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Ramsey, and Mr. J. Barton. and these gentlemen must. bo congratulated upon the great success which attended their efforts, When, on the arrival of the many ladies and gentlemen who accepted the invitations, amina. tion was added to the decorative beauty, the whole scene was extremely picturesque, the bright toilets of the ladies lending a most at tractive charm to the coup d'œil. The band of the West Yorkshire Regiment, under Mr. W. G. Bentley, A.R.C.M., and the band of the Hongkong Regiment, were in attendance and many very fine selections of music were given. The guests were handsomely entertained and we are quite sure they spent a thoroughly en- joyable evening.
THE CRICKET DINNER.
On Saturday evening the Hongkong Cricket Club entertained the Straits and Shanghai, cricketers at a private dinner given at the City Hall.
DANCE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
On Monday evening H.E. Sir Willianı Robinson gave a dance at Government Honse in honour of the cricketing visitors. A large number of guests were invited and the evening was a very enjoyable one. The grounds were prettily illuminated with coloured lanterns and were largely availed of for promenading he- tween the dances.
THE A. 1. C. PERFORMANCE.
A PAIR OF SPECTACLES
J
On Tuesday evening, 9th Nov.. the Amateur Dramatic Club produced Sydney Grundy's comedy " A Pair of Spectacles, and will repeat it this evening, in honour of our cricket visitors. There is little plot in the piece, but a good deal öf humorous dialogue, and what measure of success was achieved on Tuesday evening was due almost entirely to the latter. The per- formance of the ladies and gentlemen who took the respective characters was for the most part colourless; they were letter perfect and for. tunately they all spoko their lines distinctly, so that the audience was able to appreciate the jokes, but there was practically no acting; a party would have been almost as entertaining. drawing room reading of the piece by a family Situations that might have been made telling were allowed to pass unmarked and with the exception of Mr. Looker as Uncle Gregory uone of the cast displayed any force or individuality.
The cast was as follows
Mr. Benjamin Goldfinch .............. Mr. Lawford, R.X. Unel: Gregory (his brother) Mr. Looker. Percy (his son)
...Capt. De ger, .KR.
Pick his nephew)
Lorimer (his frien :)
Mr. Noble. Mr. Lane.
l'artholomew (a shoemaker) Mr. Bird.
Kichard (another sho maker)
Joyce butler) Mrs. Goldfinch Lucy Lorimer
Mr. Ward.
Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Saunders.
The action throughout the three acts is laid in Mr. Goldfinch's morning room. Mr. Gold finch is an amiable and soft hearted old gentle- man with a pretty young wife (his second) and a grown up son. His brother Gregory, from Sheffield, a gruff and flinty business man with the Yorkshire accent strongly marked, pays him a visit, and the contrast between the two brothers forms the leading feature of the play. Mr. Goldfinch can resist no appeal for charity and is imposed upon by any cock and bull story told to him, whereas Gregory's philosophy is to look after himself, to distrust everybody, and assist no one. The different dispositions of the two men are displayed in the treatment of their sous, Dick having been turned away from home at an early age to make his own way in the
world. Lorimer is an old friend of Mr. Gold-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
his spectacles and gets another pair, which do not suit him. At the same time he falls under the influence of his brother's cynical philosophy, and, having had the fraudulent character of an appeal for charity demonstrated by personal investigation, he becomes soured and distrustful. He inquires into his son's expenditure, deprives the butler of his keys, becomes suspicions of bis wife's relations with the curate, and decides not to fulfil bis promise of affording financial assis- tance to his old friend Lorimer, who, as it hap- pens, finds he does not require it, an overdue ship in which he is heavily interested coming | safely into port. The groundlessness of all Mr. Goldfinch's suspicions are at length sne- cessfully demonstrated to him, his lost spectacles are recovered, and he becomes bis old self again. | Gregory, on the other hand, thaws out and be- comes more human, and all euds happily in orthodox and conventional style.
finch's who becomes temporarily embarrassed, whereupon Mr. Goldfinch spontaneously pro- mises to lend him ten thousand pounds. Bartholomew is a shoemaker and a tenant of
Mr.
Mr. Lawford, as Mr. Benjamin Coldfinch, acted carefully and conscientiously, but he was nusnited to the part and unable to give it the breadth and forer it should possess. Looker's acting as Uncle Gregory was the re- deeming feature of the play and merits com- mendation: he gave a consistent and intelligent rendering of the part withont exaggerating it.
We have our doubts about his accent,
but being unacquainted with Sheffield will not venture an opinion. Mr. Goldfinch and Uncle Gregory are the leading characters of the play, the others all being subordinate. Captain Berger as Percy had little to do, but did that little fairly satisfactorily. Mr. Noble bad bet- ter opportunities as Dirk aul with experience and the toning down of certain mannerisms MF. Lane quite looked the conventional city man. may develop in ton competent actor. As Lorimer
ajusing in their respective parts, and Mr. Ward as the butler gave some evidence of his- looked charming, spoke distinctly, and acted trionic ability. Mrs. Clark as Mrs. Goldfinch
tunately without much spirit. with confidence and self-possession, but nufor- Mrs. Saunders made the most of the part of Lucy Lorimer, but had little to say or do.
Mr. Bird and the rival shoemaker were both
The scenic effects were most artistically ar- ranged and Mr. Bird, the stags maunger is to direction. Mr. Nicolle filled the p be congratulated on the top in this ing manager and prompter, but his services the latter capacity were seldom called into re- quisition.
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The Band of the West Yorkshire Regiment was in attendance and was warmly applauded; for the excellent selections given during the in- tervals.
The Amateur Dramatic Club repeated “A Pair of Spectacles" on Thursday night 11th Nov., be- fore a crowded audience, which included H.E.the Governor and most of the cricketing visitors, who were present by invitation. The perfor- mance was somewhat brighter than on the first occasion, Mr. Lawford showing a marked im- provement in his acting as Benjamin Goldfinch. The Band of the West Yorkshire Regiment played in their usual excellent style several selections during the intervals.
DEATH OF MR. J. D. HUMPHREYS.
A
It is with very much regret that we have to announce the death of Mr. J. D. Humphreys, one of the oldest, most successful, and most popu- lar of Hongkong's business men. The news was received by wire on 9th Nov. from England. Mr. Humphreys was trained for a mercantile career, but being attracted by the prospects of gold min- ing he went to Australia, where he worked on the gold fields for several years. Leaving that pursuit
he went to India, where he remained a short time, and afterwards, came to Hongkong, where he arrived in 1867 and secured an appointment as bookkeeper in the firm of A. S. Watson & Co., chemists and druggists. The business aptitude Mr. Goldtinch's who comes the old soldier over
be displayed so far commanded the confidence his landlord and manages to trade off upon him of the firm that he was left in charge the follow- old stock against the rent. Another shoemakering year in conjunction with the late Mr. Hunt, who pursues the same policy is also introduced. another member of the staff, and on the retire- Joyce is a devoted old butler. Mrs. Goldsmith ment of the previous partners these two gentle | is young, charming, and pious, and is engaged in ment acquired the business. Mr. Humphreys preparing for a charity bazaar. Lucy Lorimer, a subsequently purchased Mr. Hunt's interest pleasant young girl, becomes engaged to Percy, and became the sole proprietor. Under his and everything seems to promise well for the management the concern rapidly expanded, young people. Mr, Goldfinch, however, loses branches being established at all the prin-
[November 18, 1897.
it
cipal ports in China, and in 1886 was turned into a public company, Mr. Hnni- phreys, however, retaining the largest interest in it and continning as General Manager. Mr. Humphreys was also interested in various other companies, his firm of John D. Humphreys and Son being the General Managers of the Hong- Kong High Level Tramways Co., Limited, the Humphreys Estate and Finance Co., Limited, Olivers Freehold Mines, Limited, and the New Balmoral Gold Mining Co., Limited. Upon the winding up of the Mount Austin Hotel Co.. Limited, Mr. Humphreys acquired the property and worked it through his firm until a few months ago, when be sold it at a handsome profit to the Military Authorities, who acquired it as a sanatorium for the troops. Mr. Humphreys united with his business qualifications a keen love of sport, and he was for a number of years a Steward of the Hong- kong Jockey Club. He also took a lively in. terest in public affairs and was for some time a member of the Sanitary Board, to which posi- tion he was elected by the ratepayers. In private life he was a true-hearted and "generous friend, and bis death will be sincerely mourned by a large circle. Ho was also a liberal contri- butor to all public charities that commanded his approval.
About twelve months ago Mr. Humphreys left Hongkong for Australia to inspect the gold-miuing properties in which he was inter- ested, and afterwards he proceeded to England. Althongh the matter had not been definitely settled when he left it was understood that he would probably retire from active business and not return to Hongkong. He had for some time past been suffering from an affection of the heart and to that cause must probably be attributed his regrettable death at the time when he was entering on the period of rest he bad so well earned by years of intelligent and successful labour. His age was sixty-one.
SALE OF PROPERTY IN TAIPINGSHAN.
Six lots of Crown land in Taipingshan Street, in the resumed area, were sold by auction on the afternoon of 9th Nov. by Mr. C. C. Malsch,
Superintendent of Crown lands. The combined area of the lots was 11,475 square feet and iLe upset price amounted to $45,900, or-an average of $4 a foot. The amount realised was $53,570. or au average of $4.66 a foot, the highest being 55.38 and the lowest $4.14. There were only three hidders, namely, the Land Investment Co., Mr. Ho Tung, and Mr. Wong Man To, but the competition between them was keen and grew more so as the sale progressed, The first five lots were of uniform size, 45 ft. in each direction and with an area of 2,025 square feet, the upset The first lot, price being $8,160 in each case. No. 1,43 was secured by Mr. Ho Tung for $8,400. The next three, numbered 1,454, 1,455, and 1,156, were knocked down to the Land Investment Co. for $8,700, $9,100, and No. 1,457 excited the $9,650 respectively. keenest competition. The Land Investment Co. having dropped out the Hidding was carried by $10,900, at which figure it was knocked down Mr. Ho Tung and Mr. Wong Man To to
to the first named. The sixth lot, No. 1,458 measures 30 feet by 45 feet and contains 1,850 synare feet. The upset price was $5,400, and the lot was knocked down to Mr. Wong Man
To for $6,820. It will be remembered that an auction of land in the resumed area in May last failed to secure a bid, prospective buyers object-, ing to the high Crown rent demanded, namely $50 for one-house lots. On the present oc- cusion the Crown rent was reduced to $32 for three-house lots, but if the difference be capitalised and taken into account in the prices realised yesterday it will be found that the Government was not so very far out in the value it set on the land on the former oc
casion.
There are now, we learn from the N. C. Daily News, about 6) houses completed at Kuling, and nearly a score of new houses, some of a most handsome appearance, are in course of con- struction. By next year there will be nearly 100 foreign houses built at this popular and charming summer resort.
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