Page
וי
September 28, 1908.
舅
NOTES-MUSICAL AND
OTHERWISE.
By an Occasional Contributor.]
WANTED AMUSEMENTS, Why is it that someone will not show enter- prise and help this community to enjoy itself during the hot weather? Night after night, those who dwell on Peak have no amusement, unless they be Slaves of the Bridge, other than looking down on the dark green-watered harbour, or making conversation. In the town we have to fly to Kowloon to find recreation, albeit we have a Recreation Club in our midst. The Kowloon Cricket Club took us over ones, and I believe will give us another evening's music. The f equent musical evenings at the Kowloon Hotel have afforded many people an enjoy ble couple of hours; while the officers and their friends have on every other Monday evening the 18th Rajputs Band to discuss programmes, which are invariably interesting, up at the Club on the hill. But, still, why should we have to go across the water to obtain music or singing?
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. | professional, may then combine and Hongkong not continue to rely on visiting Musical Comedy Companies with leading ladies who might well be relegated to the chorus, and other principals-veritably “old mea "who made their initial bows behind the footlights "when we were boys together}"
I have seen musical comedies. We can rely cast one here. Some one might even write a piece round Hongkong and ita Peak. [.
What a pretty baokoļoth for a fall moon soone: our harbour and the thousands of twinkling lights; the Ferry boats, the dear old Tamar] "The Belle of the Praya”. A soubretia for the Belle with coatralto rpios, instead of a very fair dimsel with a shrieky soprano. The naval officer who must be a barytone with breezy presence; the "milingtary man who sings lustily, smokes cigarettes, and is in love with the Belle; a fat mau for comic" boz "; a cho rus composed of our many ladies who help in the cathedral, and a band under some one who knows his business, yet who can make allowances for a player not grasping his score at sight; one who can pick up dropped buss, and save
" situa. tions". The male chorus the Y.M.C.A. might well supply, for here we have a right smart ont-door show during the hot weather. I feel body of young fellows who are no sycophants
but of sterling merit.
*
Think of the hundreds who would welcome an
sure that the business end of a theatre not the inside only. Where is the hotel which will convert it's roof to a good and useful, and business-like nse? The early opening of an open air theatre need not mean a wild rush bised on westhetic or philanthropic motives. The Kowloon Cricket Club concert proved that. Give a good programme, a musical menu of numbers attractive in their entirety to all and answered for by capable artista, and we should find big houses every time. Art could take the place of vulgarity, and mens populi be not only pleased, but a healthy change from frousty bars, hot billiard rooms, or dull evenings chez nous would be permanently available for the people generally. And, I assert again, we have the material among us to attract.
*
Roof gardens are sooring in Lonion, and now Montreal and many cities too in the States are copying the lead of brisk New York. Can we not dig out a locale where we can sit in our cool evening kit, or flannels, and listen to a band, or to some bright song from Lionel Monckton's latest effort P Are splendit gardens to be thrown away for the benefit of perhaps ten amabs; four out-of-works, and a few very low cognoscen'i learned in mat ters foral or arborial ?
our own
|
I have read, with deep feelings of esteem, of the offer of a generous gentleman to provide a large sum towards a Hongkong University. With what enthusiasm would bз hailed a move- ment towards founding a real live souros of healthy amusement for all-rich and poor' alike-compelled to live out here in the Far East P The University is a nebulous matter indeed, and grand may be the results in the distant future-academic and moral; bat, would not Hongkong derive material and present advantages were some steps taken to give it surroundings other than now exist? We have a garden with no band; a theatre with no scenery and with no "props" worth mentioning; a concert hall with empty chairs; beautiful harvest moons sad glɔrious evenings, but slack and alas! no other than normal means of enjoying them.
*
T
In foe, Shanghai may well langh at as. We are like the lost barrier taken out with a pack of fox hounds. We have the taste for fan bat are "running riot for want of proper hind- ling. We have the men, the place, the opport unities; but need leaders with money to help us along. Why, even an Indian Cantonment is ahead of us in many respects, while a Hill station! Ob. Lud! They have their season theatricals, bands and danow, with but a few score to fall back on to pay or play. What a Winter advertisement for the town had wes weekly concert in the City Hall on a given afternoon by the bands here, in rotation ? What an extra attraction were tes sold, handled b pretty Japanese girls, in the absence of the lily-white be ospped and be-cuffed British maids, seen on Band Dys at Scarboro', Bournemouth Eastbourne ! And there is profit in tes! Can the town or, rather, the taxpayers, face the sum involved necessary to provide a Band in Winter-less the profits by the (possible) sale of tea, and 5 cents for every chair occupied in the City Hall? In Summer, a roof garden, or our Botanical Gardeus; in the cold weather the City Hall. We have oår material. it be hoped that some prominent cit za like Sir Paul Chater, or Mr. Mody, will masonically exclaim "So Mote it Be," and then call a meet- ing, and let the vox popull decide whether Hongkong be allowed to still allow idly in the slough of want of energy.
"DOWN SOUTH."
or
Lat
JUMPED ON A POLICEMAN'S HEAD.
Unusual excitement attended a gambling raid which was carried pat at 18 Amoy Lane misadventure which might have ended fatally. on Saturday night and Sergeant Dovney had a
to the upper storey where the gamblers were The lukongs had filed up the narrow stairway
assembled and the sergeant stood at the entrance waiting for the stairway to be cleared before he ascended. The rush of the lukongs created consternation among the crowd upstairs and three of the number leaped out of the window. The first man alighted with both feet on the head of the sergeant, followed by another who jumped on to his shoulder. As the aalacky officer was falling to the ground in a 1 unconsci ous condition the third man fell on to his back, The first man
Unlike other cities we have no opening fusilade of plays when the cold weather comes. Can we not take time by the forelock? Should not the theatre belong to the municipality, stock it with an ** interior
or two, with "borders," wood wings and "borders" to matoh, and add a decent back cloth, together with a drop-act. Elect a man cogniasat with "the profession as a paid secretary and resident manager, one who can be civil to all, know his business, and be found on the premises when wanted. Then the local A. D. C. will be in their proper place, and not be subjected to calls upon their undoubted good nature for the loan of stuff; local Societies will spring up, given a real theatre with “props," a decent staff of soene shifters, and a white man in charge; amateur shown I fancy would not be conspicuous by
heir absence; local talent, amateur and the United States.
219.
THE BISHOP HOARE MEMORIAL
WINDOW.
YESTERDAY'S CEREMONY AT THE CATHEDRAL.
in the south transept of St. John's Cathedra, The memorial window which has been placed
Sunday the 20th inst, under eiroamstances in memory of Bishop Hosre was unveiled on
which were grimly reminiscent of the tragic day which made 18th September, 1908, a date to be remembered in Hongkong.
The anniversary of the eslamitous visitation fell on Friday and it was not inappropriate that the memorial should be unveiled so olose to signals were hoisted helped to recall still more that cocasion, while the fact that the typhoon
vividly the events of the great typhoon. There was a large congregation and the clergy present were Ven. Arcadeacon Banister, Rovs F. T. Johnson, G. A. Bunbury, J. H. France and EJ. Barnett.
The beautiful window which has been erected the memory of a beloved bishop. It is not the in the south transept is no ordinary tribute to gift of one man but is the expression of the apotionate regard which so many entertained towards a maŭ who gave himself for others. 1- fù life was a record of service rendered to his
revered as follows. That explains why the deceased was a prelate and beloved as a man. Therefore the symbolizing of the reward of the faithful as the central theme on the window WAS
■ benatiful idea, sud the pictorial representation of those in peril on the sea was also very appropriate. The main section of the window wifich is the work of Messrs. William Morris & Co. Ruskla House, Roobester R ad, London, represents the vision of St. John on the Island
of Patmos as set forth in Revelations VII, the words from the last verse of the chapter being quoted "God shall wipe away all tears from The their eyes." Beneath are three ses scenes. the text "Follow me first indicates the calling of the Apostles, and
is quoted. Another ́· represents the storm at ses when Jesus arose and said unto the sea: Peace, be still." The third scend is that of Christ walking on the water when he said: "It is I: be not afraid," The inscription on the window itself was.
"To the
grateful glory of God and in memory of the eight years' episcopate of the Right Reverend Joseph Charles Hoare, D.D. Consecrated St. Barnabas Day, 1898. Fourth Bishop of Victoris. Bern November 15, 1851. Died September 18, 1906.”
The marble tablet anderneath the window bears the following inscription : "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Joseph Charles Hoare, D.D., fourth Bishop of Victoria, Hongkong, 1898-1906. He was 22 years missionary in Mid-Chins, where he founded Trinity College, Ningpo. As Bishop of this diocese he had the oversight of the Church in Fakien and South hina, In the 55th year of his age he was drowned while returning from a preaching tour, together with four Chinese students of St Paul's College, during The great typhoon 18th September, 1906.
Remember them that had rule over you which spake unto you the Word of God and consider the issue of their life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday sad to-day, yea and for ever."
After the reading of the second lesson the olergy and surpliced choir left the choir stalls in processional order and took up their places in front of the window, where His Excellency the Governor and several others belonging to the Church body were standing.
DE. ATKINSON, slepping forward, ad- dressed the Governor in the following words: Excellency, it WES felt that in this beloved cathedral church of our there should] be some Insting memorial of the life work and sad death of Bishop Mrs. Hoare and the relatives were
Bbare.
Your whose fall was broken was apparently unhart, for he made good his escape. The other two however received injuries to their legs and had to be removed to the hospi. tal. The sergeant's escape is also marvellous. The wonder is that his neck was not dislocated. He recovered consciousness in about fifteen minutes and seems little the worse for his experience.
Prince Tsai Fa, son of Prince Ching, has been appointed Secretary to the Special Embassy to
consulted and they agreed with us in thinking that this would be the most fitting. The scenes. in the window bear witness to the tragic manner. of his death. In this changeable work-a-day com. manity this window will be a reminder of 'one-› of the noble holy lives which have been spent in our midst and should be to us and to those who follow us an incentive to better things On behalf of the subscribers I would nowźsakto a