The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-16
LONDON GOSSIP.

Mourning for @. =. Brooke IN Melbourne The
Brooke Family Of Ancient Irish 0rigin-The
American Grtmacier in Labor, the Blind
Pidnist- Method by ,ohich he Learned Music
Ndpoleon's Prize Cup TOR He International
Pigeon Shooters--Prince Alfred Recesuir.q he
Freedom Of 0,e Oity from he GYocers- Fdncu
Fair TO be held for The Benefit of the Royal
Dramatic College-Meeting of the Roydl Geolo-
giodl Society - SIR Roderick M,uohison's Ad-
dress-MeddLs Atodrded-A Story About the
Collecting of Postage Stamps - Pton's Sugar
PhlmS-A Poetica Bonnet.
LONDON, June 2.--Our gifted countrywoma
Miss Avonia Jones (Mrs. q. " Brooke), is play
ing a highly successful engagement at the
standard, after having appeared nightly for
three months at the New Surrey. The deep
interest which every one feels in the lamepted
tragedian, Gustavus v. Brooke, the horror ex.
cited by his dreadful fate, and the admiration
called forth by the bravery he displayed and the
brotherly devotion which made him refuse even
to attempt to save his life because he would
have been compelled to leave his sister upon
the fated ship, have all com Oined to turn
the eyes OF the public sympathetically
upon his young widow. Letters from
Australia inform us that when the ap-
palling news of the loss OF the London was
received az Melbourne, no man was more gene
rally and deeply mouIned than Brooke. The
shops were hall closed in token of respect, and
everywhere his portrait was to be seen shrouded
by white and Dlack draperes and his last words
traced above them, sometimes with immortelles.
\ The photographists have not been able TO supply
j the demand for his photograph, and preparations
1 are being made tor the erection of statue to
j his memory. statue will also be reared in
Dublin, and there will probably be a monument
! to him IN Belfast, where he made his last ap.
pearance.
J The family of Brooke is Irish, and of ancient
origin. The father OF the late G. V. Brooke was
i brother to Henry Brooke, the head Of the Done
gal family who resided near Londonderry, and
rom If i'm RritI oh
Parliament. He died some years before his
brother Gustayus. The only near relative of G.
v Brooke, still living, Is his sister, the wife OF
the Rev. DR.. Heatley, who lives at Kilkenny.
1t was at the house OF this sister that Brooke and
a his bride passed their happy Christmas holidays
Just before they parted, on the deck Of the
"A X ndOn, tor the last time in this hie.
American artists OF all descriptions are every
" year competing more successfully with Euro
pean. Paris has Iust ackno wledged the won
derful gifts OF an American Crime, as he is
termed IN theatrical phrase, or tace-n1dker. The
talent of this singular grlmdcier consists in imi-
tatng the heads of celebrated historical person
ages. He places himself behind frame hidden
a by whIte cloth, and beside a table covered
with wigs false Boards and paint brushes. AS
soon as his toilet is made he suddenly draws
aside the curtain, and exhibits to the spectators
the head OF Washington, Napoleon, Charles the
- First, Wellington, Louis XII or that of mad
man. an idiot, fury, a criminal, etc. The
rapdty with which this artist changes his
head, and its perfect fidelity to the original, is
Labor, the blind piano-forte player of the
King of Hanover, has made great impression
in Paris and is expected in London. The King
OF Hanover, It will be remembered, is also blind.
Labor, however, has been blind from his bilth,
and never saw single page OF music or note
Of his instrument. 70 enable him to learn his
first pieces, his sister, pianist OF rare talent,
used to play the chosen piece two or three
times, while he sat by her side and listened.
He would then take her place and repeat, note
by note, what he had just heard. After she
had played the air FOR the third time Labor
knew it perfectly, however difficult it might be.
In this manner he has acquired a more exten-
sive repertoire, 1t is said, than any other musi-
clan. He also composes music.
The Emperor OF the French has ordered su-
perb prize, in the shape OF cup, to be shot for
by the international Pigeon Shooters in 1857.
The Emperor attends the new pigeon shooters
club in the Bois de Boulogne, and 1t appears
" that he shoots great deal better than most Of
4 his subjects. Has America among her fine
+ Imarksmen, no competitors to send?
Prince Alfred has just received the freedom OF
4 the City of London from the ancient Company
OF Grocers. MIR. Woodhouse, as Master OF the
81 Grocers' Company, in addressing his Royal
= Highness, informed him that the Company
received its first charter from his Majesty King
T. EEdward the Third; that it took rank second in
khe list of the old trading fellowshps of the
- city, and that, during period OF more than
Hive centuries, it had been distinguished
= for its loyalty and hospitality The docu-
ment which the Prince received comforting the
= freedom was lnclosed in magnificent gold
box OF elegant design and WORK manSnlp ana OF
the value of one hundred guineas. After he
subscribed the oath OF freeman he was escorted
10 the courtroom OF the Company, and partook
of sumptuous breakfast. The table was
4 adorned by some of the Company's ancient gold
drinking cups and four superb pleteaux In solid
silver, embodyng series OF groups emblematl-
cal OF the different branches of commerce in
which the Company has always been engaged.
Other specimens OF the massive gold and silver
plate of the Guild we're displayed, on side
81 tables, in different parts of the room.
The Governors of the Royal Dramatic College
have held meeting at the Adelphi Theatre.
80 80 Mr.. BENJAMIN Webster presided 1t was re
solved that great fancy fair should be held,
for the benefit of the College, at Sydenham
Palace on the 7th and 9th of July next. Actors
and actresses of note are to grace the booths
# 1t is stated that Mr.. Blackstone will exhibit
Punch and Judy" alone.
The Royal Geographical Society held theil
annual meeting this week. The President, Sil
. Roderick Murchison in his address, announced
IA that Dr.. Livingstone had reached RoVumf
river in an Arab dhow, and that he would
soon start, with his followers, for Lake Nyassa
He also mentioned project Tor the exploration
of the northern coast line and interior of Green
land. One of the Socety's youngest associates
Mr.. Whymper, already distinguished by his
courage and selfreliance in surmounting the
highest peaks OF the Alps, has conceived tht
bold idea of penetrating along the surface o
Greenland's glaciers into the interior of thi
snow-clad continent, he being convinced, from
=. the great number Of deer that find their way Il
the coast, that there are within the glacier
we'll l-grassed valleys. This enterprise Sir Rode
rick considered truly the ne plus ultra OF ind
vidual British geographical adventure.
The founders medal was presented to DR.
Thomas Thompson, M. D., f. r. s., for his eS
nIoration of the Western Hmalayas and ThibeI
was awarded to Mr.. William Ohandless, M. A
his brother receiving it for him. for his recen