A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 635, 18 July 1891, Page 3

A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

IBy Standard Special Cobbkspondbnt—‘‘A.T,”] July Bth. The members of the Auckland Orchestral Union must have been much gratified at the success of their second concert (of the season) last Thursday night. The Choral Hall was crowded, and the audience thoroughly appreciative and enthusiastic. The orchestral pieces were the chief attraction, as they were the most numerous. Out of ten items on the programme, six were performed by the whole orchestra, and another was a quintet for wind instruments (Onslow). This was rather a novelty. The tones of the flute, oboe, horn, clarionet, and bassoon, harmonised wonderfully well. There was none of the harshness which might have been expected in the absence of violins and other stringed instruments. Nor did anyone predominate or Bound too loud, Even the horn was softened *nd subdued. The quintet was loudly applauded, and the players, Mr Innes, Mr Olough, Mr Jackson, Mr Craig and Mr Cook, kindly repeated it,

The selections chosen by the orchestra Were The overture to Maritana, in which great prominence was given to the lovely air, ■Scenes that are brightest.' Three speeimenaof Grieg’s music—l.,'Peer Gynt, ’ in which a lovely ’cello solo occurs; 11,, 1 The death of Uses,* with its mournful chords and solemn Intervals, and in, * Anitra’s Dance,’ a most weird composition. Many people thought these three the greatest treat of the evening, but I think I have confessed before to being enable to appreciate properly this composer’s masterpieces, I enjoyed Gounod’s ‘Saltarollo ’ above everything. The melody and rhythm of the piece, and the delicacy, precision, taste and brilliancy of its rendering were equally delightful. Quite’as tuneful, and with the additional attraction of martial swing, the clash of arms, the bugle call, and the raging tempest of battle, were Van Siippd’s ‘Light Cavalry,’ and ‘ The Uhlan’s Call,’ by Eilenberg. An 1 Air de Ballet ’ by Massenet and a gavotte (Thomas) were also encored. The vocal part—two songs by Mrs Alexander and one by Mr E. H. Barber—was not nearly equal to the orchestral, although the gentleman had a fine song, 1 The Mighty Deep,’ (Jude) and an orchestral accompaniment. His voice was rather good, but his Style of singing unpleasant, The next evening the second Parnell Social was held. In spite of the weather about 70 people met at the little hall, which looked much more homelike and cosy, with its stage and handsome red curtains, than it did last time. The first entertainment provided was a pleasant little farce entitled * A Husband in Clover,’ acted by Mr and Mrs H. B, Lusk. Both the performers were thoroughly at.home in their parts, and the audience was quick to notice every point in the dialogue. A X constant ripple of laughter echoed through the hall, and the actors were overwhelmed 1 with applause, and later on with compli- I meats, 1 The ‘plot’ of the little comedy is very simple. The husband of ten months’ stand- i Ing, grows weary of the placidity of his life and the perfection of his wife. There is nothing to grumble at—therefore, as he is an -- Englishman (or a New Zealander), life is not worth living. To {quote his own words his j ■Existence is as monotonous as that of a bread-crumb at the bottom of a trouser’s ' pocket—a sun without a spot, a bed without a crease,’ These sentiments, on the neat 1 expression of which he prides himself greatly, j he rashly confides to his diary, which also ■ contains his envy of his comrades whose wives are not perfection, and his ardent longing ' that his Lydia might develop some of. the fascinating characteristics of these wives. One was romantic, great-eouled, dreamy, poetic; another fond, passionate, jealous ; a third, fast, fashionable, and ‘ chic.’ Filled with these ideas he scowls at his Lydia’s endearments, scorns the underdone chop which has been grilled in exact obedience to his wishes, and drives his gentle wife to the desperate step of unlocking his private drawer and reading hie diary. Then she promises that Master Horace shall have bis wish. His wife shall be, in turn, sentimental, passionate, jealous, and ‘ fin du siJole ’ enough to satis’y him—and she is. Whether abstractedly brandishing the tongs as she pensively demands the true interpretation of the sweet warbling of ‘ you little blue-winged flatterer ’; conjuring up a vision of a hately rival, with the ‘ sweet -reasonableness ’ of a jealous woman, from the absence of one-third from her husband’s purse which he is unable to account for; broken-heartedly sobbing for ‘ mum-mum-mama'; or threatening his life with the flra-irone, Lydia was thoroughly natural and amusing. Horace finds his craving for variety and emotion fully satisfied, and recalls with tender regret the unruffled calm of his previous existence. With swift forgetfulness he declares ‘ This morning I was the happiest man alive.’ Of course it all ends happily, Mrs Lusk wore a cream colored nun’s cloth, with very full puffed elbow sleeves and pinked out ruchings round the low bodice. She wore a gold band round her hair, which was arranged in a Grecian knob. Miss Cadell, in white, also with a gold band round her hair, looked very well. Miss Worsp wore black. Mrs Carrd had a handsome gown of grey silk. I noticed more than one familiar Gisborne face. Mrs Lusk's sister (Miss Bees) wore a dark red dress, with cream lace at the neck. Miss Gould was in black. I also met Mr Langford there, who told me bp belonged to your town. After the end of the comedy, coffee and cakes were handed round, and people moved about, forming little groups while the seats were moved out. Then dancing began, and Went on till midnight, with only one interlude for a Shakespearian reading from ‘ King John,’ very well rendered by Mr and Mrs R. Walker, Altogether it was'a most enjoyable little party. At the meet next day, one carriage on the road came to grief. Strange to say it was a dog-cart driven by Mrs W, Bloomfield, She penally tides, and has never met with an Accident In the field, It was the road which proved most dangerous after all, Neither she nor her husband were hurt, but the cart traa smashed. There is great regret felt in A uckland at the news of Mr Von der Heyde's death. He was well known and much liked by many here. There has been a great number of sudden an unexpected deaths during the last few days—Mies Clayton, Mr Saunders, Mr pignan, and now this terrible news of the Accident on board the Cordelia. Those of us Who visited the ship a month or two ago, and enjoyed pleasant luncheon and afternoon tea parties on board, little thought how tragic And swift would be the death of our merry entertainers, It is at least something for their relatives to know that their loss is deplored by very many to whom they had endeared tnemaelfwi