He leased the Avenue Theatre for some seasons.

The Weldon Cask. South Kensington is all agog over what has already come to be known as the " Weldon Case." Mr and Mrs Ernest Weldon were a wealthy couple residing in Gloucester Mansions, S.W. Mrs Weldon is 38 years of ape, and Mr Weldon, who was only 32, was her third husband. She is a _ rery large, massive woman, whereas Weldon was a little shrimp of a man, and from the time Mrs Weldon mirried him (three years ago) it h alleged that she completely dominated him. Be this as it may, he cortainly complained to his brothers of ill-treatment, and on one oooasion recently, displayed bruises which he declared were caused by his wife's n>ts. I^ast year the pair quarrelled and separated, but 'were reconciled at Christmas, and spent this summer at Boulogne. Early in September Mr

Woldon fell ill. and his wife, distrust, ing French medicos, brought him homeHe died two days later, and Dr. Farr, of South Kensington, certified the cause of death to be Bright's disease (the symptoms j of which are much the same as those of arsenic poisoning) aggravated by dipsomania. The funeral took place hurriedly (and without ceremony it is alleged), and aitogether the circumstances were so peculiar that one of Mr Weldon's brothers j consulted the Home Secretary, who ordered the body to be exhumed. This was done and a poab-mortem held, the result of which will be made known in a day or two. Meanwhile, Mrs Weldon's movements are supervised. On all hands it is admitted the deceased was a confirmed dipsomaniac, and that Mrs Weldon had threat trouble with him. He was locked up at Lewes once ior 14 days in delirium tremens, and fined at Wandsworth Police Court early this year for drunkenness.

Com r no Novelties. Mr Rutland Barrington having dissipated, in the course of a few weeks' management at the St. James's Theatre, the hard-earned savings of ten year 3, returns to the Savoy foe Gilbert and Sullivan's new opera. George Grossmith it is highly improbable will ever act in a company again. His entertainment) hae, so far, proved a perfect gold mine. The little man writes from Southsea that his share of the ptotits up to now averages within a few pounds of £320 a-week, and that he is postered to death by entei prising impresarios wanting him to " try America and the colonies. "' At present George has no intention of trying either, but, as the villain in the play &ays, "a time may come." Great curios' ty is naturally felt with regard to the revival of ''Caste" at the Criterion next week. Leonard Boyne plays D'Alroy ; a young actor, fresh from the provinces, Kawtree ; and David .James, Eccles. Lackadaisical Miss Olga Brandon should bo quito at home as Esther, and Lottie Verne is, perhaps, the one contomporary actress capable of doing justice to the mercurial Polly. The comedy has been mofet carefully rehearsed, and will be staged rather more smartly than heretofore. The rumour that Mrs Bancroft meditates returning to the stage is quite untrue, I'm sure. The erstwhile petite Marie Wilton has grown so ponderously stout that it would only be possible to lit her with most unromantic roles. Even on the lecture platform her podgy figure shows to terrible disadvantage.

The Gatktv Company Welcomed Hoaik* There was a great scene at the Gaiety Theatre on Saturday ovening, when Nellie Farren, Fred. Leslie, Marion Hood and Co. le-appeared on the familiar boards, after eighteen months' absence in Australia and the United States. No one seemed to care much about thts new piece. It was the "welcome home" we all wished to assist at. And Hint a wolcome it was ! When the irrepressible Nellie, frisky, buoyant, and debonnaire as ever, "skipped blithely on to the statje, the smart house literally rose at her. The gallery (crammed almost entirely with medical students) hung out a huge streamer on which was inscribed "The Boys welcome their Nellie." The pit cheered and waved handket chief* and the stalls clapped like lunatic?. Later Fred. Leslie had an equally hearty ieception, the audience rising and singing *' For He's a Tolly Good Fellow " much as if it were " God Save the Queen.' 1 Six weeks hence the new burlesque " Ruy Bla3 " will no doubt have worked up into a conventional Gaiety success. At present it is much too long. When Ficd Leslie and Nellie Farren are together all goes well, but while they're resting one is apt to get bored. Letty Lind I thought scarcely danced as gracefully afe before she went on tour, and Marion Hood's voice seemed a trifle husky. But the entire company, of course, were nervous, and m ill do better presently. Horace Ling.ird's new venture with Oflenbach's "Brigands" at the Avenue has not, so far, ''caught on." Why the work was selected no one seems to know, jis it was never, even in the old days at the Globe Theatre, a popular success.

Some Nfw Soxus. I don't seem to liavo hoard of many new songs lately. One is pestered to death with the nauseously glucous "For You" and "Lovo's Golden Dream." At the promenade concerts Mikita makes a fairish hit with "Sweetheart," which is written to the tune of the "Ma Chore " waltz, but Madame Antoinette Sterling does i.ob seem to affect anything newer than Moirs " Children Aslee?;> " and Molloy's " Well Keep the Old Giey Mare, John." "Soldier John,'' by E. M. Chesham, has been commended to ns, and Michael Watson's "Little Lord Fauntleioy*' seems bGin(? sung everywhere, judging by concert programmes. The best of the new sacred bongs is " Gethsemane,'" by Odoardo Barry. In the comic line I know of nothing better than Grossmith's absmd parody of modem sentimental songs, "Thou of My Thou" and "A Cockney's Life for Me." The joy of the music halls is Chas. Godfrey's dramatic scene &ong " Called to the Bar" (veiy suitable for colonial penny readings, etc.), aqd James Fawn's highly objectionable •♦Ask a Pleeceman." The barrel organs have with one accord seized on the latter, which has aliteially murderinspiring refrain. By the way I ought, I suppose, to have suggested Mr Michael Maybriek's new ballad " Mona " to your notice. It is published by Boo&ey, who also announced " Down by the Sunlit Stream " by Molloy. Chappella advertise Tosti's " Winged Echoes " as very good, and the new Scotch song writer Hami*h McCunn seems to have scored with a bibulous canticle called "Tour Forth the Wine."

A New Poet. A new poet has arisen, foy whom <* deav Andrew with the brindled lpcks " and other leading lights of the Savile Club, predict a great future. This is none other than William Winter/ the renowned Boston critic, whose obiter dicta on theatrical mabteiv have made or marred the career of more than one English "star" in the States. Most Americans were probably aware Winter possessed a pretty trick of versification, and had read fugitive pieces of his in the magazines, but till the volume called " Wanderers " was published ten days ago few appear to have realised how thoroughly good he could be. Now " Wanderers'" is to be seen on every "culcbavved" AngloAmerican draw ing-room table. It certainly docs contain some gems. What could bo better than the following vignette of a cathedral city :—: — The quiet Btvcots as ovening foil, The mil jter's gloom, tho solemn boll ; The scuiited air, , The rooks that thronged the giant trees, The churchyard stones ; and over these The moonlight fair. Here, too, are some good "In Memoriam" verses, free from canfc and rant and clean cut as a oameo :—: — Speak softly hero, and sof tly tread, For all the placo is holy ground. Where Nature's love onshrines her dead, And Earth with blessings folds them round. He rests at laal— the world far off May riot in her mad excess, But now her plandit and her scoff To him alike are nothingness,

Hft learned in depths where virtue fell The hoightß to which the soul may rise, Ho sounded the abyßS of hell, He scaled the walls of Paradise. What else ? Till every wandering star In Heaven's blue vault be cold and dim, Our faithful spirits following far Walk in the light that falls from Him.

Juvenile Literature. Our boys seem to be going to be even better off than usual for exciting storybooks this Christmas. Mr Manvillo Fenn has deserted them, finding novels apparently better paying business than boys' tales ; but ITenty, the ever-faibhful, is as usual to the fore with three new stories, and Mr Sabine Baring Gould and JVir Hall Came have been trying their 'prentice hands at this description of literature. Mr Henty's stories will of course be published bv BlacUies, and are entitled " With Leo in Virginia," " By Pike and Dyke," "A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic," and " One oi the 28th, a Story of Waterloo." The same firm announce " Grettir the Outlaw, a Tale of Iceland," by S. Baring Gould ; " Highways and High Seas," by Frankfort Moore; and "Afloat at Last," by J. C. Hutche&on. The latter gentleman further announces through Ward Lock "The Black Man's Ghosb ; a Story of the Buccaneers' Buried Treasure of the Galapagos Islands." Mr R. M. Ballantyne's nmch-looked-forward-to annual tale will deal with smuggling from a novel standpoint, and is entitled " The Eagle Cliff ; a Tale of the Western Isles ; ' and Mr Edward Garrebt promises " John Winter; a Story of Harvests." ' . " .

Worm's Book>. ' Mes^r* Casfet-lla lament dolorously that) there are nob enough "eulchawed" Englishwomen in existence to support a really high-class, " toney " magazine like the' " Women's VVoild," and that that pretentious and (if the truth must be told) deplorably dull periodical will in consequence cease to be published. Personally I fancy I shall be able to support existence without it; indeed, I must confess I never was able to tee quite where this magazine's surprising superiority to the average ladies' l paper came in. The fashion notes were nut to be compared with " The Queen's." The general articles seldom dealt «vith subjects i of genuine domestic interest), and the fiction was poor. To speak plainly, Mr Oscar Wilde failed. Now, " Atalantn," started at about the same time as the " Woman'/? World," as a high-class magazine for girls, has proved a complete success. It appeals to every sort of damsel, from the immature "blue-stocking" who goes in for "competitions," " prize essays,'' and " hospital | cots," to the mere "frivoller" who seeks | its pages simply for the entertainment they I afford. This year's annual volume contains a delightful novel by W. E. Norris, " Miss | Shaf to," which is itself worth the six shilli ings the book costs.

This Duchess' Stories. The statement of Harper's, Munros and other American pirates that Mrs Hungerford's (the Duchess') stories are more popular than any others in the States has occasioned a good deal of surprise over here, where this author's works, though indubitably well read, have never been looked upon as anything phenomenal. The best of them are "Mrs Geoffrey" and "Molly Bawn," When you've read these, you've read the Job. 1 see, by-the-by, that some wiseacre has discovered "The County," the new novel which has been running through "Cornhill," and comes out fco-day in three volumes, is by Mrs Hunger ford. Don't believe it. The styles are' quite different. "Tlio County" is obviously by a fresh, healthy, clever girl who has not studied Rhoda Broughton and James Payn for nothing 1 . Rumour, I fancy, more nearly hit the mark when it attributed the authorship to one of the last-named novelist's many charming daughters. Wo have heard nothing of Mr Anstey Guthrie (or "F. Anstey" as he prefers to bo called) for so long that his new novel to be published in three volumes on October l.")th will be welcome indeed. It is called "The Pariah,' and aspires to much higher flights than anything he has before attempted. Mr Baring-Gould's new story "The Pennycomcquicks '' (like *o many of the novels done to order for Tillotson s Bureau) is very pooi indeed, in fact wholly unworthy of the author of "Mehalah." Mr Gould is writing far too much. Ho seems always to have two if not three novels on the stocks at a time. " The Pennycomoquicks " deals with the erratic adventures of an amorous elderly cotton-spinner, who, for various wholly insufficient reasons, pretends to have been drowned during the flood caused by a dam bursting. Ho "keeps out of the way for home years and then comes to life again, highly inopportunely for some of the character?. There is also a stolen will and an unhappy marriage. The dialogue at times reads crisply enough, but on the whole the book is dull.