November 25, 1896.1
FRA DIAVOLO", BY THE RIFLE
*BRIGADE,
CONCLUDING PERFORMANCE.- On Saturday night "Fra Diavolo," the Rifle rigade burlesque, was produced for the last at the Theatre Royal. The extraordinary Imerited success which the burlesque has with forms & happy and encouraging com- mencement of the entertainment season in Hong- kong and it is questionable whether any season has ever before received such a magnificent send off Everybody in the colony knows by
time the worth of this admirable musical play, and we venture to say that no e will fail to remember the chief charac- teristics of Mr. J. H. Thresher's production. Who will forget the superb acting of Captain R. CT Baker Carr and the original touches he gave to the character of an English lord with pockets fuller than his brain pan; the delightful and coquettish style of Mrs. Wrottesley as the young and attractive wife of the ludicrous and jealous lord, and the pretty and effective acting she embodied in the rendering of those catchy songs? - Who, too, will not cherish the remem- brance of the great support given by Miss Coxon, her vivacity and charming abandon, and the clever little twists in her acting which con- tributed so much to the success of her songs, particularly the languishing "I want yer, ma honey," which was always given with such charming tenderness? Mr. J. H. Thresher, the author of the burlesque, has earned many honours not only in that capacity, but in his impersonation of the brigand, Fra Diavolo. Of Privates Laing and Payce too much cannot be said. Whenever they were on the stage the audience, could not help roaring and their absence from future stage per- formances in the colony will be surely missed. The staging of the piece, the excellent music rendered by the band of the Rifle Brigade, and the thoroughness, displayed by everyone con- nected with the production will also be re- membered for a long time to come.
CHINA, OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
At cricket or at any other game,., And when it comes to fighting then our
gallant lads in blue
Will help this little island all the same.
Come along with me; come along with me, They always are the best of pals, And ain't they just loved by the gals! So if a lady's darling you would be, You must go to sea, boys, you must go to sea." The following ought to bring the blush of shame to the cheeks of certain cricketers:
"If you want to know the way to shine at
cricket,
Listen to me.
I'll tell you how to do it and then you can't
go wrong.
If the start is at eleven and your side has lost
the toss,
Don't go, but let a coolie field for you. You can then stroll down to tiffin and con-
oiliate
your boss.
By telling him you had so much work to do Come along with me; come along with me. To follow Bercombe Smith's the tip; He is always in his place at slip: That is the way to play this noble game- Take the tip from me, boys, take the tip
from me.'
Here is a "tip" for the coming racing season:- "If you want to know the way to be a genuine
Hongkong sport,
Listen to me.
A griffin you must have of course, no matter
of what sort.
At five o'clock o' mornings you must trudge
down to the course;
A stop watch in your pocket is the game; And though you need not really know a jot
about a horse,
They may think you Morny Canñon all the
game.
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407
and
and good fellowship, which after all is the very wine of life, for it stimulates, exhilar comforts, while it cozens man out of glo depression. (Cheers). We are desirous to do honour to our fellow p in the First Battalion of the gallant Rifle Brigade, who are us for the warmer clime of sojourn of the Battalion on this "dot ocean" has been, alas, all too short sufficient to cause us to realize, and sorrow the departure of the wearers of th the serious loss the Colony sustains
jacket. Hongkong was fortunate had the privilege of their presence brief, and we shall sorely miss them. The 95th Rifles were taken out of the Line and styled the Rifle Brigade early in the century The Brigade was originally formed of picked and specially selected men from various, regi ments. Its Battalions have always been the the van. The First Battalion has served almost skirmishers of the Brittish army and ever in
everywhere; in the Peninsula and in the Crimen. at Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopool, Water: loo; in the Indian mutiny, Burmah, and else distinction. They have done everything, which where, and with great gallantry and conspicuous British soldiers can do, and many of its members have from time to time been awarded the much- coveted "Victoria Cross" for acts of bravery, and valour, as well as for famous achievements: (Applause). The Brigade has a brilliant and a glorious record, and the prestige it has gained we may be sure will be in safe keeping in the future, and should the opportunity arise will no doubt be increased, so long as it is in hands equal to the present. Not only in the field but in all branches of sport the First Battalion has ever been to the front. (Prolonged cheers.) Major Pemberton, a distinguished soldier, rendered invaluable service to the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, including the Light Field Battery and Maxim Gun Corps.
A more thoroughly sporting match than that recently played between the Brigade and the Cricket Hongkong, ground Club has seldom been witnessed on the It is about ten years since our local oricketers were defeated by a Regiment stationed here, and in this keenly contested match, wholesome rivalry, permeated with true cricketing spirit, fired the breasts, of both sides. The captaincy of Capt. Ecoles, his example in the field, his resolute hitting and sterling batting, materially, helped his fellow officers to well earned victory, while Fergusson; Alexander, and Thresher rendered invaluable assistance, and gave an exhibition of very sound and excellent cricket. The Regiment has been equally fortunate at Football this year, while. the "nippy" Mr. Boden won, in a canter, all the five steeplechases in this season's Gymkhanas: the officers of the First Battalion of the Rifle Diavolo," was an unqualified and bumper suc
The members of the Polo Club entertained (Applause). The Rifle Brigade burlesque, "Fra Brigade at a farewell dinner, in the Hongkong cess, and the splendid acting of the chivalrous Club, on the evening of Wednesday, 11th No. Captain Baker Carr and the indefatigable Mr vember.. Amongst those present were Captain Thresher will be long and tenderly remembered Patton-Bethune, Messrs. Alexander, Boden, by the Hongkong community. (Cheers). The Holland, Long, Paley, and Thresher, and the Riffe Brigade, the 7th Hussars, and the 89th Hon. H. L. Lee-Dillon. The senior member Regiment took part in the first game of "Hockey of the Polo Club, the Hon. T. H. Whitehead, on horseback" played in the British army, at was in the Chair. Captain Loveband occupied Umballa, India, in 1862, and the Regiment came the Vice-Chair, and twenty-four past and near winning the Inter-Regimental Polo Cup present members sat down. The chef of the in Lucknow in 1894. On their arrival in Listen to me, boys; listen to me.
Club excelled himself, and full justice was
Hongkong in the autumn of that year, the Assist your pals the Riflemen in writing up done to the good things on the table. The manly game of Polo, and the "king of sports”
their play
menu was-Soup: Chicken and Birds'-nest, Fish: in these Far Eastern lands, was at low ebb, bu Your lyrics will of Sterling value be
Boiled, Fried; Entrees: Broiled Sheep's Kid-thank to the untiring efforts of Alexander ney, Roast Snipe, and Teal Breast arcies; the hard hitting Mr. Paley, and other dashing Joints: Roast Turkey and Ham, Roast Saddle players in the Regiment, the health-yieldi of Lamb, and Roast Leg of Pork (Dairy Farm); sport was regenerated with greater life and Vegetables: Potatoes, Peas, Carrots, cold As force than ever. (Prolonged cheers). On paragus, and Mayonnaise sauce; Game: Roast behalf of the Hongkong Polo Club I desire to ex- Pheasant and Roast Wild Duck; Sweets: Al- press to the officers of the First Battalion of the mond Soufflé, Maraschino Jelly, and Strawberry Rifle Brigade our hearty appreciation and deep Ice. Wines: Amontillado, Steinwein, Pommery gratitude for all they have so 1 bly idone to and Greno, Ch. Brown Cantenac, 1888, and Port improve Polo in Hongkong. (Loud "Old Tawny," and Madeira. At the foot of the longed cheers)... Before menu card the following was appended :—
me, please, to remind First Battalion that their out the wide universe stil Brigade 28
the eye
Come along with me; come along with me. With boots and breeches spick and span,
the latest pattern from Ah Man. And then a good old Chines hand you'll be." The theatre, on Saturday night was densely packed and of course the enthusiasm was main-point out one fault which the Rifle Brigade In concluding this notice we would like to tained from the rise to the final fall of the possess. They are altogether too modest. At curtain, Miss. Coxon, we are sorry to say, has been lately suffering from influenza, and for the
any rate that is the only reason we can give concealment of 50 mneh talent she was really not well enough to respond to until the eve of their departure. They leave the persistent demands for encores. Her per- for Singapore to-day carrying with them the formance, however, was not in the least marred best wishes of the whole community, and it And she very kindly met the wishes of the au-
now remains for Singapore to agitate for a dience for more, although we dare say if they theatrical performance by the Rifle Brigade at had known of her indisposition and the trying as early a date as possible. ordeal she was undergoing she would have been sympathetically excused from doubly exerting herself. All the artists showed splendid form and the performance went without a single hitch of any kind. Mr. Thresher's song "Come along with me, boys," met with a boisterously good reception and encores had to be given. It will doubtless interest many people to give one or two verses of this highly popular Bong. The following contains amusing refer-. ences to the recent doings of the popular
D.C.
“If you want to do your duty as a first class
aide-de-camp.
Listen to me.
:
You must be a brilliant humorist and an
amateur lukong.
of great assistance, as all of us Much thanks to you, man of yards and
ADC
1-
Come along with me; come along with me. And when you're strolling down the street And the Sikh police your help entreat, Say to the culprits out apon the spree, Come along with me, come along with me.
ext one is complimentary to the Navy:- verse about the Navy now cannot be out
Listen to me.--
In manly sports of every kind they always
pace
Listen to me, boys, listen to me. Without their help this Colony could very
little do
FAREWELL BANQUET TO THE RIFLE BRIGADE BY THE HONGKONG POLO ULUB.
2
But the ring of the ball and the cheery call.
Of a pal in the thickest rów With a bamboo stick and a pony quick,
Are better than all, I vow.
After the toast of the Queen," which was loyally pledged and warmly honoured,
The Chairman said-We have met together to-night for a good crack," a little conviviality,
the "tip" of the land tlemen, în
ewed arnestly to the
life, health, and happine Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, the name of Alexander, their deserv
pro rmit
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