January 19, 1901]
lume of care which must have been taken in their training. The education of any of the dumb creation for a performance such as the one in review, is not a matter of a moment- it is the reward of a long trial of patience and endurance, and that this point has been reached by the proprietors of Harmston's show, was pa- tent to all who witnessed their performance of last night." The Imperial Ladders was one of the many features of the evening. It consisted of two ladders being brought into the ring, and Mr. Charles Weatherly standing between them on the rings, held them into position; seven or eight other performers, six of whom were Indies, then arranged themselves in various positions on either side, changing quickly at the sound of a bell, and finally the whole assume the shape of a pyramid between the two ladders The act was skilfully performed and was rewarded every now and again with an en- thusiastic outburst of applause. The Arab horses were introduced at variousstages during the even- ing, and altogether they appeared to be of an ex- ceptionally fine stamp. They have been trained to an unusual degree of perfection, the one upon which Mdlle. le Blonde gave some capitally executed bare-back performances having only been out a few months from one of the largest and best known studs in Europe. It was remarkable to witness the animal's instinct. Every behest of the ring-master was obeyed with promptness and intelligence. The first part of the programme closed with Messrs Harmston and Eldred in a double jockey act. Not only did each jump on to the horse's back from the ground, landing in both sitting and standing postures, but both per- formers did, a feat. which, the management affirm has never been done before in an arena of that size-namely, jumping together on a bare- backed horse cantering round the ring. The demonstration of applause which greeted this skilful performance was indeed merited, and was a fitting conclusion to the first half of a very enjoyable entertainment.
The second part of the programme opened with a trapeze performance by the Stewart Brothers, and was a decided hit. A launch from a bar suspended at the top of the pavilion, with a swing across, and a double somersault on the way to the other end, where the performer is caught by the hands of his confrere as he hangs suspended by the feet in mid air, is one of the daring exploits of these far-famed artists. But when a dive is made, head first, into the net
CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
55
in captivity, and with a view to catch the beefhearted old shopman, "don't turn into a fiver which was thrown to him. In short, the per-before night, my name's not Perkin Middle- formance was well worth the patronage accord-wick!" ~~ And so on. ed to it, and if last night's crowded tent is a safe augury of the future, a successful season is in store for the Circus-troupe in Hongkong. Standing room was not obtainable half an hour after the doors were opened, and the management desire us to state that box-holders should take their seats in good time. There will be a matinee to-day at 3.30 p.m.
The
Circus gave their second perfor audience. The programme was most succssfully mance on Thursday before & very large carried out, and the performances of all the artistes envoked enthusiastic applause. The performance of Ajax, the contortionist, was really marvellous, as was also the dis- play by Gilbert Elred and Stewart Bros. The musical entree by Charles E. Weatherly was most artistic, and was much enjoyed. Space will not permit us to give any more details, but the company draw crowded houses so long as they continue bound to such excellence of programme. A matinee for children will be given on Saturday after noon next. The Trezigondas, the famous artistes from the London Hippodrome, arrived by the Coromandel on Thursday to join the Circus. The members of the quartette are Mdlles. Dora, Mona, Tessie and Daisy De Johns, and they are described as being the " of Continental circuses.”
"reigning sensation
are
"OUR BOYS” AT CANTON.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 15th January.
A really delightful show came off at the Club Theatre last night, under the hospitable auspices of Mr. Tom Griffith. Though the entertainment was a private one, the audience included the major part of the community; and a fine body of bluejackets and marines from H.M.S. Lizard added to the general enjoyment by the undisguised evidence of their own. The sailors' evening was, by Mr. Griffith's fore- thought, well rounded off by supper and toasts; and we doubt if an audience ever left a theatre better pleased with themselves and their enter- tainers.
Mr. Harry Hancock, who in every accent and The part was most admirably rendered by gesture-down to the very twinkle in his eye- gave a consistent and genial interpretation of the kind if vulgar old Burrough shopkeeper. His mere appearance put one in a good humour and the only criticism we can think of is that the laughter he caused sometimes drowned other and, we suppose, equally funny-parts of the dialogue.';
a refinement, intuition, and finish which was Miss Morris acted the penniless cousin with astounding in such an unpractised actress- for, we understand, this was Miss Morris's first appearance on the boards.
covers
Mr. G. W. Pearson as her lover-who dreary imbecility-supported her very ably. courage and heart under a Dun-
The proposing scene between them was how understood the art of enlisting our admirably given, and Mr. Pearson some- sympathies for hidden good qualities, even while drawing our ridicule by his outward inanities.
Morris's acting of the heiress and her especi- Space precludes our dwelling on Miss Kate ally clear enunciation as it deserved. Nor can we do more than record "
ong passong as the Butterman might say-our admiration of the Aunt of Miss Violet Morris, the Charlie Middlewick of Mr. Hancock, the spirited little Belinda of Mrs. Griffith, the Sir Geoffrey of Mr. Lafrentz-a thoughtful and dignified rendering; the Light Footman of Mr. Gater; or the Heavy Butler of Mr. H. W. Hine.
It was not a case of two stars and the rest fire-flies. All were excellent, and worked ex- cellently together to a highly successful issue.
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| ings, much enlivened during the entr'actes by God save the Queen" closed the proceed- some admirable music by the Misses Morris; and "The Bandalero" by Mr. Wolfe song well sung.
a difficult
IMPORTANT CUSTOMS' CASE IN JAPAN.
HONGKONG RUM.
The following is an anabridged translation made by the Japan Mail from the Japanese Official Gazette of a decision given by the Minister of Finance in regard to an adminis- trative action instituted by Mr. Ryle Holme in connection with the imposition of certain cus tom duties:--
The piece chosen was an ambitious one-no other than the famous comedy of Our Boys. Some doubt was expressed beforehand as to whether it was not trying griffin actors a trifle "high." But those of the audience who came prepared to be indulgent were forced to abandon that attitude, at a very early stage, for one of sheer delight and genuine, if astonished, admiration Our Boys held its own in London, if we remem- (ber aright, for some 40 nights. The Canton community can scarcely run to that; but those who were present last night would certainly The principal points in the representations welcome a second, and indeed a third, perfor-made by the said petitioner are as follows:- mance, and will long remember one of the pleasantest evenings they ever spent in the Canton Theatre.
The play itself is too well-known to need much recapitulation: Sir Geoffrey Champneys and his son Talbot; the charming girl heiress, and pretty, penniless cousin; the still susceptible aunt; the grimy slavey" who might be voted a cinder if she didn't prove herself such a brick! Young Middlewick-too good a fellow to allow his own refinement to be offended by his old father's coarseness; and, finally, the
from the uppermost bars, the audience are "caught in utter amazement. The applause is simply defeaning, and continues till the pair return to the ring and repeat their p. retiring bows. To witness this item alone was well worth the money paid for admission, but other and equally accomplished feats within the arena, followed.
Among them the flexible marvel Ajax, whose first appearance in- side a bouquet would lead to the impression that he was boneless, and that impression is not lost when he goes through some remark- able contortions to the enthusiastic delight of those assembled. Mrs. Harmston-Love here introduced the famous Arab Stallion Ali presented to her by Aga Khan of the great Mogul stud in Persia, and the performances of this steed were a credit to the training that lady had given it. Half a dozen Arab stal- lions were put through some interesting drill, marching and countermarching in single fille, double file, and fours. The jumping stallion Bonny is a beautiful and well-trained animal, and the equestrian performances by Mr. George Harms-part which James has made immortal. the ton have only to be seen to be admired. Time and space prevent us from doing justice to the re- maining items on the programme. All of them were well sustained, and the evening was brought to a close by the entrance of Gus Burns into the tiger's cage, which for that purpose was dragged into the ring by the elephant Babe. The intrepid tamer caused the beast to rear at first, and then to crouch at one end of the cage while a lighted bar was placed in position over it. This being done Duke bounded across the bar from one side to the other and went through one or two jumping performances with apparent esse. As the keeper emerged from the cage however, the beast made a spring at the door, which we were told, was not done in any spiteful mood, but was simply a orce of habit displayed since he has been
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retired Butterman-the expert in "Inferior Do'sset!"
*
Although the dialogue is throughout cleverly written, it is to the Butterman that fall the plums of the piece. After all these years one may have forgotten them, but, ou re-hearing, the old funny bits come up with all their former force. "And that, Charles Middle- wick, is my altipomatum !" for instance. reminding us of Kipling's “harumfrodite" and cosmopolouse." And then the old man's tender concern for the Italian warehousemen he understands to have been ruined and buried at Herculaneum, is still fresh, as twenty years ago. One of the prettiest touches in the play we thought was where the lodging slavey flings back the Butterman's tip, suspecting him of bad designs on the young gen'man." "If that there arf sovering," soliloquises the warm
Manager of Jardine, Matheson & Co., st No. 1, Petitioner; Ryle Holme, an English subject, Yamashita-cho, Yokohama, Kanagawa prefec- ture.
Refining Company, Ld., in Hongkong, has The rum manufactured by the China Sugar hitherto, at the time of its importation to Japan with a certificate from the Japanese Consul în that place, been subjected to an ad valorem duty of 40 per cent. according to Import Tariff Table No. 392. The petitioner, taking as his standard the rate of alcohol contained in the rum within the prescribed limits, imported as samples, on 20th April this year, eleven bottles, each con- taining 4 go, from the aforesaid company. These he specially submitted to the inspection of the customs authorities by whom it was decided that the same should be subject to 40 per cent. ad valorem duty in ac- cordance with Import Tariff Table No. 392. Orders were then given to the company mentioned for a supply of the commodity, exact- ly similar in quality to the samples, and ac- cordingly 10 casks of ram of the same quality as the sample already examined by the Custome authorities were imported by the steamer Nip- pon Maru, which arrived (in Yokohama ?) on the 10th of June last. This time, howe 100 per cent. ad valorem duty was imposed, and consequently the petitioner referred the ma to the Superintendent of Customs by dated June 19th of the same year. was given to the effect that the article in ques- tion was a distilled liquor instead of rum-a de- cision with which he could not persuade himself to comply. The rum of the China Sugar Re-
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