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cussed among the Leeds clergy, and, taking the Duke as the most conspicuous racing mau of the best type, he (the Bishop) raised the ques tion whether it would be right to advise the Duke to withdraw his wholesome and honour. able patronage from the sport and leave it to go unchecked to desper degradation in its own way. The general conclusion was that, if they ould, none of them would undertake the re sponsibility of counselling withdrawal.
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It will perhaps interest our local volunteer artillery to know that a long and very valuable discussion has been going in on the Times and by the last mail appeared in particular two well-inspired letters, one signed “ Ignotus, one Ubique." which ought to be read by every one who desires to understand the facts. They are such As have pointed out more than once that it is a complete delusion to suppose that our field artillery has been "out-classed or ont-ranged by the Boer field artillery. What has happened has her.. that Sir George White's army intended for manœuvring in the open country, has been caught and enclosed within an ope town not designed for the work of a fortress, not there fore armed with heavy guns for the purposed of defence, aud that under those circumstances- taking advantage of the unbroken railway be, hind it, the Boer Army has been able to drag up into position the kind of guns that would be used in a regular siege. It is impossible to obtain field guns that shall be sufficiently mobile. for the work required of them in assisting to de- feat an army in the field, and that they shall at the same time be heavy enough to meet the kind of weapons that are used in regular siege work. Despite such occasional disasters as as have just been reported from Ladysmith. where a shell, falling upon an officers' mess- house, killed one and severely wounded several other officers, the Boer artillery Has been erally very ineffective.
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A party, two of whom were high officials of few a great Continental Power, returned a days' since from an excursion as far as Wuchow and relate some rather exoiting experiences. one of which was a threatened attack by pirates. Unfortunately the rapidity with which the cali to arms was responded to and the guns manned caused the pirate fleet to beat a hasty retreat. I say unfortunately, because had fight been shown it would probably have resulted in one of the two consummations devoutly to be wishe; return of the fo eiguers to Canton and Hong- kong with the pirates hanging to the yar -arm, that is supposing their vessel had a yard-arm, and for the wounding of one of the aforesaid high officials, the consequent opening in reality of the West River. No doubt, as iu duly bound, they would have been ready to have died for their c. uutry, but a slight flesh wound would have been sufficient, and the trade of Hongkong, whic. is a open to their country- men as it is to British subjects, would have had a great spurt and permanent augmentation which it will never have while the British Foreign Office is under the thumb of th great I.G."
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Daring the course of the voyage our friends met one of the British gunlouts which are patrolling the West River to search for pirates. and, should they meet any, to report to the Admiral and probably to the Commissiour of Customs, who, in their turn, are to report to London and Peking, and through, whom after dae enquiries have been made and ́answered by telegraph and post, instructions will be cour yed
to the commander of the gunboat as to whether he is to attack the pirate or not. As becomes friendly nations meeting in foreigu waters the flag would have been dipped, but for the fact that the commander of the Continental craft had u ul- ed his colours to the mast. This was unfortunate,
but we forgive it, because it in ficates the spirit that we British-ra claim for ourselves and like to see in others. It proves that while we have a big navy and a small army, and our Continen- tal cousins a big army and a smi!! uary, their little nary, like a little British army, goes A damn long way.
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I almost forgot to mention another catas. trophe which befell the party. They took turns
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESE AND
[February 17, 1900, .
at night watch, and one of them before going | scored another success. The season opened ex- to sleep, while he was supposed to be on this | ceedingly well, the "Magistrate" being a har- duty, drank, unbeknown to himself of course, bittger of better things to follow. "The Mother-
iu-law all the whisky tont was left on board.
was not perhaps up to the standard of the former, but the " Yooman of the Guard" is worthy of the auited efforts of the members
OBSERVER.
THE Y1 OMAN OF THE GUARD, OR of the A.D.C., and will take a leading rank
among its successes.
ITE MERRYMAN AND
HIS MAID.
#
BY W. 8. GILBERT AND ARTHUR SULLIVAN,
Sir Richard Cholmondeley
Lient. of the Tower) Colonel Fairfax (nader
sagtence of death) Sergeant Meryll (of the
M. C. H Hay.
M. G. P. Lammert.
Yeomen of the Guard) Mr. C. H. Grace. Leopard Meryll (his son) Mr. C. H. Lammert. Jeck Point (a strolling
jester).
Mr. G. H. Sexton.
Wilfred Shadbolt (Head jailor and assistant Tor- mentor}
The Hendsman First Yeaman Second Yeomnu
Third Yeomau First Citizen
Second Citizen
Elsie Mayuar (a stroll-
ing singer} Phoebe Meryll (Sergeant
Moryll's daughter) Dames arruthers (house- keeper at the tower) Kate (hor Niece)
Viscount Suirdale Mr. A. Stewart. Mr. H. A. Lammert. Dr. J. A. Lowson. Mr. W Armstrong. Mr. F. P. Harrold. Mr J.J O'Neill, R.N
Mrs. W. W. Cainpbell.
Mrs. Badeley.
Mrs. Ross. Mrs. Lowson.
"YFOMEN OF THE GUARD.
Mr. J. Aitken. R N., Capt. P. G. Anderson, H.KR., Mr. W. Armstrong, Lieut A. L. ar. rett, HK.R., Mr. A. Chapman. Mr. J. Cam ming. Mr. H. C. Emmett, Mr. L. Glissmann. Mr. E. E. Hill, Mr. H. A. Lammert, Dr. J. A Lowson. Mr E. Mirow, Lieut. A. C. Stevous, R.E. Mr. C. Westerburger.
CHORUS.
Mesdames A. d'Almı da e Castro, M. d'Al- inada e Castro, Bain, Borrett, Brewitt, Clark, Grace, Hagen, Hazeland, Hauce, Henderson. King. Lowson, Mitchel. Parker, Pearson, Skertchley and Stopaui.
Messrs. J. Danby, F. P. Harrok', C. Hance. J. Hance, R. Henderson. B. (. Huygen, A H Hollingsworth, E. Hazeland, Major Johnstone. R.M. L Lammert. J. I. O'Neill, R.N., Pain- te, R.E, A Read, R N., Sayer. W. Stopaui. H. S. Vaughan, K.N., and J. Wicke.
Act 1-Tower green. Vet IL-The same at night. Musical Director Mr. A. G. Ward Acting Ma ager. Mr. H C Nicolle. Stage Manager Mr. E. W Mitchell, Assistaut Manager Mr.JF A. Hastings, R.N. The entirely New Scenery by Mr. H. W. Bird an Assistants. Incidental Dances arranged by Mr. 44, 4. Sexton.
ORCHESTRA,
Hogg
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of
The piece was well-chosen and came as pleasing diversion from the two previous come. dies. From a scenic point of view, baving careful regard to the capabilities of the local stage, which may be well described as being "narrow, oribbed and confiued," the selection could not have been better. There is only one scene, supposed to be viewed in the daytime and at night, and the introduction incandescent lamps, fixed with an immense amount of trouble, provided the necessary. luminous rays of the moon." The single scene enable the scenic artist to turn out a very good representation of his subject, bearing in mind the scene as it was depicted at home. It. was excellently portrayed and was seen best from the left-hand side of the house looking towards Beauchamp Tower. It enabled every inch of space to be used to the fullest advantage with- out the n-cessity of removing anyth ug in the interval between the Lots.
The music was also well, within the powers of the chorus, and it was probably the strongest chorus that has been heard in late per ormances in Hongkong. It may be interesting to know that there were no less than sixty-two persons on the stage taking part in the performance. The vocal music was on the whole well rendered, the attacks being sharp, the baton of the musical director being fairly well observed, and the singing being brisk and marked with an appreciated absence of any dragging. The parts were well balanced. the voices bleuding creditably, though now and agiu some harshness is prominent aud some of the Yoomen are not as correct in their notes as they might be. These defects should wear off after one or two performances, if a little more attention be paid to the coaching of the con- ductor-who as a rule has the least-envied task of any in an amateur performance.
The orchestra was amply sufficient for the needs of the piece, contributing much to its success, and thanks to the customary courtesy of the officers and the willingness of the men, a number of the Baudsmen from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers rendered valuable assistanco.
Ther-being no change of scene, consequently there is but one opportunity for spectacular display, yet the combination of colours is very effective y arrauged. The bright scarlet costumes of the Yoemen of the Guard harmonise well with the pale colours of the ladies' costumes and the sombre grey background. The ladies' dissses are very neat and pretty and are made in The accordance with the dresses of the period. scene admits of little possibility of a silken· costume disp ay, the ladies being attired in sober cloth, iu which it is generally couced d they look charming.
With regard to the dramatic position of the representation, notwithstanding some obvious drawbacks being perceptible a local performance has seldom gous better, aud it may be here necessary to state something concerning it and the plot ir ir 4 The Yoeman of the Guard” was writtell av Mr. W. 8. Giltert and set to
1st giolins, M« srs C. S-broter, Sydney, C. Xavier, and Band Sergeant Adams, R.W.F 2ud violins, Messrs J M. S ozario, Corpora' Haut, R.W F, and Bauds nan Thompson. RW F; rinas, Supper Wilmshurst, R.E., and Baudsman Thompson, ..W.F.; Cellos. Mr Koenig and Corporal Bygott, R.W.F.; bassos, music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, being produced Dr Swan and Gaulsınan fregory It W.F in 1888, running for a period of fifteen mouths fate. Mr. d D Osund, clarionets. Corporal It is the first time it has been played in White, R.W F. and Buds nea McGuirk and Hoursong, and was very successfully produced Wate sou, R.W.F; bissogus, Baidsmeu Ho- at Shanghai a season or two ago. The plot is warth and Brunt R.W.F; hocus, Bandsinen · short and simple. Colonel Faiffuz, a political Tugwell and Walter. I W.; cornets, Corporal prisoner. is contined in the ower, and is about Glanville, it. V... aud Bandsman
to be executed. Serut. Meryll, one of his former followers, and his daughter determine to rescue the Colonel from his impending fate, which they successfully accomplish, Phœbe extracting the keys of the Colonel's evil from the belt of her genesoine aitorer, Shadbolt, whilst making lové to him. Colonel Fairfax escapes from his cell to euter the ranks of the Yeomen of the Guard, Matters how- *Coming events" the local bill poster per- disguis as the Sergeant's son. stud vä, cast their shadows beforo" but she ever are somewhat complicated by the Colon} vigorous fesh and blood realities constitating having gratifiel a whim and married a stroll- the yoomen in Mon lay night's performance were ing player. Elsie Maynard, just before the time not exa-tly shadows, The much-anticipated | fixed for his execution. Finally, when l’hoebe, performance has been given and the me divers through jealousy, ditulges unconsciously the of the Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club msy | Colonel's secret to Shadbolt, a reprieve arrives worthily congratulate themselves on having and the Colonel becomes a free man, and the
RM P, euphonium. Binds an Morris, R.WF; drum and triangle Bindsman yer, R.W.F.
Conductor
Mr. A. G. Ward.
The Bondsmen of the 2. W F by kind pers mission of the Colonel aut ffiours of that
Regimeut.
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