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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
It is proposed, later on, to build a "school wherein Hebrew will be taught, plenty of room being available on the site which has been presented by the Messrs. Sassoon.
O CANTON.
[May 11, 1901.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 6th May.
The particulars of the Synagogue are Length inside 80 feet, width inside 36 feet,
THE CURSE OF THE PALACH. height to underside of principals 25 feet. - The As is well known the eunuchs of the Palace building will be of red brick with red-tiled are the most mischievous class of people in the roof, entrance-porch towers being placed at Empire fact established alike under the an the east end. One tower is to contain the ar-eient dynasties and under the present. Generally chives and the other tower forms the staircase they exercise a great influence over the Im. to the Ladies Gallery. The Ark is semi-perial family and concubines, and by squeesing circular and at the west end, and the windows most of them have become rich. If any mem are to be of stained glass. Two Aberdeen ber of the Imperial family or any oficial has polished red granite columns support the Ladies occasion to see the Emperor or Empress Down- Gallery. The ground floor is to be laid with ger, they exact a pretty big entrance for. Of marble tiles, and the internal fittings and seats almost all the troubles in China, especially at the are to be of teak. The Synagogue will sent present crisis, they are at the bottom and 250 on the ground floor and 90 in the Ladies' through their instigations the official are Gallery, and it is hoped the building will be always involved in complications. So a few finished by the end of the year.
days ago amongst the several reforms posed (such as strengthening the rmy and navy, the abolition of monasteries and nu and the establishment instead thereof of schools and colleges for the education of youths in foreign and Chinese languages) His Excel- lency the Viceroy recommended in a memorial to the Throne the dismissal of all the eunuchs of the Palace.
THEATRE ROYAL.
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ADVICE SOLICITED.
our most cherished desire would have remained unsatisfied to this day. · You know, ladies and gentlemen, that the difficulties which had to be surmounted to attain this end have been of no light nature, and I am certain that I give expression to your feelings when I say that during our trials, from beginning to end, Mr. Jacob Bassoon has manifested an interest in our affairs which is characteristic of a truly generons
rons man. The liberality and the goodness of the donor in providing for us this place of worship must therefore appeal to every one of you. Not only has he borne all the expenses of this building and has donated a liberal amount of money as a fund for repairs, but he has also with the loftiness of purpose worthy of himself defrayed the heavy costs of that unfortunate affair with which the Synagogue was so re- cently connected. The negotiations which took place with him in this matter were to me a source of much anxiety, but throughout that long and anxious period Mr. Jacob Sassoon showed the keenest concern in the community's interests, and in the end when all was lost stood by us and gave us a new lease of hope-a hops which we see realised to-day. It now affords me very great pleasure on behalf of Mr. Jacob Bassoon to inform you, ladies and gentle men, that this Synagogue when completed will be dedicated to the Jewish community of Hongkong in commemoration of his beloved mother Leah, and will be a gift to the Jewish community of Hongkong-the building from himself and the site from himself and his brothers, Messrs. Edward and, Meyer Sassoon. I am very glad to have this opportunity to ex- press my thanks to Messrs. Leigh and Orange for their courtesies and the valuable help which they have rendered to me in all matters relat ing to the Synagogne, and I feel confident that this building will, under their very able superintendenos, be another proof of their sound and skilful work. Ladies and gentle men, it only remains for me to voice on behalf of the donors the prayers that the erection of this Synagogue will mark for you all the open- ing of an era of peace, happiness, and pros- perity. May the building when completed be adventurers, Lady Cheveley, and appeared to rivers to do patrol service. For fear that the ever the scene of happy and joyful celebrations! advantage. Lady Chiltern was taken by Miss May it serve to bring you together and keep Temple, who interpreted her role very graceful- you united in peace and good-will to each other, ly. Miss Noble as Mabel Chiltern added one may all your prayers here be accepted by more to her successes. As Lady Markby Miss Almighty God for the welfare of His people Bessie Thompson certainly made her best hit of and the glory of His name. (Loud applause.) the season. She has been consistently good; on
Mr. Raymond then proceeded with the laying Saturday she had the advantage of being bril of the foundation stone, using a silver trowelliant. As Robert Chiltern Mr. Lovell gave an bearing the inscription :-" Presented to A. J. Raymond, Esq., to commemorats the laying of the foundation stone New Synagogue, Hong- kong, 7th May, 1901. Leigh and Orange, Architects." Mr. Raymond, tapping the stone with the trowel, declared it to be well and truly laid.
and
The stone bore the following inscription. in Hebrew and English :-"This foundation stone was laid by A. J. Raymond, Esq., 7th May, 1901."
Mr. A. HOWARD, in a few well-chosen re- marks, said it was not an easy matter for him to express in adequate language the deep grati tude of the community for so noble an act of generosity as that of which they had been witnesses that day. They were now face to face with what had been fittingly described as the real position of their most cherished desire, and in looking back upon the long course of events which had led up to this occasion, they could not help feeling how much they owed to Mr. Jacob Sassoon. They had encountered difficulties, but Mr. Sassoon's purse was ever open for them, and his valuable advice
eventually steered them successfully to this happy commemoration of their wishes. This would be a red-letter day in the annals of their co-religionists.
On Saturday night, the 4th inst, the Brough Company produced the late Oscar Wilde's bril- liant play An Ideal Husband before a full house, which included H.E. the Governor, Lady Blake, and party. The performance was perhaps the greatest triumph of our visitors' season. Ideal Husband is certainly the cleverest play on their list, and the witty dialogue alone is suffi- cient to differentiate it from the others. The company rose well to the occasion and interpret- ed their parts in such a way as to win unstinted applause. It is a pity that there can be no second performance of this comedy. It will be long, we fear, before so good an entertainment will be witnessed again in Hongkong.
Great disappointment was felt when Mr. Robert Brough's name was not seen in the cast, but fortunately this proved due to an error in the programme, Mr. P. Brough's name being substituted for the actor-manager's. Lord Goring therefore was played by the latter; needless almost to say, to everyone's full satis- faction. Mrs. Brough took the part of the
admirable sketch of the blackmailed politician with a past. Mr. McIntyre was a trifle too gentle as the Earl; his "Robert, you're heartless quite heartless!" was hardly spoken with par- ental conviction. The other characters were well sustained, and a special word must be spoken for Mr. Vietor's portrayal of Phipps.
On Monday night before another excellent house, including H. E. the Governor, Lady Blake and party from Government House, Sowing the Wind was performed by the Brough Co., meeting with a great reception.
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As a next step towards reform, His Excellency has sent despatches to all the officials of the districts, desiring them to notify the gentry, merchants, and people in general that whoever has special ability to help the state, or can ang- gest any reforms beneficial to the Government, is at liberty to recommend them in a statement to be submitted to the officials, under a guarantee given by the gentry that he is a capable and nouest man, when such proposal will be taken into consideration by His Excellency,
ACTION "AGAINST THE PIRATES.
His Excellency has also at heart the in- terest and welfare of his people, as of late, with a view to the more effectual sup- pression of pirsoy, he has ordered several gun- boats to be despatched to the North and West
gunboats might have to return to Canton for coal, His Excellency has, upon the peti- tion of Admiral Chun Ping Chik, ordered five coaling-stations to be constructed along the route: one at Chu Tao Shan (the Pig's Head Hills) where the pirates are known to have their headquarters; one at Wongkong, in the prefecture of Sew Hing; one at Sam Yungkes in the district of Shan
Tak:
one at Kumchuk also in Shun Tak ; and one at Ma Ning to the east of Shun Tak. In case these gunboats require a supply of coal they need not desert their stations and come back to Canton for it.
Admiral Chun Ping Chik is also very ener- getio in his service; he goes personally, to gether with an attendant, to inspect all the guard-boats, and see that the soldiers on watch are not neglecting their duties.
COMPOUNDING WITH BOBBERS. As there are plenty of brigands at Saichin, in A Village Priest, by common consent, will the Nam Hoi district levying boʻrmail and doubtless be conceded to be one of the most robbing the pawn shops which the officials successful plays, if not the most successful, and their soldiers are quite unable to put a stop staged by the Brough Company during the season to the proprietors of the pawn-shops are pay which closed Wednesday night. Such deep pasing the agents of these thieves to keep watch at sion and emotion have probably never been seen their doors on the understanding that whoever in any previous production at our Theatre, and pays such emissaries shall be exempted fram that the audience on Tuesday was an apprecia. attack and robbery. tive one was shown in the alsolute stillness that reigned during such time as the stage was occupi ed. Indeed, so realistio was the whole play that it was hard at times to realise that one was not an unseen, unsuspected witness of a tragedy in everyday life. The performers, one and all, excelled themselves, and Mr. Brough, in his character of L'Abbé Dubois, carried his audi-
The Straits Times says of the German millionaire scientist who was killed, with his private secretary, by the cannibal islanders of the Bismark Archipelago :—Mr. Ménoke was a Hanoverian by birth, and was an old friend and school-fellow of Mr. Becker of the local firm of Messrs. Behn Meyer & Co., with whom he
refered lady whose name "mory of the once with him from the rise to the fall of the" | was a fellow student in Lycanin Nọ. 1 of his
the Synagogue curtain. H.E. the Governor, Lady Blake, and would bear and the -- remembrance of party were the donor's munificence would never fade Wedna ncluded amongst the audience. H
from their minds or from the minds of those who came after, and might he and those who share with him the merit of his noble work reap the rich reward for which a grateful nmunity -- would always offer its heartfelt Anes. (Applause.) ant This concluded the proceedings, and an ad- journment-
made to a matshed adjoining, where refreshments of every description could! be obtained.
་་་་་ད་།།།་
father died and everal millions
native city. When he left college in 1885, blo intention was to take up ming. However, night the Brough Co. made their he started on a tour around world, and whils farewell appearance in the popular comedy-farce he was still away from Niobe, in which very different talents were re- left him heir to a quired from exhibited
before, of marks. This prop Neverthee those est retention awaited them glass-factories, and there was no neitations shown in the send- then took up off to this beyond a doubt the cleverest com- understand, had pany which has ever visited Hongkong. Mr. before his 23rd yea Robert Brongh made parting speech, in | in strange waters, which he expressed the thanks of the Company | left Hamburg on for their reception in Hongkong.
terminated in
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