The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-22 00:00:00

Mr. Sims Reeves and his Greenock Audience.

On Monday night Mr. Sims Reeves appeared at
a concert in the Greenock Town-hall, which was
crowded. Mr. Reeves's first piece, " Deeper and '
deeper still," was concluded amidst much approba-
tion. In the interval previous to singing Blumen-
thal's song " The Message," ayoung child, borne in
the arms of a woman who was seated close to the
platform, annoyed the audience by crying, but no
attempt was made to have it removed. When Mr.
Reeves again appeared the large audience was soon
hushed into silence while the great artiste pro-
ceeded to warble the beautiful music which accom-
panies the words of " The Message." lie had only
sang a few lines, however, in the second verse when
the child uttered a sharp cry, causing a disagree-
able hitch to take place. Mr. Reeves stopped his
song and stated that he was unable to proceed while
he was disturbed by the child, and requested that
it be removed. A few persons immediately began
to hiss, while others cried aloud to the woman to
remain. At this juncture Mr. Reeves, accompanied
by Mr. Berger, the pianist, retired from the plat-
form, and Mr. Airlie, who had charge of the ar-
rangements, approached the woman, and leading
her across the hall showed her out. During these
proceedings part of the audience got greatly ex-
cited, and many hissed and shouted in a manner
which strongly marked their disapproval of the
step which was being taken. The majority of the
audience, however, seemed to approve the mea-
sure by loudly cheering. Quiet having been again
restored in some measure, Mr. Reeves, accom-
panied by the pianist, returned to the platform,
when he was met by a storm of hisses and the
most discordant sounds. The better disposed part
of the audience cheered and endeavoured to drown
the offensive sound, but the effort was vain,
for after each lull in the storm the expressions
of disapprobation burst forth afresh. After waiting
for about a minute, and there being no appearance
of the storm subsiding, Mr. Reeves again retired
from the platform amid a howl of displeasure. A
member of the local committee, Mr. M'William,
then came upon the platform, and essayed to speak,
but groans, cat-calls, laughter, and cries of
" M‘William's song," " A solo on the bones," and
other noises for a time drowned his voice. Having
got a hearing, however, he explained that it had
been expressly agreed with Mr. Reeves, and stated
in the announcement regarding the concert that
children in arms would not be admitted, and as Mr.
Reeves was so much " put out" by the scene he had
witnessed, he would be unable at present to proceed
with his song. He besought the audience, however,
to bear with the committee, and allow the pro-
gramme to be proceeded with. Miss Kirk then sang
" Afton Water" with much effect, and matters for
a time went on smoothly. But when Mr. Reeves
again appeared, lie was once more met by yells of
disapprobation more offensive than before. Cries
of " Sing tho Two Babies,' " " lle's in the pet,"
exc., were shouted, though the great bulk of the
audience endeavoured to got up a cheer in favour of
the singer. Mr. Reeves was ultimately again forced
to retire, when the Rev. F. L. Robertson left his seat
in the boxes, and, proceeding to the platform, ap-
pealed to the audience to conduct themselves with
propriety. Ho could assure them Mr. Reeves did
not retire from any "pet," but simply because of
nervous susceptibility. Mr. Robertson then retired,
and upon Mr. Reeves appearing he was greeted with
much enthusiasm. lle then sang Kucken's beauti-
ful serenade, " Twilight is darkening," and, upon
being encored, sang " The Message," the song he
was singing when the interruption took place.
Another attempt was made to bring him back, but
the attempt failed.—Glasgow Herald.

THE SCOTCII LEGAL API' OINTMENTS.--It is
now, wo learn, definitely settled—though there have been
some difficulties—that the Lord Justice-Clerk goes to tho
head of the Court, and that Mr. Patton takes the second
place as Justice-Clerk. Tho consequent non-judicial ap-
pointments are causing trouble—it is not sottled absolutely,
though almost, that Mr. E. S. Gordon, Solicitor-General, is
to become Lord Advocate. A London correspondent
telegraphs on "Wednesday night :—" The report here is
that Lord Advocate Gordon is to be i❑ the House of Com-
mons before many weeks, and that a northern county may
furnish him with a seat." Is it :Morayshire?—Scotsman.

DEATH OF EARL BROWNLOW.—We regret to
announce the death of E trl Browulow on Wednesday last
at Montour, whither ho had repaired for the advantage of
the genial climate. Re had long boon in delicate health.
The late Right Hon. John William Spencer Brownlow
Egerton Cust, Earl Brownlow, Viscount Alford, and Baron
Browulow, of Belton, county Lincoln, in the peerage of the
United Kingdom, and a baronet, was the eldest son of John
Hume Egerton, Viscount Alford, by Lady Marion, eldest
daughter of Spencer, second Marquis of Northampton, and
was in his 25th year, having been born on the 28th of
March, 1842. Ho succeeded to the Earldom ou the death of
his grandfather John, first Earl, in September, 1853. The
deceased Earl is succeeded in his titles and extensive estates
by his only brother, the Hon. Adelbert Wellington Cust,
recently elected M.P. for North Shropshire on the resig-
nation of his uncle, the Hon. Charles 11. Cust. The pre-
sent Earl was born the 19th of August, 1844, and was for-
merly in the Grenadier Guards. Consequent on his acces-
sion to the peerage a vacancy arises for the Northern Divi-
sion of Shropshire in the Jiouso of Commons.