The Halifax Comet. — 1900-09-15 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

THE HALIFAX COMET.  As a child, Cinquevalli was attached to a travelling show as the "Wild Imp of the Woods." He was announced to be a boy-monkey, and he studied for the part in the local Zoo. He became famous, for the simple peasantry believed him to be genuine. At Lissa, in Poland, where Paul was born, his show appeared after a lapse of three years. He told his parents of the character he had assumed, and they, intensely amused, promised to keep his secret. On the opening night, the Ehow was crowded, and mother and father had a front seat. The boy-monkey performed his usual antics with unbounded success, until the time came for him to jump through a hoop garnished with murderous-looking knives. It looked a ticklish feat, but it was amusement to Paul. But just as he crouched for the spring, his mother's voice screamed, "Don't do it, my son! They will kill you Paul, don't do it." Forgetting his character of an imp of the woods, and, only anxious to reassure his mother, the young acrobat turned round and cried in the soft language of the Pole: "It's all right, mother; I've jumped it many a time!" That spoiled everything. The fraud of the boy-monkey was apparent, and the circus had to fold its tents, and silently steal away before morning broke.--31. A. P.  Jacko is the attraction at the Royal this week. It is styled a musical absurdity, and it really is one, being full of fun and gaiety, from which' it never leaves off from start to finish. Playgoers in search of an evening's enjoyment and a good laugh will get their desire if Jack° is given a trial. Next week, Our Irish Visitors is billed for this theatre.  Mr. Frank Lindo and company are at the Grand this week with Hoot/man Blind and Dary Garrick. Hoodman Blind was the play last night (Monday), and will be repeated to-night, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. On Friday Davy Garrick will be the attraction.  Mr. Frank Lindo plays the part of Jack Yewlett in Hooclinan Blind and the title part in Davy Garrick. There was a good house last night.  Next week's attraction at the Grand will be On Her Majesty's Service.  Mr. Edward Terry and full comp ny are booked to appear at the Grand shortly.  fioodman Blind is by Mr. Henry Arthur Jones and Mr. Wilson Barrett.  Of late years the oboe has been much cultivated by those who value pathos and expression; and now ladies are taking to mastering the difficult instrument.  Mr. Sydney Grundy startled an interviewer the other day with the statement that when he was getting towards the end of a play he always thought and wrote the last scenes in French, which he finds much more clear and precise than English.  * *  The annual Summerscales Musical Competition, at Keighloy, will this year be held on October 12th and 13th. The hon. secretary is Mr. A. Bradley, 90, North Street, Keighley.  * *  I am glad to learn that, pending the arrival of a comprehensive Act that shall make it inconvenient for "trainers " to compel animals to go through unnatural and painful feats, our noble beast the lion has been standing up for his rights. From a daily paper I have " lifted" the following instructive " par." : During a performance given by a travelling menagerie in a field at Boreham Wood, Elstree, Herts, three lions attacked their trainer. Fortunately, several showmen soon rendered assistance with red-hot bars, and the trainer was rescued. His hand was badly  mauled.  It makes pretty reading that line, "Fortunately several showmen soon rendered assistance with red-hot bars." The pity of it !—" Grimalkin," in The Stage.  * *  A large number of hotel proprietois and managers have accepted the proposal of the Incorporated Society of Musicians to accommodate members at reduced tariffs when journeying professionally. In order to carry out the Society's hotel scheme it has been considered advisable to grant each member applying for the same "a member's ticket," similar in form to the small waistcoat-pocket passcovers issued by the railway companies. This will have to be produced at any hotel visited by the members in order to obtain the desired reduction in tariff, and the tickets are not transferable. A legal agreement is being entered into between the Society and each hotel proprietor or manager, which will, under the arrangements made, be clear and binding on both sides.