absent on Monday or reduced to | imum as to become unnoticeable, was altogether brighter and more lively hout any undue haste was got through in twenty five minutes less time than on Satur. day The scene in the dark room of the chateau was better managed as regards lighting effects the audience was thereby enabled the to see and appreciate the admirable ing of Mr. Frowd in this part of the play. he choruses also went almost without a hitch and were rendered with confidence and spirit. The principals as they made their appearance were all greeted with warm applause and throughout the performance the audience gave unmistakeable evidence of its appreciation of their efforts. Mrs. Mitchell, we were glad to see had lost all visible traces of her recent indisposition and came up to the standard we are accustomed to look for
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[Februar 28 1897
miser, and fully merited the warm applause received. Mr. Frowd seems to have the character thoroughly, and in his displays genuine talent. We were more struck thrilling, in
or of giving | with his performance on Monday than
General Saturday, but that is probably to be attributed If the to the more favourable conditions than to any trical effect he particular change in Mr. Frowd's playing. Mr. He is the hero of
displayed by Grace, as the Bailie, was loudly applauded for his hitherto buffo song, which is another item that the ing Cavite has bee audience would have liked repeated. Mr G severe criticism in Caldwell as Gobo was if possible more amusing placard, which was no soo than at the first performance and not one of Manila than torn down by
his humorous hits failed to tell. Mr. Bliman the General's visit to the ener as Grenicheus, needless to say, was most suchas reinstated him in public opinio cessful in his singing, and was free and confident |-now regarded as activity perso
A corps of native volunteer in his acting; but Grenicheus, though a sweet singer, is a humbug, a point that Mr. throughout all the loyal prov Sliman in his conception of the character men are being sent to t seems to grasp rather imperfectly. Mr. G. The volunteers are enlisted Grimble as the Clerk, Master E. Grant Smith liberal promises of free, grants of in this lady's work on the stage.
A correspondent of our Tientsin contemporary as Christophe, and Messrs. Sawyer, EN.. been made to them as an inducem has been writing to remind the critic of that paper and E. Hill as Eugene and Scipion were all is not much likelihood of the of one marked feature in a recent amateur per-effective in their respective parts, and it upon to make good their promises,
may truthfully be said that the cast did volunteers are destined to bear the formance in that port.
weak member. The chorus, the coming engagement. General Põl not contain a as already remarked, ́ was good, and the no doubt playing a dangerous✨✨✨game "Silent Heroes" number, which was rather the ever present contingency of the spoilt on Saturday, was on Monday a great unteers joining the rebels” success. At the close of the piece the curtain | had to be re-raised on the final tableau.
Mr. A. G. Ward, the musical director, Dr.to have no choice in the matter. The pa F. Clark, the acting manager, and Mr. E. W. simonious Spanish War Office" has not Mitchell, the stage manager, and indeed all who furnished the General with Maxim took part, are to be heartily congratulated on have been proved to be as effectual as the satisfactory result of their hard work and artillery in attacking fortifications. The Gon on having made such good use of the experience eral has therefore to rely solely upon small gained at the dress rehearsal and the first It is true that he has nearly 30,000 men
him, but the excellent marksmanship displayed performance.
by the rebels is sure to tell even against great odds, while on the other hand the firing of the Spaniards is simply wretched. The contingents from Spain are composed of men taken fresh from the plough; at any rate, it is painfully evident that they have never | handled a gun ere now. Things appear to be about equal between the rebels, and the Spaniards and whatever may be the ultim fate of Imus and Cavite, the forthcom battle is sure to be a most sanguinary no q arter will be given or asked by side. A things stand it will aimply be against hope that the most wanton acts of savagery will not be perpetrated by the victor
"I refer" says the correspondent in question, "to the beauty of the English as it was spoken. Our mother-tongue, overladen as it is with sibilants generally, goes hissing like an angry gander; but it can and does succumb to feminine influence, and in the mouth of a refined, sweet-voiced woman it may become music itself. King Lear in the crisis of his Bgony tells us
Her voice was soft,
Gentle and low; an excellent thing in woman. Surely much of the charm of the comedy on. Saturday last was due to the dainty articulation and beautiful rhythm of the ladies, speech. It recalled to one happy memories of the London stage, here pace Scotorum we venture to think one hears English at its very best, at least as far as women are concerned."
On reading these remarks yesterday morn- ing we were struck with their peculiar applicability to Mrs. Mitchell and we repro- duce them, with thanks to the unknown correspondent for a happy suggestion, with special reference to that lady. Mrs. Mit- ohell's voice is always musical, whether in speaking or singing, and the clearness of her enunciation allows the audience to follow her almost word for word. On Monday she was warmly applauded for the "Legend of the bells," "At his side," "Girls should never say yea or nay," and her other numbers, and had it not been for the prohibition of encores would have been several times recalled
Mr. Brown repeated her magnificent suc- cess of Saturday evening and is to be com- plimented on a most admirable performance which left no room for criticism, unless it be that it is not always easy to follow her words. To Mrs. Brewitt, as Manette, we are afraid we scarcely did justice in our first notice and we hasten to repair the omission. The part is not a principal one, but at several points a good deal depends on her, and what she had to do she did gracefully and effectively. Mrs Brewitt is another lady whose voice possesses the quality of music in speaking as well as in singing. Mrs. Francis Clark aa Gertrude had discarded the curious coiffure in which she appeared on Saturday night, and she now looked as pretty and charming a character as any stage manager could wish for in his tableaux. Miss Hum phreys and Miss Mast also looked well as Marguerite and Jeane. Mr. G. P. Lammert received quite an ovation when he ap. peared and his Ise rondo “With joy
heart has often bonnded" called forth such a burst of applause that it was some little time before the piece could proceed. There seemed some wayering as to whether to the encore or not, but the decision think, a wise one, must either be applied altogether, and to allow het de, Corneville," where ld be redemanded, would ance unreasonably; if
should rather be
bors that have, athing down,
again Gaspard,
length
ation
•
THE PHILIPPINE REBELLION.
THE ATTACK ON CAVITE PROVINJE.
We have to thank Senor Navarro, the Spanish Consul, for copies of the following telegrams;
MANILA, 16th February. The General-in-Chief communicates the fol- The squadron lowing simultaneous attacks. feigned to disembark at Naic, with a guerilla force of Naval Volunteers from the Spanish Casino; Bocoor was also bombarded from the batteries of Dalahican; feigned attack on Noveleta; General Lachambre arrived at Santo Domingo with columns from Binang and Calamba advano- ing towards Silang General Juramillo took Tranquero fort, near Buymyum, at the point of the bayonet, and found eight dead bodies, our loss in the attack being two dead and five wounded; Colonel Barraquer after hard fighting took Pamplona, on the river Zapote, an en- trenched position armed with a number of small guns and "defended by 2,000 rebels, and in the pursuit our troops killed hundreds of the latter, our loss being one officer and eighteen soldiers killed, two officers and forty-three soldiers wounded. At the last moment, General Juramillo took the fort of Bigay, where he found several small guns and a large quantity of other arms; the rebels left thirty-five dead, our loss being seven dead and two officers and twenty-eight soldiers wounded.
Manila, 19th February. First part plan realized. Success has favoured the efforts of the army, navy, and the nation. Silang has been taken with very small loss, notwithstanding the great defence made. The Spanish flag was hoisted at 11.30 this morning, amidst cheers and hurrahs for Spain, the military The bands playing the Royal Anthem. enthusiasm among the troops is immense.
3
mass. always!
a favourable moment must reckoned with However, the General ap
and
Regarding the good marksmanship displayed by the rebels, especially in the engagement at Noveleta, in which all the officers were picked out and put hors de combat. I am credibly in formed that the officers have petitioned General Polavieja and have obtained his sanction to sup- press all outward signs of rank in their whenever they have to go into action: indeed original if not unique
The public retractations par been made by the condemned Spanish authorities had been ing publicity to have all with suspicion, some peop! affirm that the docu torture. Be this am now be set at rest, at least of the retractations- to have been signed fortunate medico has left which has just seen th brilliant and soul-stirri appeal to the patrionism of li men it cannot fail to effect. The doctor suc gaolers by concealing the inside his boots. It the doctor's sister in the friends just before the remains to the grave.
The practice observed
A GENERAL REPORTED KILLED. A private letter which has been received from Manila states that the rebels captured three guns at the battle of Silang and that the out of execution Spanish General who is second in command was killed. The letter also states that the Spanish soldiers are suffering great privations and. that they are begging and praying for food
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.
Manila
The news that General Pola
Imus and Cavite, has cause
on here.
Buch
contrasts ver
comm
distributes the loaded with blan
known who act
way the
with the to be ad rades who the the
CORDO