HARRY LAUDER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 79, 22 August 1914, Page 3

HARRY LAUDER.

FAMOUS COMEDIAN IN 'WELLINGTON. HIS OPINIONS ON THE WAR. "Hullo, Harry," called a voice from ■the wharf, as the Warrhnoo drew up to her berth on her arrival from Sidney on Wednesday (says Hie Dominion). "Lor!" said t'he onlv Harry .Lauder, "it's .Jimmy—little Jimmy. J 100 <U'e ye, laddie? —snwolking a pipe, too. Glad to see ye boy!" And in tSiiat greeting there was all the geniality and 1 vitality which htiis helped to make the little imnn popular thilougtaonit three . continent--.. The comedian is diistinctlv G'lasgow Scotch in type, burly and thick set, his- friendly 'face rosy with health, lie wanted to know all about the war news, and \v;is delighted to 'learn of the departure of the English troops for the t'ontiiient. and the manner in which Lord Kitchenc had arranged ths grim, silent embarkation. Even a comedian may have 'his opinions •on the war, and Harry Lauder thinks that the manner, in wh;c'!,t England has swiftly -mobilised her forces is one of the most remarkable feats of war in 'the (history of the nation, and one that gives ti good l line to h'er actions when at grips with the -enemy. "Ye see, seem' I couldua' go maVri I've dnne the next best thing—Pw sent ma son. lie's a lieutenant in tli.; 'Argyle and Sutherland highlanders Teriit'OTials—ye Iken, 'and he cam' oot tai. see the colonies wi* ame. But in Melbourne 'fcli'e ither day 'he got a euible, , just twa vords: 'Mobilising-return.' i And he left Adelaide on Tlmrsday last tc do hiij duty by his country, God bless liin!"

When the talk turned on his future J movements, Liuder said he was going to America after N?w Zealand, lie had been there six times, -and' this visit .would be his seventh. "If you're not caught l>y the Germans?" ventured a voice. "Aye, hut it they catch nie. I'll jiii-t: sing, 'I Love a Lavisie. 'in German to ■them, and I'll 'hot. vii anything ye like they'll let nn go!'' W illi the way he has with him one wianci not he at nil surprised if sueh a d.ei'elu-l ion of dutv ■'were recorded against our Teutoii'ic foefl. I 'Mr Lauder confesses to bavin.:', had "a gian' timie" ia Australia. The audiences there were just as .amenable to_ infectious haum'OT as they were in hugland or America. The world v.as waiting for siimmle melodies with a catehv and they couM' not, ger, eiionvii of tlieni. lie. 'liad not had the temerity vet to write a war Ming, and, a- !:i.' a< hie knew, the Enalish troops li.i'.l noi 'been, lightini; hut Mrs L.iudei'. "a suit-'ie lmddie," said that Tlai'i'\' hail written an Australian song. Mr l.amlei confessed t'o- his wife's ab'.l'itv lo express ideas other than on his talent a- » song writer. Suit he was no politician "himself, except in hi- : own iioi.Ke, an-l even tlfere, he "was not I'renii "r. l at onlv Ha subordinate member of the Ctbiml." so ,to ttpeak. lie looked f'M-wi'i'd with V.lee.Mire to lis tiomr tliv.ougli Sew Zeah'lid. where he iindei'stood tin ri> ,vere ipiit'e a nu.mlier of {Scotch |woirte and <iramaphone,s.