The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-09
Random Notes of
Life in London.
Another Bright Budget of Gossip
From the Worlds Metropolis.

tween the acts, but the ices are most
monstrously expensive. My landlady
was going to buy me one, knowing that
l liked them, but 1 wouldn't let her
waste her substance on them, they are
SO small and expensive.
Another DisilIusion.
Disillusion number three. had tick
cts for a concert one day this week at
which Madame Alice Gomez was to
be the bright particular star, and as T
had heard wonders of her, was duly
grateful for the tickets, and went, taxi
ing another girl along. Well, she Is
black, you know, being native of
IndiaS of the Eurasian caste, and has
created q great furore in England, on
account of her voice and singing, and
l suppose 1 expected too much, for she
was quite ordinary. She had a big,
hard voice, which She uses rather
boisterously in a sleeves-pushed-up to-
the-elbow sort of way. 1t Is like most
black voices, rather rich and perfectly
true, and really not without interest.
think her dark Indian face and pecu-
liar way of singing are the first causes
Of her success, and the interest she
creates. But she is not an artist at
heart at all.
But, just think! on the programme of
the very same concert there was
basso who was simply delightful. His
every note was a joy, he sang so we'll
and with such an eXquisitely handled
voice. 1 came home very enthusiastic
over him, and when they informed me
that he was an American singer 1 was
doubly proud Of him.
The next day we took in one of the
London ballad concerts, which are
given every two Wednesdays and Sat-
urdays during the season, and having
been to one do not want another, as
they are dreadfully long. This one
lasted from 8 p. m. till after G, and had
over twenty-five numbers besides some
encores! However, l had the pleasure
of once more listening to Ben Davies,
who sang exquisitely; to Signor Foil,
the good old basso, whom l liked im-
mensely, and to David Bispham, the
American basso, whom 1 had liked so
the day before. Nine. Gomez was
again on the programme, and Ella Rus
sci, an American soprano, besides An
toinette Sterling, Joannes Wolff, the
violinist, and the Meister Glee singers,
who are a wonderful drawing card in
London here. They do sing beautiful
ly, too. They call these concerts
Morning Concerts" and they COM
mence at 8 o'clock. Everything that
takes place before G p. m. is morning"
in common parlance here. "Come this
morning at 4 o'clock" is not such a
dreadful invitation as it sounds, and
eyr1 a inc tcD of 3
and o'clock in the afternoon!
Thunder Storm in Mid. Winter.
We had dreadful thunder storm the
other day. 1t was not hot, either, but
quite cold, in fact, when up came a
tremendous storm of thunder, light
ming, rain and hail, and frightened
these Londoners out of their wits, for
they are not accustomed to the dread
ful electrical storms which come upon
our part of America in the summer.
1t was about IL o'clock in the MORN
ing and my Scotch lassie, who was ill
in her room with cold, fled to bed and
wrapped the clothes all around her
head ito keep its noise out! The light
ming struck church near Westminster
bridge. We had some more at the end
we sometimes have at home. This
winter, SO far, has been in no way se-
we're.
met a charming, and, by the way,
very clever woman not long ago, and
upon her being told where l hailed
from, she asked me If my Wilkes-Barre
We're theosophical center of much im-
portance! l was, of course, completely
surprised, for know we have not many
of that persuasion at home. However,
/ asked her what she meant, and she
replied that she had a little volume OF
essays at home, called the "Wilkes-
Barre Letters ON Theosophy," by Alex
ander Fullerton, L. T. s., and that she
considered them quite interesting read
ing. l suppose the persons name Is a
non de plume. l was so myStified
about them that she sent me the book.
l find that it is a compilation of letters
on theosophy published one by one in
the Wilkes-Barre Sunday Morning
Leader some time ago. The book looks
quite interesting, but am too busy TO
read it, and so it goes to one of the
brainy women of the house to digest for
us all. Truly, the world Us a small
place, after all. l cannot say how glad
/ was to meet Alexander Fullerton,
whoever he is, away over here, and as
they say his little book is quite much
read one among the disciples of theoso-
ply here, and very clever ones, too.
am, of course, prouder of my native
town and state than I ever was.
Sadie u. KAISER 1