!
February 9, 1903.]
Liberty Hall, she naturally could not be so 'prominent in /is Excellency the Governor, but that was due to the play, not to the actress, who is again to be congratulated. Of the lesser *parts Miss Bird, transformed into the stately Mrs, Wentworth Bolinbroke, was excellent Lieut. Rivers was duly amusing in his part, and Messrs. Ward, Hay (in a minor rule this timel, and Goldring completed, nu admirable all-round cast. We must not, however, forget a splendid apparition in red, who appeared as native servant, and an effective background of khaki-clad soldiers. The last act went a trifle too slowly on the opening night, but on Saturday this was not apprent. The A.D.C. did more than sustain its reputation, an, considering that several most capable per formers did not take part in the present representation, it is evident that the Club is in a very healthy stats. We li pe it will not be long before another "show" is decided upon On the three nights the band of H.M.S. Ocean rendered a capital selection of music.
The full cast was as follows:- H. E. Sir Montagu
Martin, G.C.S.I., Right Hon. Henry Cariton, M.P, Capt. Charles Carew,
A.D.C., Capt. Rivers
Mr. C. H.Grace.
Mr. John Baverstock,
Private Secretary
Major Kildare
A Sentry...
A Butler...
Mrs. Wentworth Bo-
lingbroke Ethel Carlton... Stella de Gex...
Mr. G. Balloch.
Capt. H. MacGeorge. Lieut. J. Davidson, R.A.
Mr. H. W. Bird. Mr. A. G. Ward. Mr. P. W. Goldrug. Mr. C. H. P. Hay
Miss Bird.
Mrs M. W. Slade. Mrs Grace.
POLLARD'S LILLIPUTIANS.
THE DEJLE OF NEW YORK."
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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by his singing, bis efforts in the latter direction including Everybody's awfully good to me.' from the Toreador. Miss Al ce Pollard had good opportunities for the exercise of ber abilities aud in her the demure Salvation Army Lassie had a charming delineator. Mies Counie Pollard as Fifi captivated everyone, and her rendering.of Teach me how to love" was ole of the tit-bits of the eroning. Miss Florrie Sharp had a small part as Harry B onson's pri- yate secretary, but her appearances were always favourable. In the part of Cpra Angelique, the queen of comic opera, Miss Daphno Pollard was delightful. She captivated everyone, and is quite, the cleverest little bit of feminity we have seen ou the stage anywhere. The part of Doc" Snifkins lay with Master Cyril Keighley, and was ad mirably filled, as were thosoolt e win Portuguese noblemen by Miss Delvin Brown and Master Edie Macnamara, whose grotesque poses created much merriment. “Blinky Bill McQuirk, an individual described as a mixed ale pugilist, had Miss Irene Loftus as exponent, and by her the peculiarities of the man of slaug and swagger were strikingly brought out. Master Charlie Bindloss mado the most of fitting chances as Kenneth Mug, "a low com dian of the Angelique Comic Opera Company," and the remark applies also to Master W. Thomas. whose Karl Pumpernick a polite lunatic," was very amusing. Miss Ivy Trott proved. a very clever little dancer, and her role of, Kissie Fitzgarter gave her fine opportunity for display. Mention must also be made of the performances of Miss Nellie McNamara, a French chef with a delightful accent, Miss Laura Merton Rev. Skypilot), and Miss Myrtle Trott (Mamie Clancy, a Poll Street girl). Master Fred Pollard roused enthusiasm by his Flag song." an Anglo-American patriotic composition which was deservedly
It is just over two years since the Pollard Lilliputian Company visited the Colony, Lut in that time the memory of their successes in the Theatre Royal has not faded, and kindly thoughts have often turned to the career of the little performers in other lands. Now they have come back to us, and a crowded audience assembled in the Theatre on Wednesday to bid them welcome. The Belle of New York was the piece chosen for the opening night, and in connection with the play and its rogue in the Far East a few retrospective remarks may not be inappropriate. Ot here we had heard and read much of The Belle of New York, Lut to! many it was merely a successful p oduction of some kind or other"- -a vague creation in the theatrical world that the people at home were having all the benefit of. Then the Pollards arrived, and with them lies the boast of being the first company to stage The Belle of New York in Hongkong. They played it in Johannesburg in May, 1899, when it had a ran of five weeks. Other places in South Africa were visited, including Pretoria, where ex-President Kruger was amongst the audience. Since then the Lilliputians have delighted
large audiences in Canada, America,
India, China, and Java. Though the present combination differs somewhat in its personnel from the former one, not all the young people are strangers to theatre-goers here. Master Willie Pollard, whose Wun Hi in the Geisha will always be a pleasant recollection, has been left in Melbourne to finish his education, and is replaced by his brother Jack, an enterprising youth of twelve who posse ses much dramatic ability. The ages of the children range from fire to fourteen years, and it only reeds mention of this fact to show how wonderfully clever they must be to merit genuine approval in such difficult plays as their repertory includes.
Asp esented by the Lilliputians on the 4th iust. Th Belle of New York lost none of its inherent charm and quite fulfilled the expectations of those who witnessed its performance. The three leading parts were excellently filled by Miss Lily Moore (Harry Bronson), Muster Jack Pollard (Ichabod Bronson), and Miss Alice Pollard (The Belle). Miss Moore prtrayed the role of the young spendthrift to great advantage, and followed all the details of the character with remarkable fidelity. Master Jack Pollard claimed the admiration of the audience at once by his clever acting as well as
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encored. The other characters of the cast were all creditably interpreted.
*
ioi
ang Chun Fuk, a native of Waichow, thd his agent in Canton is a certain Leong Mo Kwong. The following articles have been seized, some in the Son-E shop in Tung Hing Street, Canton, some in Fong Chun, and some in Fates opposite Shameet One large, yellow dag with the inscription Overthrow the present Empire, and re-establish that of Han," 100 cases of ammunition, 1 red satin coat (for the chief to wear. 10 black Bags, 2,100 uniforms, 1.10 blankets; 1.500 pairs of straw sandals, 885 tins of liscuits of the weight of 110 catties each, & cas s of ten of the weight of 100 catfies ench. 75 cases of salt beef of 37 catties each. 700 revolvers, 20. fret of red cloth, 110 pairs of scissors (for cutting quenes); 2,100 woollen baps, 9 cantas tents, 18 kerosene lamps, 75 iron choppers, 1;730 belts of cartridges, 9 axes, 38 horns, 300 cattieš of salt, 2 jrs of saltpetre, and 2 lanterns. A letter from the rebel chief Hung Chin Fuk to Leung Mo Kwong was also discovered, mention ing a remittance of a few thousand dollars to the latter. Some shops and houses in Fong Chün and Fatee, and the kerosene shop Son-E, belonging to Leung Mo Kwong, have been closed. Among the 14 or 15 arrested on suspicion were a compradore and a few respectable Chinese in long fur coats. Investigation was continued for 4 days and nights in the magistracies of Nam Hoi and Pun Yn. On the night before the New Year some pauio was caused on Shameen, and the police in the British and French Concession had orders to keep strict watch at the two gafes.
DISCOVERY OF T E PLOT.
Fortunately this plot was disenvarol in time, otherwise it won'd have ben very serious, says my informant. The rebe's were to proceed to the Man Sow Kung tem le by night and kill the mandais, and then repair to Ta Tung Street, where all the native banks are, and rob them H.E. Li Chou, te Admital, In a word, the whole piece was a great sn cess, however, foc ired som information about a and the performance of the little players worthy rising which was being prepared from Hong- of the highest commendation. That the, kong, and -ent a telegram to a friend there audis nce appro-iated it was proved by the volume to make enqri ies, The friend found out the of their plaudits. and encores were always truth, and wired to him. Li (hou sent a demanded. Mr A. Goulding, the stage manager.rciyuen to Hongkong to make further enquiries. himself at one time one of Pollard's Lilliputians, The latter coufirmed the news and said that the deserves credit for the high state of perfection rebels were going to attack Canton ou Now to which he has brou bt the youthful Thes- Year's Day. The Admiral reported to the pians. Mr. E. A Wolff, musical director, Viceroy and the Provincial Gove nor, and Their conducted the orchestra -the baud of one of the Excellencies immediately ordered all the mili warships-and the selections discoursed were ju tary and paval officers to hold themselves in line with the quality of the play. The Felle of readiness. All the Chinese men-of-war bad New York was repeated on Thursday and Friday their fira hp, oud guns ready. Suddenly the Admiral rece ved another telegram from Hong- kong, saying that the rising wonid take place on New Year's eve instead of the following day. In consequence nine of the mandarins, civil or military, were allowed to go home to pass the New Year, but were ordered to stay at their posts and prepare for emergencies.
CANTON,
[FROM OUR CORRESPOND NT.
Canton, 29th January,
A SEIZURE AND FOME WILD RUMOURS.
Pursuant to a telegram sent from Hongkong on China New Year's eve, some Chines: officials went with soldiers to Fong Chün, somewhere opposite Shameen, and discovered in a shop some few cases of arms and ammunition; they were marked outside "bisenits." It is said that they werejimported by the associates of Kang Yn-wei. The matter was reported to the Viceroy. It is customary to throw open all the city gates on New Year's eve, but His Excellency was afraid that there would be a revolt, and ord ·red tåe Southern gate to be closed and look: d, and no one was permitted to pass. In consequence. some evil-disposed persons started a rumour. that between 12 and i ani, when all the officials were assembling together in the Temple of! Man Sow Kung to worship the Emperor and celebrate the New Year, the r.bels would bur- round it, kill the officials, and then march on to Shameen to murder all foreigners. This being the talk in the city on New Year's Te Capt. Yeang, who is in command of a few hundred soldiers. immediately despatched his men to guard the Canal Road and its vicinity. and soure of the military officials ordered their
all night 150g.
Idiers to patrol about the suburbs of the City
1
Cautou, 2nd February
THE THREATENED ATTACK ON THE CITY. In continuation of my narrative about the threatened attack on Canton ou China New Year's eve, I have been able to obtain further reliable information. The rebel chief is
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This euquity will continue for some time and it is certain that well-to-do people will be impli- cated in the matter, thereby giving a good chance to the officials and yamen runners to get their squeezes.
SWATOW.
[FROM OUR COR-ESPONDANT.]
Swatcw, 27th January.
CHANGES.
The new British Consul, Mr. Willis, has already arrived here from the North, to replace Mr. Twyman, who has left for home. Mr. Feynell, Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s agent at this port, has left to take up the Foochow agency of that Company and is su ceedel by Mr. Mr. Wintoslat Forbes of the Hongkong office. of the I. M. Customs deparse·l to Shaoghai, and Mr. Lyons of that port is now here as his successor
Reynell, who was very popular here, on his A very eatbusiestic farewell was given Mr. departare for his new post by the Haiching.
KAVAL MOVEMENTS.
H.M.S. Algerine is in ou· midst agsiu, having arrived from Hongkong a few days back
EXPER02 WILLIAM'S BIRTHDAY. To-day being the German Empiror ́s bithday, the local German Consul, Mr. Krause, is "at home" and will afford calle s an opportunity to drink the Kaiser's health.
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