RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 245 26 May 1875 "An Unwarranted Intrusion" farce (J. M. Morton, 1868) "Alladin" burlesque (J. S. Bryon, 1861) 1863, 1867, also given 1875/76 no production on record. 1876/77 11 Nov. 1876 "The Field of the Cloth of Gold" (Wm. Brought, 1868) 19 Feb. 1877 "Alladin, or the Wonderful Scamp" (J. S. Bryon, 1861) 8 May, 1877 "Not Such a Fool as She Looks" (H. J. Bryon, 1868) given in 1873. 1877/78 7, 12, 13 Jan. 1878 "The Boots at the Swan" farce (Charles Selby, 1842) 4 Feb. 1878 "Still Waters Run Deep" Tom Taylor comedy; given in 1862. 1878/79 apparantly no production this season. 29 Dec. 1879 "The School for Scandal" (Sheridan, 1777) first appearance of women in casts of the amateurs. Mar. 1880 "Porter's Knot" (J. Oxenford, 1858) "The Critic" (Sheridan, 1779) - second act. 27 Apr. 1880 "New Men and Old Acres" (T. Taylor and A. W. Dubourg, 1869) 1870/80 1880/81 11 Nov. 1880 repeat of "New Men and Old Acres" 1 Mar. 1881 "A Wonderful Woman" (C. Dance, 1849) "The Area Belle" (W. Brough and A. Halliday, 1864) given in 1867. 18 Mar. 1881 "The Cup of Tea" (author unknown, 1866) "A Happy Pair" (S. T. Smith, 1868) two characters only screen scene from "School for Scandal" (Sheridan, 1777) 1881/82 apparantly no production this season. 1882/83 23 Jan. 1883 "The School" (T. W. Robertson, 1869) 1883/84 25 Sept. 1883 "She Stoops to Conquer" (O. Goldsmith, 1773) 7 Dec. 1883 "The Wedding March" eccentricity (W. S. Gilbert, 1873) ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1986 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/jq08c7063 54 STEPHEN SELBY Date Events Absences Salary 1924 ADPW (Kln and NT) 25 May-4 Sept. £1,090.0.0 $360 (c.a.) 1925 £1,120.0.0 $360 (c.a.) 1926 Half-pay leave from 3 June £1,150.0.0 $360 (c.a.) 1927 Acted DPW etc. from 2 Jan 19 Mar.-31 Dec. Half-pay leave- £1,180.0.0 $360 (c.a.) 1928 Invalided on pension 3 July. Died 4 August 1928. £1,200.0.0 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 210 Bagshaw and Bradshaw, the critic had to admit that "what it was all about we were utterly unable to discover" (NCH 4.6.1859). 15.2.1860 (Wedn) L.S. BUCKINGHAM: "Take that Girl Away" (1855) T: Comedy (2 acts) C. SELBY: "A Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials" (1857) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs Th: N.N. (F) N: First performance of the season R: The new theatre was only a small one and therefore it was announced in the Herald of February 11 that "admission will only be given to ticket holders. Tickets will be distributed with the Bills to the various Hongs and any Gentleman who may be accidentally omitted will be supplied on written application to the Manager". From time to time politics continued to turn up in the playhouse. It was the time of the English and French wars in China; the United States was not taking part in them, only sharing in the spoils, yet the following remark closed the review: "We beg permission to observe that we should have been glad to have seen the 'Star Spangled Banner' floating over the proscenium along with the colours of France and England. All honour to the Anglo-French Alliance! But our American cousins form, in every respect, so important a section of this community that the absence of their flag on an occasion like Wednesday evening would seem to be a discourtesy of which we feel very sure that the worthy management never was intentionally guilty". Tonight, and on March 15, the faces of Messrs. PICKWICK, BRUSHWOOD, and TINTINNABULUM as well as that of Mrs. NESBIT were absent from the stage; others like Miss WALTERS and Mr. PETREL had remained. Making their debut were Mr. ADOLPHE, "gifted with both self-possession and a good voice"; Mr. WITHAM who, as Cuttle (in Take that Girl Away) "displayed a steadiness and a clearness of enunciation calculated to make him a valuable actor in 'utility' parts"; and Mr. NATIVE whom the reviewer thought "better fitted to shine as a sentimental than as a grotesque lover". Miss WALTERS was "dressed to perfection, played as well as ever (can we say more!) and was charmingly feminine". In A Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials, there was the first night of Mr. C. AITCH as Slumpington for whom **a great future success in 'character parts' was predicted. These hopes were not realised, however, for I have not found his name again. For the umpteenth time, the Herald judged the pieces that were represented weak - to put it mildly. (NCH 18.2.1860). 15.3.1860 (Thur) T. TAYLOR: "Still Waters Run Deep" (1856) T: Comedy (3 acts) J.M. MORTON: "Poor Pillicoddy" (1848) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs F: Music by the band of H.M.S. Imperieuse Th: N.N. (F) N: Second performance of the season R: This second night took place in a house that was "crowded in every part" and proved "in every respect highly successful". The "Man on the Bund" had no longer a say in the theatrical reports, and the piece about which he had been so dissatisfied (see 23.4.1857), Still Waters Run Deep got a far better critique now: "in that scene in the second act in which the villain Hawksley is unmasked, the interest was raised to an exciting pitch and sterling dramatic ability displayed by the performers". No actors were mentioned, but in Poor Pillicoddy, a "young gentleman made his first appearance ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 216 R: Nearly five years after his last recital in Shanghai, Martin SIMONSEN returned to the port, this time as a member of "Mr. Smythe's troupe". There was also the novelty of a lady singer, Miss Amelia BAILEY, who "could not fail to render the entertainment attractive even had her voice been less excellent than it is". This was the last night of a series for which public interest had not been particularly large; only on July 31st had there been an "excellent house" and in a reproaching comment, the Herald trusted that the company would "meet with more uniform support at Hong Kong, the residents of which are reputed more willing to put up with a little heat for the sake of an evening's amusement". (NCH 1,8,1863). October 1863 On October 24, the North China Herald informed its readers that "the Circus Company announced more than a year ago as upon its way to Shanghai has at length arrived and promises to be a valuable means of dispelling the ennui inseparable from winter in China". 17.10.-23.10.1863 A series of promenade concerts by Miss Amelia Bailey (singing) and Marquis Chisholm (piano), as well as the Rhenish Band. TH: N.N. (H) 7.11.-13.11.1863 A continuation of the concerts mentioned above. R: In spite of the meagre support met in Shanghai, the Smythe troupe ventured to return in October after a visit to Nagasaki. This time the concerts were more rewarding - financially, for in November it was noticed that “Miss BAILEY has continued to draw crowded houses" and that she has no reason to complain of the reception she has met in Shanghai". (NCH 17.10, 24.10, 14.11.1863). 10.2.1864 (Wedn) E.B. LYTTON: "The Lady of Lyons" (1838) T: Romantic comedy (5 acts) C: C.R. Faylor's travelling company Th: Olympic Theatre (H) R: The port was honoured by a visit of Mr. FAYLOR's theatrical company in February and May. This was after it had toured Macao (in December 1863; see BGM 14.12.1863) and Hong Kong. There it was highly successful, but the first performance in the Yangtze city was unfortunately a failure in consequence of the ludicrous incompetence of that portion of the company which had been collected in Shanghai and pressed into service. The audience, moreover, was riotous in the extreme and displayed the worst possible taste in exciting themselves to increase the confusion on the stage" (see also Survey, p. 22). (N.C.H. 13.2.1864). 13.2.1864 (Sat) C. DANCE: "Delicate Ground" (1849) T: Comic drama (1 act) C. SELBY: "A Lady and a Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicament" (1841) T: Burletta (1 act) C: C.R. Faylor's travelling company Th: Olympic Theatre (H) R: It is not quite clear how many nights were given by the FAYLOR company. The Herald of February 27 states that **it still continues its performances", but, in view of what had happened earlier, "naturally enough has not been patronised by any of the ladies resident in the Settlement". In May, it turns up again in the pages of the paper. (NCH 27.2.1864). ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 233 (SCR 5,6. 1865). "The gentleman is gifted with rare powers of voice and action which enable him to throw an immense amount of dramatic spirit in his readings and recitations" (NCH 3.6.1865). It was his second (recorded) performance; earlier he had been successful on March 3 1857. 1.6.1865 (Thur) Performance by the Shanghai Amateur Burlesque Company Ltd. No titles have been recorded. (NCH 3.6.1865; SCR 5.6.1865) R: It was "not quite so successful as some of their previous representations" (SCR). 3.6.1865 (Sat) Performance by Mr. Benjamin Seare. Th: N.N. (I) Early June 1865 Concerts by the Police Band on the Bund. 17.6.1865 (Sat) C. SELBY: "The Unfinished Gentleman" (1834) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs of the 67th Regiment F: Music Th: N.N. R: Whereas in days gone by it was quite usual that there were only a couple of theatrical or musical entertainments during the whole season, now, after a fortnight since the last occasion, the Herald complained that "considerable dullness has prevailed in Shanghai during the week owing to the lack of any public amusement of any description" (NCH 17,6,1865). The night of the 17th was "well attended and gave great satisfaction” (NCH 24.6.1865). 30.9.1865 (Sat) W. BROUGH & A. HALLIDAY: "The Area Belle" (1864) T: Farce (1 act) H.J. BYRON: "The 'Grin' Bushes or Missis Brown of the Mississippi" (1864) T: Burlesque extravaganza (1 act) C: Shanghai Amateurs Burlesque Company Ltd Th: N.N. (1) R: This was the first night of the new season (NCH 30.9.1865). No review was published in the Herald or the Record. 10.11.1865 (Fri) H.J. BYRON: "Princess Springtime" (1864) T: Fairy extravaganza J. KENNEY: “Turn Out!" (announced as "Turn Him Out!'') T: Musical farce (2 acts) C: Amateurs of the Shanghai Mounted Rangers F: Prologue spoken by Capt. Markham Th: N.N. R: The evening "proved a complete success. The acting throughout was excellent and not a single hitch occurred" (NCH 16.11.1865) 20.11.1865 (Mon) Repeat of 11.11.1865, R: The proceeds of this performance went to the Shanghai Hospital, an institution founded ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 234 in 1846 and kept by the London Missionary Society. (NCH 25.11.1865; SCR 24.11.1865). 14.12.1865 (Thur) J.M. MORTON: "Woodcock's Little Game” (1864) T: Farce (1 act) J.P. PLANCHE: "Faint Heart never won Fair Lady" (1839) T: Comedy (1 act) C. SELBY: "The Boots at the Swan" (1842) T: Comedy (1 act) C: Amateurs of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps F: Prologue spoken by Edward Lawrance and Mr. Groom Th: Lyceum Theatre (1) N: First performance of the season by the S.V.C. R: Again only stage names were used in the review. In Morton's piece, Woodcock's Little Game, Woodcock was played by Mr. DOLEFUL who had "evidently elaborated the part with great care." His only drawback was "a certain monotony in gesture". Another central character was Mrs. Colonel Carver, "inimitably performed by Mrs. St. CHAWLES. The majestic lady's make-up was characteristic and costly and many of her attitudes and tones reminded us of Miss Snowdon [Mary Jane Chippendale, 1837-1888; but she made her debut only in 1863 JH] whose imposing personation of similar female parts has assisted so many Haymarket triumphs". Exceptionally some slight attention was also paid to the staging when the critic wrote about the second scene that the "occasional glimpses of the whirling waltzers and partners-seeking promenaders were skilfully managed". In Faint Heart never won Fair Lady Mr. DOLEFUL again took a leading part, that of Ruy Gomez. However, the Herald was not inclined to accept this gentleman's reading of the character without some exception, as a greater prominence might have been given to the comic element. Lightness, vivacity and élan are indispensable in all characters written, as this one was, for Charles Mathews. However, as he had appeared in a humorous part before, Mr. DOLEFUL was perhaps anxious to show his versatility". Travesty abounded: "The most difficult part was essayed by Miss SOFTLY [as Charles, the King of Spain, a role cast for an actress JH]. For a man to play a lady's part is hard, for a lady to play a man's part is not easy, but for a man to play a man's part as a lady would play it is hardest of all. Charles II, the mischievous, frolicsome schoolboy at large, newly awaking to a sense of royal responsibility, has been a favourite part with some of our cleverest and prettiest actresses and Miss SOFTLY held her own when compared with these formidable competitors" About the Boots at the Swan the reporter confessed that "we are inclined to think this piece has been acted enough" (but hardly in Shanghai where it was on the boards for the first time). "The elaborate mimicry of the inimitable ROBSON made the deaf Boots as popular with the London public as Sam Weller had been before him, but a peculiar talent alone can render Jacob Earwig interesting to an audience ten thousand miles away from the little theatre in Wych Street* (i.e. the Olympic Theatre in London). (Henry Morley wrote about Robson in this part, 1857: "Mr. Robson, although deaf, is humorously wide awake. He is the Boots who is brisk and alive to all the humour of the street, who would be preternaturally knowing if he could but hear what people say. In word and look and action he is more the gamin than the simpleton. The extravagance of a most laughable farce is heightened by him to the utmost and there is not a long face to be seen while he is busy on the stage" *** 136) But, to continue with the Herald: "FUNNYDOG, the new low comedian, is a valuable accession to the company. His stable yard dress, wooden attitude and imperturbable face formed a perfect study for Leech and Cruikshank, and the finish with which he played the long, and we confess to us tiresome, drunken scene shows ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 240 RODWELL, James Thomas Gooderham (d. 1825) "A Race for Dinner" (15.4.1828). P: Announced in March 1854 but not performed. "The Young Widow or A Lesson for Lovers" (1.11.1824), P: 27.4.1865 SELBY, Charles (1802?-1863) "The Boots at the Swan" (5.4.1843). P: 14.12.1865 **A Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials". P: 15.2.1860 **A Lady and a Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicament" (9.8.1841), P: 13.2.1864 **The Unfinished Gentleman'' (1.12.1834). P: 17.6.1865 SHAKESPEARE, William (1564-1616) "King John" (1594–1596). P: 12.11.-18.11.1864 (Prison scene, Act IV.1 only) **Richard III" (1592-1593). P: 26.4.1865 (Act V only) SHERIDAN, Richard Brinsley (1751 1816) **The Rivals" (17.1.1775). P: 28.9.1858; 23.11.1864 SUTER, William E. (1812-1882) ? "Lady Audley's Secret" (22.2.1863). P: 28.12.1864 TALFOURD, Francis (1827-1862) "A Household Fairy" (24.12.1859), P: 26.11.1864 TAYLOR, Tom (1817-1880) ? "Cinderella" (12.5.1845). P: 12.11.-18.11.1864; 28.4.1865 "Still Waters Run Deep" (3.3.1856). P: 23.4.1857; 15.3.1860 TOBIN, John (1770-1804) ? "The Honeymoon" (31.1.1805). P: 19.4.1865 TOWNLEY, Rev. James (1714-1778) "High Life below Stairs" (31.10.1759), P: 21.4.1851 WEBSTER, Benjamin Nottingham (1797-1882) ? "Aurora Floyd' (11.3.1863). P: 26.11.1864; 17.4.1865 ? "The Golden Farmer or the Last Crime" (26.12.1832). P: 8.10.1857 WILLIAMS, Thomas John (1824-1874) "Nursery Chickweed" (12.11.1859), P: 28.3-5.4.1865 "On and Off" (6.6.1861). P: 25.4.1864 APPENDIX II An alphabetical list of plays staged in Shanghai 1850-1865 The Adventures of Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Rising of 1745: N.N.; 13.6.1864. Aladdin or the Wonderful Scamp: H.J. Byron; 2.9.1864, 19.11.1864, 29.4.1865, Anything for a Change: C.W. Brooks; 15.5.1854. Apartments: W. Brough; 23.3.1853. The Area Belle: W. Brough & A. Halliday; 30.9.1865. Attic Story: J.M. Morton; 6.5.1852. Aurora Floyd: C.S. Cheltnam? C.H. Hazlewood? J.B. Johnstone? B. Webster? 26.11.1864, 17.4.1865. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 241 Aurora Floyd Burlesqued: W.B. Gill; 19.4.1865. The Babes in the Wood: J.H. Byron; 17.4.1865. A Bachelor of Arts: P. Hardwicke; 10.2.1858, 8.5.1865. Betsey Baker; J.M. Morton; 23.3.1853. Binks the Bagman: J.S. Coyne; 8.10.1857. The Birthday: T.J. Dibdin; 9.2.1858. Black-eyed Susan: D.W. Jerrold; 28.3-5.4.1865. Bombastes Furioso: W.B. Rhodes; 28.1.1851, 5.5.1858. The Boots at the Swan: C. Selby; 14.12.1865. Box and Cox: J.M. Morton; 15.5.1854, 18.2.1857. The Bride of Abydos: H.J. Byron; 22.10.-28.10.1864. Bullrick at Kroll: N.N.; 28.3.1864. Camille: A. Dumas Jr; 27.3.1865. A Capital Match: J.M. Morton; 23.4.1857, 3.12.1864. Charles the Second: J.H. Payne; 16.3.1858. Cinderella: H.J. Byron? T. Taylor?; 12.11.-18.11.1864, 28.4.1865. The Colleen Bawn: D. Boucicault; 25.4.1865. A Conjugal Lesson: H. Danvers; 26.3.1857. Conrad and Medora: W. Brough; 12.E.-18.E.1864. Cool as a Cucumber: M.W.B. Jerrold; 26.3.1857, 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864. Crinoline: R.B. Brough; March 1863; 16.3.1863, 1.4.1864. The Daughter of the Regiment: E. Fitzball? 15.4.1865. A Dead Shot: J.B. Buckstone; 11.4.1865. The Debut: N.N.; 1.4.1864. Delicate Ground: C. Dance; 13.2.1864. Diamond cut Diamond: W.H. Murray; 12.12.1850. Done on both sides: J.M. Morton; 10.2.1858. The Dragon of Wantley: H. Carey & J.F. Lampe; 26.1.1852. Duck Hunting: J.S. Coyne; 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864, The Dustman's Belle: C. Dance; 9.2.1858. Faint Heart never won Fair Lady: J.R. Planché; 8.10.-14.10.1864, 14.12.1865. A Fast Train! High Pressure!! Express!!!: J.M. Maddox; 8.3.1854. A Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials: C. Selby; 15.2.1860. Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe Hall: J.M. Morton; 26.3.1863. The Flowers of the Forest: J.B. Buckstone; 28.3.-5.4.1865. Fra Diavolo: H.J. Byron; 15.10.-21.10.1864. The Frantic Husband: N.N.; 26.4.1865. The Golden Farmer: J.C. Cross? B. Webster? 8.10.1857, A Good Night's Rest: C.G.F. Gore; 21.2.1856. The Goose with the Golden Eggs: A. Mayhew & H. Sutherland; 13.2.1863, 17.2.1863, 26.4.1865 The Governess (Die Gouvernante): T. Körner; 28.3.1864. Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw: J.M. Morton: 2.6.1859. The 'Green' Bushes: H.J Byron: 30.9.1865. A Hard Struggle: J.W. Marston; 12.11.-18.11.1864. The Harvest Home: A.F.F. von Kotzebue; 28.3.1864. The Haunted Inn: R.B. Peake; 6.5.1852. The Heir at Law: G. Colman the Younger; 21.4.1851. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 242 High Life below Stairs: J. Townley; 21.4.1851. The Honey Moon: W. Linley? J. Tobin? 19.4.1865. A Household Fairy: F. Talfourd; 216.11.1864. I couldn't help it: J. Oxenford; 13.4.1865. III Treated Il Trovatore: H.J. Byron; 22.6.1864, 29.6.1864. The Infanticidal Farce: J.S. Coyne; 21.2.1856. The Invisible Prince: J.R. Planché; 23.3.1865. The Irish Tutor: R. Butler; 5.5.1853. Isabella: J.B. Buckstone; 28.3.-5.4.1865. I've Eaten My Friend: J.V. Bridgeman; 22.3.1854. Kenilworth: N.N.; 28.3.-5.4.1865. King John: W. Shakespeare; 12.11.-18.11.1864. A Kiss in the Dark: J.B. Buckstone; 26.3.1857. The Knights of the Round Table: J.R. Planché; 24.5.1865. A Lady and a Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicement: C. Selby; 13.12.1864. Lady Audley's Secret: C.H. Hazlewood? G. Roberts? W.E. Suter?; 28.12.1864. The Lady of Lyons: E. Bulwer Lytton; 10.2.1864. The Lady of Lyons: H.J. Byron?; 22.10.-28.10.1864, 29.4.1865. Lend me Five Shillings: J.M. Morton; see p. 15. A Lesson for the Ladies: J.B. Buckstone; 8.4.1865. As Like as Two Peas: H. Lillo; 16.3.1858. Little Toddlekins: C.J. Mathews; 26.5.1864. Love Laughs at Locksmiths: G. Colman the Younger; 9.5.1864, Love, Law and Physics: J. Kenney; 28.1.1851. A Lucky Escape: C.S. Cheltnam; 25.4.1864. The Maid and the Magpie: H.J. Byron; 8.10.-14.10.1864, 15.10.-21.10.1864, 15.4.1865. Make your Wills: E. Mayhew; 23.1.1856. Married Life: J.B. Buckstone; 12.11.-18.11.1864. Medea: R.B. Brough; 28.12.1864. A Most Unwarrantable Intrusion: J.M. Morton; 22.3.1854, 1.4.1864, Nature and Philosophy: N.N.; 9.5.1864. The Nigger Doctor and his Patient Patient: N.N.; 14.8.1856. No!: W.H. Murray? F. Reynolds?; 23.2.1852. No 1 round the corner: W. Brough; 23.1.1856. Nursery Chickweed: T.J. Williams; 28.3.-5.4.1865. The Octoroon: D. Boucicault; 7.1.-13.1.1865, 14.1.1865, On and Off: T.J. Williams; 25.4.1864. Our Wife: J.M. Morton; 13.2.1863, 17.2.1863. Perdita: W. Brough; 8.4.1865. Poor Pillicoddy: J.M. Morton; 15.3.1860, 26.5.1864. A Practical Man: W.B. Bernard; 8.3.1854. Princess Springtime: H.J. Byron; 10.11.1865, 20.11.1865. A Race for Dinner: J.T.G. Rodwell; announced but not performed. Raising the wind: J. Kenney; 9.2.1858, 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864. The Rendez-vous: R. Ayton; 24.3.1852. Retained for the Defence: J. Oxenford; 25.4.1864. The Review; G. Colman the Younger; 24.3.1852. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h Richard III: W. Shakespeare; 26.4.1865. The Rivals: R.B. Sheridan; 28.9.1858, 23.11.1864. A Roarer: N.N.; 19.4.1865. Rob Roy; C.H. Hazlewood? W.H. Murray? 28.3.-5.4.1865. A Roland for an Oliver: T. Morton Sr; 23.2.1852. Roofscrambler: G.A.à Beckett; 12.12.1850. The Rose of Castille: A.G. Harris; 8.10.-14.10.1864. The Rough Diamond: J.B. Buckstone; 13.4.1865. The Serious Family: M. Barnett; 8.10.1857, 2.6.1859, 23.3.1865, 28.4.1865. Siamese Twins: G.A.à Beckett; 5.5.1853. A Silent Woman: T.H. Lacy; 29.6.1864. Sink or Swim: T. Morton Jr; 16.2.1857. Slasher and Crasher: J.M. Morton; 21.2.1856. Still Waters Run Deep: T. Taylor.; 23.4.1857, 15.3.1860. Sweethearts and Wives: J. Kenney; 11.4.1865. Take that girl away: L.S. Buckingham; 15.2.1860; 3.12.1864. Time tries all: J. Courtney; 5.5.1858, 10.5.1860, 21.3.1865. To Paris and back for £5: J.M. Morton; 10.5.1860, 21.3.1865. The Turned Head: G.A.à Beckett; 27.1.1853. Turn out!: J. Kenney; 10.11.1865, 20.11.1865. 'T Was I: J.H. Payne; 27.4.1865. The Two Bonny Castles: J.M. Morton; 22.3.1854, 8.5.1865. The Unfinished Gentleman: C. Selby; 17.6.1865. Urgent Private Affairs; J.S. Coyne; 5.5.1858. Used Up: D. Boucicault & C.J. Mathews; 26.1.1852, 27.1.1853, 18.2.1857. The Wandering Minstrel: H. Mayhew; 24.5.1865. Where There's a Will There's a Way: J.M. Morton; 26.3.1863. Which is which?: W.B. Gill; 27.3.1865. Whitebait at Greenwich: J.M. Morton; 23.1.1856, 16.2.1859, 26.5.1864. The White Horse of the Peppers; S. Lover; March 1863, 16.3.1863. A Wonder: H. Carey S. Centlivre?: 12.11.-18.11.1864, Woodcock's Little Game: J.M. Morton; 14.12.1865. The Young Widow: J.T.G. Rodwell; 27.4.1865, 243 Page 268 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1990 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/d79206299 year as your President. Have we coped, you may ask? Well, I believe we have, and for this I need to thank my fellow councillors for the very loyal and hard work they have put into ensuring that the Society's affairs run in a smooth and on the whole organised way. In particular mention must be made of Elizabeth Sinn for arranging a varied programme of activities and lectures, Carl Smith, for his loyal and perceptive encouragement, Patrick Hase, for arranging interesting visits and editing the Journal (perhaps the most arduous duty), Robert Nield for keeping us on the right financial track, for our team of ladies, Evelyn Caldwell our Secretary, a post which really holds the Society together, Anita Wilson for doing the newsletter, and our Assistant Secretary, Sharon Bruce, also our Librarian Y.C. Wan, and all those other Council members and helpers who help to make this Society tick and move forward. So what have we done and where do we stand? I will start with the Programme. During the year there were the following talks and visits: Talks: Chang Tsong Zung Peter Leeds Michael Luk Peter Steyn James Hayes Wang Gungwu Miss May Wong Anne and Stephen Selby Sister Beatrice Leung Susanna Hoe Richard Stott Visits Hong Kong Art in the 80s History of Transport in Hong Kong The Origins of Chinese Bolshevism Memories of India The Libraries of the Royal Asiatic Societies in China Western Scholarship, Asian Continuities Changing Lifestyle of Young Japanese Women Pidgin English on the China Coast Sino-Vatican Relations and the Recent Developments of the Chinese Catholic Church Gin and Bridge All Day: Myths about Western Women in Hong Kong 1841-1941 Hong Kong Birds Visits were to Waglan Island, organized by Geoff Roper and Roger Perry, Wo Hang Mid-Autumn Festival visit organized by Dr. Patrick viii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1995 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/95941j25g 113 CHINA COAST PIDGIN ENGLISH ANNE AND STEPHEN SELBY Hundreds of millions of years ago, the dinosaurs ruled the earth. They were an efficient, diversified group admirably suited to their environment. Over a long period, they flourished and in their turn, they subtly affected the environment they lived in. During the period the dinosaurs roamed the earth, flowering plants as we know them today evolved. Again over a long period, they died out. Their fossils give us clues about their appearance, their environment and their lifestyle. Some of their relatives have evolved into species which survive today. Looking at China Coast Pidgin English is like studying dinosaurs. Only the barest traces of Pidgin survive. Because the language is one of history's losers, it has, like the dinosaurs, been characterized as clumsy, outmoded and comical. We should like to devote this article to looking at the bones, without preconceptions or prejudice and helping to reconstruct the animal for you, together with its environment, its origins and its demise. "Pigeon English", says Hobson Jobson, the Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases published in 1886 by Henry Yule and A. C. Burnell, is "the vile jargon which forms the means of communication at the Chinese ports between Englishmen who do not speak Chinese, and those Chinese with whom they are in the habit of communicating Miss Isabella Bird, whose book, "The Golden Chersonese and the Way Thither" published in 1883 is cited in Hobson Jobson, wrote "The Pidgin English is revolting, and the most dignified persons demean themselves by speaking it... How the whole English-speaking community, without the distinction of rank, has come to communicate with the Chinese in this baby-talk is extraordinary. 1 Many sources on Pidgin refer to it as "baby talk.” Objective accounts ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2003 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390 53 * Giles, Glossary, op.cit., p.57. 44 Downing, C. Toogood (1838). The Stranger in China, or The Fanqui's Visit to The Celestial Empire in 1836-7. Philadelphia, Lea & Blanchard, 2 vols., Vol. I, pp.9-10. A diary kept on a French ship in 1779 tells of an "outside" pilot boat from Macau, whose five occupants spoke a kind of corrupt Portuguese. Charles de Constant (1939). Recit de Trois Voyages A la Chine 1779-1793. Passages chosen and annotated by Philippe de Vargas. Published by L'Ami, Revue Mensuelle, Yenching, Peking.. 45 46 Davis, The Chinese, op.cit., (1836 edition, London, Charles Knight), Vol.II, p. 447.. Downing, The Stranger in China, op.cit., Vol.I, p.10. * Ibid., Vol. I, p.27. 48 Morse, International Relations, Period of Conflict, op.cit., p.74 Davis, The Chinese, op. cit., (1836 edition, London, Charles Knight), Vol.II, p. 449. 50 Ibid., Vol. II, pp.448-9. 51 Morse, International Relations, Period of Conflict, op.cit., p.74. 32 China and the English (1835). New York, p.73. Written for Abbott's Fireside Series. 53 Ball, Rambles in Eastern Asia, op. cit., p.99. 54 Abbott's Fireside Series, op.cit., p.73, 55 A striking instance is given in Wei Peh T'I (1981). Juan Yuan's Management of Sino-British Relations in Canton 1817-1826, The Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, (hereafter JHKBRAS), Vol. 21, pp.153-5. Pidgin English has been described succinctly as being 'a singular admixture of corrupted Portuguese, English, Hindustani, and other foreign words spoken largely in a Chinese syntax': Chang, Commissioner Lin, op.cit., pp.235-6, n47. For a recent detailed statement on Pidgin, see Selby, Anne and Stephen (1995) ================================================================================