$
April 27, 19013
June, 1900, was 12,280, a very large in crease on any previous record. 48 books published in Hongkong have been added to the Library by the Government, of which the majority are missionary pamphlets, and numerous newspapers and other periodicals have been presented by Mr. Pollock, Mr. Siebs, Mr. Layton, the lato American Consul General (Mr. Rounsevelle Wildman), the Committee of the Hongkong Club, and others. The proprietors of the Gazette and of the local newspapers are to be thanked for continuing to supply their periodicals gratis. Owing to the generosity of the Hon. H. E. Pollock, K.C, and other friends, a free Lending Collection has recently been added to the Library; the borrowers at present number 43. The Collection comprises only about 430 books, but it is hoped gradually to increase its scope, and gifts of books will be gratefully accepted.
15.
The Museum has been kept up as usual, want of funds and space preventing its development or improvement. Various birds, snakes and other specimens have bees presented to the Museum by Captain Anderson, Dr. Korn, Messrs. Alderton, Drury, Ford, Hayes, Gale, Gray, Newton, Noble, Ho U Ming, Poon Chun San, Wai Poo Shan and others. Captain Wall, of the I.M.S., presented several new specimens of snakes, and devoted much time and skill to examining and renaming the specimens already in the Museum. During the year ending 30th June, 1900, 9,819 Euro- peans, Americans, and other non-Chinese, and 118,593 hinese, visited the Museum.
· Accounts.-The balance in the hands of the Hon. I reasurer on 30th July, 1900, when the accounts up to 30th June, 1900, were closed, was $2,728.51, as showing a gain on the year's working of $21.96. There is also a reserve fund consisting of $13,542,55 on fixed deposit with the Honekong and Shanghai Bank, including interest up to 24th June, 19.0.”
Mr. B. LAYTON seconded the adoption of the report.
The motion was put to the meeting and carried.
That completed the proceedings and the meeting terminated.
THEATRE ROYAL.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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part of Sophy in masterly fashion. She gave just the right amount of vulgarity which is so hard to gauge. To play Bophy Full garney is akin to walking the tight-rope. | Mrs. Brough made no slip Her very cos- tumes were well chosen, the rather garish effect of that which she wears in the second act struck just the right note. Muriel Eden was played by Miss Grace Noble, of whom it can trathfully be said that she was better than the original exponent of the part. She played with no little charm. Miss Temple was a most romantic Duchess of Strood, Miss Rochfort a capital Lady Owbridge, and Miss Thompson a dashing Mr. Jack Eden, most appropriately gowned. Mr. Dartrey was an amusing wreck as Sir Chichester Frayn, Mr. Mario Majeroni a sufficiently unfaithful Captain Bastling, and Mr. Lovell gave to the character of " Valma" just that touch of surface-gentlemanliness which was required. The leading parts were supported in most excellent style by the rest of the Company.
The play was handsomely mounted and the dresses were such that half a column could barely suffice to do justice to their merits. In short, a thoroughly artistic production is the best brief verdict on the play.
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The following was the cast of characters on Saturday:-
The Marquess of Quex Sir Chichester Frayne...... Captain Bastling
Valma," otherwise Frank
Palmist)
Miss Moon
M1. Brough. Mr. Reginald Dartrey. Mr. Mario Majeroni, Pollitt (a Professional Mr. W. T. Lovell. Miss Temple.
Mies Rochfort.
Aliss Gillies Brown,
The Duches of Strood Julia; Countess of Owbridge Mrs. Jack Eden
Miss Bessie Thompson. Muriel Eden (her Sister-in-law) Miss Grace Noble Sophy Fullgarney-(a Manicurist)...Mrs. Brough.
Her As-
Miss Evelyn Martheze. sistants
Miss De Courcy. Mr. P. Brough, and Mr. Wilson. Mr. Hards and Mr. McMahon.
Miss Huddle Patrons of Miss Fullgarncy Miss Limbird)
Mr. Grattan Servants at Fauncey Court....
62 THE MANŒUVRES OF JANE.”
The fourth play of the Brough Company's re pertory was presented on Tuesday night, the 23rd inst., to a house of a thoroughly representative character and with but few vacant seats in it. Among those present were H.E. Sir Henry Blake, Laly Blake, and suite. Among the andi. ence also might be noticed Mr. John Roberts, the celebrated billiard-player. Naturally after the success of The Liars there was great anxiety to see the same author's amusing, if less famous, Manoeuvres of Jane interpreted by the truly first-class company which made so great a hit with the former play.
THE GAY LORD QUEX.” There was no doubt in the minds of the spectators as they left the Theatre on Saturday night, the 20th inst., that they had just witnessed one at least of the most artistic, if not actually the best performance ever seen in Hongkong. The verdict was, as far as could be judged, uni- versal. The Gay Lord Quez is a play whose fume The whole presentation of the piece was has preceded it to the East, so that all who have most admirable. In particular we must not seen it at home were especially anxious to single out for praise Mr. Brough (who judge its merits for themselves. In consequence as Lord Bapchild appeared in quite a new there was a full and representative house gather-light, with equal success to that which met ed together on Saturday to add to the triumph of the Brough Company. And it must be said that the triumph was a thorough one, and quite a demonstration followed the fall of the curtain. A most difficult play to interpret, The Gay Lord Quer was on Saturday in most able hands, and the result was completely satisfactory. In the third act, the crux of the play, Mr. and Mrs. Brough rose to the full exigencies of the situation and carried the andience with them. The inherent improbability of the termination of this set, as Mr. Pinero has shaped it, was glossed over in the most skilful manner, and in consoquence did not jar the feelings. The refined nature of the rendering of the whole play showed how baseless were the strictures of the bigots who attacked The Gay Lord Quez cn the ground of morals.
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To turn to the individual parte, the sotor manager and his wife naturally carried off chief honours in the roles of Quez and Sophy Full- garney. The restraint and power of Mr. Brough were surely never more admirably illustrated than in his performance on the 20th inst. Quex, as Mr. Pinero created him, hardly seems such a roué as he is alleged to be, and it is impossible therefore for any actor to make the part thoroughly convincing, But so natural was Mr. Brough throughout that we were con tent to accept Quex as an actual character and overlook the want of consistency in his creator, Mrs. Brough sustained the arduous and critical
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him in more serious parts), Mrs. Brough, Miss Noble, Mr. W. T. Lovell. It is invidious to stop, and we cannot refrain from calling atten- tion to the capital support given by Misses Thompson, Mathers, and Rochefort, and Messrs. Dartrey, Victor, and Majeroni. Alto- gether a capital all-round performance was witnessed and a most amusing entertainment provided.
'THE ADVENTURE OF LADY UBSULA.
the
out as the most prominent. Mr. Brough is con tent to take the smaller character of Dr. Blim. boe, giving a finished-portrai of that quiet though humorous old gentleman. The part of the lover is assigned to Mr. Lovell and his quiet, dignified and noble representation of an Eng lish gentleman of the olden days," was splen. didly portrayed. He was repeatedly applauded, and he thoroughly deserved the praise bestowed upon him. Miss Temple appeareil only i first and fourth nets, and as Dorothy Fenton she playefl her part exquisitély, whilst Miss Bessie Thompson filled in the role of the matronly dame with much skill and grace. Mr. Majeroni was excellent as Uraula's brother and Mr. Percy Brough was very successful as Castleton. It was indeed a pleasure to sit and watch the acting, to admire the courtly manners and picturesque costumes, and enjoy the sparkling wit and humour of the dialógus The acting throughout was most excellent,.
CONCERT AT KOWLOON INSTITUTE.
On Tuesday evening the Institute of the Missions to Seamen was the scene of a most enjoyable concert, and the sailors and soldiers, together with a number of civilians who orowde the concert room, had a musical treat of a rare order. The concert, which wasigurn by the members of the St. John's Cathedral Choir, was arranged by Mr. A. Cunningham (the Hon, Secretary of the Choir). The musical bill of fare, bright, varied and thoroughly well rendered, was such as to please the most fastidious taste. The vocalists, in spite of the great hent, were in good voice, and their rendering of the parts allotted to them drew forth long and continued rounds of applause, whilst if all the encores demanded had been given the proceedings would hardly have terminated before midnight. Tho programme opened with a pianoforte duet by Miss King and Miss Chunyat, and these ladies, reinforced by Miss Leykum,
at a later stage, gave a pianoforte trio in so brilliant a manner that they were loudly recalled. Miss Chunyut sang The Promise of Life" so sweetly that the "Jacks insisted upon a second song; this being given in the second half of the programme they still required an encore and got it, © Mí83 Leykum delighted the audience with a sympathe- tie rendering of the song “ Sunshine and Rain," and together with Miss Chunyut sang the dust
A large audience witnessed the very success- ful production on Thursday night by the Brough Company of Anthony Hope's charming romantic play The Adventure of Lady Ursula. It is perhaps one of the prettiest pieces Mr. Brough has yet produced, being set in the days of our courtly and polite forefathers of the seventeenth century, "The tea cup times of hood and hoop. and while the patch was worn.”. It is unnecessary for us to present the plot of the play, as we gave it in yesterday's issue, and those who know, and are forced to admire, the wit and freshness of Anthony Hope's dialogue will readily concede to him the honour and merit due for such a fascinating sketch of the humours and pastimes of those of the galiant period it is intended to represent The part of Lady Ursula Barrington is taken by Mrs. Brough, and is a clever and, vivacious re- presentation of the wayward though plucky sister, anxious to avert the duel. Her part stands
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O that we two were Maying! Masters E and W. Hagon carried away the audience with the duet Sons of the Sea," and gave as an encore the sweet old dust "What are the Wild Waves Saying" Barnby's beautiful, setting of Tennyson's lyrical gem Sweet and Low was given by a quartetto party consisting of Messrs. L. Lammert, G. W. Coster, Masters E. and W. Hagen. Mr. Cunningham, who sang "Thursday" and "Jack's the Boy," gave great delight by singing in response to a vooi. ferous demand, The Skippers of St. Ives.!! Mr. Terrill sang "The Lighthouse Keeper” and
The Lads in Red" with such verve that the audience would not be satisfied until he gave them another song. “The Admiral's Broom ?? sung by Mr. Marshall, and “The Distant Shore," sung by Mr. Coster, were greeted with rounds of applause, whilst it is the merest truism to say that Mr. G. P. Lammert's rendering of
The Death of Nelson, and Since first I met thee" was such that in each case the audience refused to be comforted until they saw his face on the platform again. We understand that another concert is to be given by the Choir on Wednesday next in Kowloon for the purpose of raising funds for the work of the Missions to Seamen, and we feel sure that it will attract large audience. -Con ributed. ve
The statement that the Governor General of Netherlands-India has been nominated Grand Cross of the Order of Osmanis Sultan of Turkey is considered signifie indicating the friendly relations existi tween the Sultan and the Governor General The Achinese, in their long struggl Dutch, have frequently averred that the of Turkey would eventually of the nssalman religion, shape of rins, money and Such faint hopes as may are doomed to disappear now by the Sultan of so marked a fa
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