(_A Classical Revel, after the Press accounts of last week's Italian
ball_).
Ancient history became luminous at Covent Garden last week, when the great
ghosts of the past, from ROMULUS to NERO and from EGERIA to AGRIPPINA, were
seen one-stepping gaily in _toga_ and _stola_ at the great Roman ball. It
was the night, not of the Futurists, but the Praeteritists, and right
royally did they avail themselves of their chance.
Perhaps the most arresting of all the costumes were those worn by Lord
CURZON as TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS and Mr. LANSBURY as SPARTACUS. The former was
garbed in a magnificent _toga purpurea_, elaborately adjusted so as to show
the laticlave on his _tunica_. Over this was a sumptuous _lacerna_ of
silver tissue fastened over the right shoulder with a diamond _fibula_. On
his head he wore a _petasus_ of hyacinthine hue, out of which sprang three
peacock's feathers. He was shod with curule shoes, or _mullei_, fastened
with four crimson thongs. Mr. LANSBURY'S costume was simpler but not less
striking, consisting of scarlet _braccae_ or barbarian pantaloons, a
jade-green _synthesis_, buckskin _soleae_ and an accordion-pleated _pileus_.
Lord HOWARD DE WALDEN as MAECENAS attracted general attention by the lustre
of his amethystine _tunica_ and the crimson heels of his _crepidae_, which
may not have been archaeologically correct, but were certainly a happy
thought. Mr. BERNARD SHAW, who personated CATO of Utica, wore hygienic
sandals, a white _toga_ and a brown felt Jaeger _pileus_. Mr. HAROLD BEGBIE
as MARCELLUS, the best boy of ancient Rome, formed an agreeable contrast to
the numerous Messalinas, Poppaeas and Cleopatras who lent a regrettably
Pagan element to the assembly. But Lady ASTOR as CORNELIA, mother of the
GRACCHI, was an austere and dignified figure in her panniered Botticelli
_stola_, with pearl-embroidered red wings, and a _flabellum_ (or fan) of
albatross feathers with gold bells attached. The grandeur that was Rome,
again, was revived in Mr. JOHN, who assumed the _role_ of his namesake,
AUGUSTUS, and in Mr. BOTTOMLEY, who as HORATIUS FLACCUS imparted a Sabine
simplicity to the scene.
It is a pity that a good many of the guests had indolently taken advantage
of the fact that ancient Roman dress was not obligatory, and yet it must be
admitted that some of them looked the Roman part to perfection. The
unadorned rigours of evening dress only threw into greater relief the truly
Caesarian lineaments of Lord RIDDELL, the stoical independence of Mr.
CHARLES TREVELYAN and the aquiline dignity of Mr. TICH (Parvus).
It may be added that the use of Latin was not compulsory, but that one of
the guests, who appeared as Phuphluns, the Etrurian Bacchus, and partook
freely of the excellent neo-Falernian supplied by the firm of LEONES,
expressed the pious hope that he would not suffer too much from _calida
aera_ on the morrow.
* * * * *
"Mr. Pim Passes By."
Our Mr. A. A. M.'s play is now comfortably settled in its new home (No. 3)
at The Playhouse. A correspondent informs Mr. Punch that since the opening
night Mr. DION BOUCICAULT'S popular part has been developed to the slight
disturbance of the balance of things; not so much by new dialogue as by
deliberate iteration and portentous pauses. That on his first entrance he
now studies a photograph with his nose close up to the glass, forgetting
that, if he is as short-sighted as all that, the protracted gaze which he
had previously directed upon the ceiling must have been fruitless. That
Miss IRENE VANBRUGH has dispensed with whatever serious element there was
in her part and relies for her brilliant effects almost completely on its
irresponsible frivolity. That Mr. BEN WEBSTER has come on remarkably; and
that the part of the flapper is now played according to nature by the right
person.
Mr. Punch's advice to any who have hitherto passed by is to go in and see
_Mr. Pim_ doing it.
* * * * *
"Now one just hates to drag in personal experiences, because it looks
as if one were trying to pose as a nero, which thing I hate."
_Illustrated Paper._
We heartily share the writer's dislike of the character.
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Works Manager_ (_to applicant for post as night-watchman_).
"HAVE YOU ANY PARTICULAR QUALIFICATION FOR THIS JOB?"
_Applicant._ "ONLY THAT I'M A VERY LIGHT SLEEPER, SIR. I WAKES AT THE LEAST
NOISE."]
* * * * *