RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1968 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/66833948d 204 DOWSON GROVE, Dr. A. W. - DAWSON GROVE, Miss Jan - DEANS PEGGS, Dr. A. DENNEY, Miss D. R. DJOU, G. G. + 1 Headland Road, Repulse Bay, H.K. As above. c/o Education Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, H.K. Officers Mess, R.A.F. Kai Tak, Kowloon. c/o American International Assnce. Co., Ltd., 12-14 Queen's Road, Central, H.K DOWSON, Prof, John L. M. Dept. of Philosophy & Psychology. The DRAKE, Prof. F. S.* - DRAKEFORD, L. S. · DRURY, Miss Kathleen DUNCANSON, J. D.* DWYER, Prof. D. J. EDWARDS, O. P. · EITZEN, Mrs. J. ENDACOTT, G. B. + EUSTACE, Col. F. A. EVANS, C. J. EVANS, D. M. E. EVANS, P. J.- + EVANS, Mrs. P. J. EWING, Miss E.* - FABER, Mrs. A. FABER, Mrs. G. A. G,* - FESSLER, Loren FISCHER, Mrs. Ingrid FISCHER, W. D. FISHER-SHORT, W. FITZGIBBON, D. J. - - ► University, Pokfulum, H.K. 'Lincot', Stoke Road, North Curry, Taunton, Somerset, England. 121 Miles, Clearwater Bay Road, Kowloon. Nethersole Hospital, Bonham Road, H.K. 26 Leinster Mews, London W.2. England. Dept. of Geography Geography & Geology, The University, Pokfulum, H.K. c/o H.K. & Shanghai Banking Corpn. H.K. 22 Magazine Gap Road, Hong Kong. Y.M.C.A., Salisbury Road, Kowloon, c/o Hong Kong Sea School, Stanley, H.K. Police Headquarters, Arsenal Street, H.K. c/o Dept. of Laws, L.S.E., London, England. Ray-O-Vac International Corpn., 604 Chartered Bank Building, H.K. 33 Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley, H.K. 13. Rodmarton Street, London, W.1. England. 10, Cooper Road, Jardine's Lookout, H.K. Inveroak, West End Lane, Stoke Poges, Bucks, England. East Asian Research Center, 1737 Cambridge St., Cambridge, Mass. 02138, U.S.A. P.O. Box 1416, H.K. As above. c/o Education Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, H.K. c/o British Embassy, Beirut, Lebanon, * Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1974 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/x633mp077 ADVENTURERS IN HONG KONG 31 written his name in the visitor's book at Government House as 'Marie, Roi des Sedangs', and that hearing he was an educated man, who had brought with him respectable references, I was somewhat curious to see him, and I therefore caused him to be informed that while I was unable to acknowledge as King one who had not been recognised as such by Her Majesty, I should be happy to receive him, if he called as a private person. He adopted my suggestion, and as I found him interesting, I asked him to dinner by the name of Mons. de Mayréna. He came in a magnificent uniform, of unknown design; but as no impertinent inquiries on the subject were addressed to him, I never learnt to what corps or position it belonged.11 Mayréna's uniform—a Ruritanian, musical comedy type of costume—had been designed by the King himself and would have delighted Nathan, the famous theatrical costumier of Drury Lane. With this bizarre outfit Mayréna sported a long Annamite sword worn in a sash, Sedang style. A day or two after their meeting, Mayréna sent Des Voeux an award—a magnificently engraved diploma of the Grand Cordon de l'Ordre de Sedang. Des Voeux claims, of course, this was at once returned with my appreciative thanks, coupled with an intimation that English officers were not permitted to accept foreign orders except with the special sanction of Her Majesty. I saw nothing more of this gentleman afterwards.1 Des Voeux in any case would have seen little of Mayréna because on 27 November Des Voeux, together with his family, left for a shooting trip to Shanghai and did not return until 18 December. By then Mayréna's star had dimmed and discreditable rumours were beginning to circulate about him, fanned by comments in the China Mail. Des Voeux, a careful man, did not write very much about Mayréna, but it is clear that hidden under the regal plumage he detected a louche adventurer, a royal Raffles all too inclined to pocket the silver spoons at Government House. Des Voeux, who was a great snob,1 doubtless also felt Mayréna was only every other inch a gentleman. The speed with which Mayréna approached Des Voeux demands little explanation. Mayréna was indeed an adventurer and time was ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 248 CARL T. SMITH 30, 31 Jan., 2 Feb. 1903 Marshall, 1898) 1903/04 14, 16, 17 Nov. 1903 - 1898) ― 1903/04 1904/05 ▬▬ "His Excellency the Governor" (R. "Lord and Lady Algy" (R. C. Carton, 11, 12, 14 Dec. 1903 (Wilde, 1895) "The Importance of Being Earnest" T 13, 18, 19, 20 Feb., 11, 12 Mar. 1904 "His Excellency" (W. S. Gilbert and O. Carr, 1890) 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28 Nov. 1904 "Dorothy" comedy opera (B. C. Stephenson and A. Collier, 1886) 21, 23, 28, Jan. 1905 "Jane" (H. Nichols and W. Lestrey, 1890) 7, 8, 10 Apr. 1905 Esmond, 1897) — "One Summer Day" comedy (H. V. 1905/06 12, 13, 15 Jan. 1906 1894) — "The New Boy" farce (Arthur Law, "Princess Toto" (W. S. 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21 Feb. 1906 Gilbert and F. Clay, 1876) + 31 Mar. 2, 3 Apr. 1906 28, 30 Apr., 1 May, 1906 (Arthur Law, 1902) 1906/07 20, 21, 22 Dec. 1906 Pinero, 1888) — 15, 16, 18 Feb. 1907 (C. H. Darnley, "Lady Huntsworth Experiment" "A Country Mouse" comedy "The Hobby Horse" comedy (A. W. "Facing the Music" farcical comedy 1899) 1907/08 ← 20, 21, 22, 25 Feb. 1908 1897) - 1908/09 1909/10 "The Liars" comedy (H. A. Jones, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 Dec. 1908, 19, 20 Feb. 1909: "A Country Girl" musical 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, Jan., 18, 19 Feb. 1910 "The Torcodor" musical comedy 12, 13, 16 Apr. 1910 Ryley, 1901) "Mice and Men" comedy (M. L. ! 1910/11 no production. 1911/12 - 13, 27 Jan. 1912 Grand Variety Entertainment and Harlequinade "as performed at Drury Lane in 1870", Page 270 Page 271 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 170 B. Musical Many of the theatrical entertainments of the amateurs were varied with musical interludes; sometimes the piece itself required an orchestra and for all these purposes resort was, of course, made to non-professionals. Just as with the dramatic companies, the orchestral accompanists were engaged on an ad hoc basis. As a result quality differed; occasionally the Herald thought the music "first rate"; then again, in 1856, it was of the opinion that "the music was ineffective", and seeing the underlying weakness, it advised that some combination of the musical talents of the place might be made with advantage”. 55 Some years later, in 1861, in a letter to the Editor by one signed "Philharmonic" the subject was again broached; it had occurred to him "how much gratitude the amateurs of Shanghai could evoke if it were possible for them to form a vocal or instrumental association to give occasional subscription concerts", and, tongue in cheek perhaps, he added that “probably nowhere out of the profession is there so much musical talent to be found as in Shanghai and certainly nowhere an audience better also to appreciate that talent” 56 ― (1.9.1880) With the arrival in 1864 of Jean Rémusat (11.5.1815) things began to look better. Rémusat was a French flautist of considerable fame. He had entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of fifteen, but had spent most of his professional career in London before coming to Shanghai. Among others he had starred in the Promenade Concerts that were organised by Louis Jullien in the Drury Lane Theatre. According to a contemporary, Rémusat was "fort intelligent” but “un peu excentrique”, and his colleagues must certainly have thought so when he told them that he would sail off to Shanghai to live there till the end of his days. Whatever his motives, cultural life in the Yangtze port was boosted by Rémusat. He gave concerts in Shanghai (of which only one, however, has been chronicled in the Herald: May 10, 1866) and Macao (on June 3 and 17, 1866). And, to return to the subject of organised music, he inaugurated the Philharmonic Society, probably in late 1866 or early 1867. In the meantime, apart from the music incorporated in an evening of theatricals, concerts and recitals were given. Again, a distinction must be made between local amateur performances, those that were given by members of the military forces, and the travelling professional musicians. Page 195 Page 196 ================================================================================