LONDON JOTTINGS.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 233, 11 January 1898, Page 3

LONDON JOTTINGS.

[by our lady correspondent.] THE FOLKS OF LONDON TOWN. I don't think I have as yet given my impression of the Londoners individually. One great characteristic which struck mc, and does still, is the universal politeness you meet with on all sides. Ask a question of anyone—from the well-dressed gentleman down to the poorest clad man, or street arab (who is, I should think, the cheekiest youngster on the face of the earth) —and you will receive a polite answer. The people arc undoubtedly reserved and incliueel to be suspicious at first, but when you think how often they are imposed upon and cheated it is scarcely to be wondered at; anel then again it is impossible, among the hundreds with whom you come in contact, to become friendly or even acquainted with more than a few for they all have their daily work, their own ties, and struggles to get on. I have heard of many iustauces of great kindness shewn by usighbours iu times of sickness or distress, and speaking for myself, I have met with the greatest courtesy and kindness. One of the pleasantest ladies it has been my fortune to be introduced to is the Baroness BurdettCoutts, whom I met with others at a meeting of the R.S.P.C.A. Of course she is getting into years now, but she takes as warm an interest as ever in all philanthropic movements, and especially in anything connected with children and dumb animals, being on active working member and not merely a subscriber. She is a charming old lady to talk to, making you feel quite at home at once. THE GROWTH OF THE CITY. What London will be in a few- years if the building mania goew on as it is doing, it is impossible to say. It seems such a pity to see pretty country suburbs one after another disappearing, anel bricks and mortar taking the place of trees and green pastures. That dreaelful London County Council is trying hard to get possession of the beautiful Higbgatc Woods, and build upon that present charming resort for holiday-seekers and lovers of the country. They are beginning to encroach, too, on pretty Hampatead. Wherever you go relics of the past are fast vanishing. Not long ago the demolishing hammer was applied to a well-known house near Highgate and Fiuchley, known as " Claud Duval's house." Tradition says that Dick Turpiu also occupied it, and the stable was allotted to his famous "Black Bess," anel there is the stump of a tree outside still staneling to which he used to tie her. He certainly was often in that neighbourhood 160 years ago, so both stories may be correct. Seeing that it is 230 years since the hanelsome and courteous Claud Duval used to ply his trade there, anel insist on many a highborn and finely-dressed dame descending from her coach to dance a minuet with him on the green sward in the moonlight or by torchlight, the house must be pretty old. Another relic, too, e>f bye-gone days which is talked off as doomed to disappear is the "Magpie and in Fetter Lane, a place I often para as it is a short cut into Fleet-street. You might easily pass the house without noticing it unless your eye caught the sign, written in old English, and bearing the date 1G00! Here it was that the great conspiracy of 1(543 was discovered when it was intended to admit 3000 Royalists into the city and deliver London into the hands of the then Puritan rulers. Opposite, too, dwelt no less a persen than Mr Praise-God Barebones, and his brothers, Mr Christ-came-iuto-the-world-to-save Barebones and Mr If-Christ-hael - not - elied - thou - hadst - been - damned Barebones, so called for brevity's sake Mr Damned Barebones! When one thinks of all these strange characters, and what scenes must have taken place inside these old houses one can't help lookiug on with great interest. AMATEUR THEATRICALS. I was at a very good amateur dramatic performance last week, given in aid of the Ladies' Clergy Fund. It was given at one of the West End suburban halls, and was a freat success. The piece was a new musical urlcsque by Frank Silvester, called "Arthur's Bakery Company," and was most absurd; the plot being that King Arthur and his Queen, Guinevere, were the originators of the present noted ABC restaurants iu London; so if you can fancy King Arthur and all Ids Knights of the Round Table and the ladies made famous by Tennyson's *' Idylls of the Kiug " acting as waiters and waitresses, you can fancy how ridiculous it was. One of the characters, Mr Frank Perkins, who represented Prince Geraint, was best of all. He acted capitally aud sang very well. A bicycle was also iutroiluced, which afforded much attraction to the knights and ladies. King Arthur tried to ride it, being held ou by Launcelot, who had a huge white apron tied on over his Court dress, but the king was not sufficiently "up• to-date" to manage it! EMINENT PIANISTS. There are two first-class pianists who have been giving pianoforte recitals lately—Herr Liebling, Court pianist to the Duke of Saxc-Coburg, and Herr Busoni, the latter having the courage to make his bow before a Loudon audience with no introduction or assistance iu any way. Both arc good, but I think I prefer Liebling. As far as personal appearance goes, Busoui is the better looking, but his face retains the same impassive gravity throughout, whereas Liebling shows such varied expression and seems so thoroughly to enjoy his own music, looking round at his audience as if he wanted them to share his pleasure. A SHAKESPERIAN RECITAL. I was at a Shakesperian recital given by Hermann Veziu the other day. It is good to heai; these different celebrities, it keep's one's mind awake, and I am sure I am very much obligeel to the different persons who enable me to do so by sending me tickets, but I confess I was a wee bit tired before Veziu finished. He recited the whole of " Othello," and of course made the character of the Moor the most promiueut. In the other characters he dropped his voice rather and spoke more rapidly than I should have thought he would have done in any of Shakespeare's plays, but he certainly recites splendidly. He has a very fine face, and is still a remarkably hanelsome man, though his hair is epuitc white. He reminds mc so much of Cauon Wilbcrforcc. A LITERARY " AT HOME." One other unexpected gratification I had a week ago, when I accompanied Mrs Henry Reynolds, who, I may here remark, has been most kind to mc, and another friend to an "At home" at the Lady Writers' Club. Though we were not aceniainted with those present, knowing only the lady by whose invitation we went, it was most interesting to note the different faces and hear the talk going on around us. There was a large attendance, mostly ladies, but a fair sprinkling of gentlemen too, and with the exception of a. few who, like ourselves were only visitors, every one was connected with some branch of literaturewriters of novels, travels, newspaper correspondents, scientific writers —in fact all were wielders of that mighty weapon, the pen, which may be usee] for the advancement of both good and evil in the world. Coming in contact with such people, like hearing great musicians, makes one feel " wery " small in one's own estimation, and sigh that our own life runs in such a narrow groove, hemmed in by the " ironies of fate." ROAD-MAKING. No doubt some of my readers will be amused when I mention another subject which has been interesting me of late, and that is road-making. I suppose those in authority are availing themselves of the fine weather we have had hitherto and are taking the precautiou to re-make and rci>air the thorougfares before the winter sets in, for wherever you go there are gangs of men at work in the principal streets, aud I have been able to note the process from start to finish. Why I allude to this is because I have thought so many times while watching the men, what a pity it is that, with so little trouble, such splendid roads coulel be made in the Colony ; even good crossings which, as I can speak from experience, are few aud far between, in the never-to-to-be-forgotten Waikato, would be one step to the good. Here all the materials are far higher in price than in the colony, especially timber. There you have all at hand—cement foi foundation (which of course must be level), wood for the bricks, growing within reach. Very thin laths of orelinary wood are placed under the edge of each row to equalise and make linn, I think. Then boiling tar is poured on, which binels them in, and is swept level with a broad iron scraper. When that is dry, a sprinkling of gravel completes the ojmration. I saw in some streets they dipped the bricks in the tar inste;id of pouring it on. The wooden bricks chiefly used are made from " Jarrah," that hard, retl Australian wooel which is thought so much of here, and if a reiad niatle in this way will last over six years in a London main street, where there are hundreds and hundreds of vehicles passing to aud fro from morning to night, it speaks x itself yf the durability of the materials

used. One mail told mc that when the motor cars and cable trams become more used, which they are certain to be, the roads will last much longer, as it is the horses' feet that wear them more than anything. Of course there arc numerous streets of stone and cement, but all the new ones are wood. At a meeting not long ago a large majority of the cabmen and bus drivers voted in favour of wood. The one objection I notice is that in bad weather they become more slippery for the horses. It makes me shudder to see the gallant creatures slip and try in vain to recover their feet, and they are so good and patient if they really do fall.

1898. Let mc again wish all prosperity and happiness to colonial friends in the New Year of 1898.