's Hall Symphony Orchestra competing with Blue
Bessarabians or Pink Alsatians.

Herr KUBELIK declared that a violin _virtuoso_ could never play his best
by daylight. Artificial light, full evening dress and diamonds were
indispensable in an audience. You would not play _bravura_ music to
people in morning costume; it was like drinking champagne out of a
teacup.

Mr. ALGERNON ASHTON said that as the highest form of musical composition
was a Funeral March he was in favour of making black obligatory for all
persons who attended high-class symphonic concerts. The kaleidoscopic
colours affected by modern women of fashion distracted serious artists
and sometimes made them play wrong notes. An exception might perhaps be
allowed in favour of dark purple, because of its association with
mourning, but the glaring colour schemes now in vogue were to be
deprecated as prejudicial to solemnity. It pained him to see music
reduced to the menial position of the handmaid of levity.

Professor BANTOCK said that he was entirely in favour of establishing an
equation between music and the costume of those who performed or
listened to it. For instance, he felt that his _Omar Khayyam_ would make
a far deeper impression if the audience were all clad in Persian garb.
The same need for local colour would be felt in the case of his new
Siberian symphony, though he admitted that it would be a little trying
if the work was performed in the dog days. The expense was perhaps a
consideration, but people could always afford to purchase a costume for
a fancy ball, and why not for a Symphony concert?

Madame CLARA BUTT said that she found the _timbre_ of her voice was
affected by the costumes of the audience. She strongly condemned the
practice followed by some ladies of fashion of bringing their Pekinese
dogs with them to concerts. It showed disrespect to the performers and
involved cruelty to animals, since the Pekinese only appreciated the
Chinese five-note scale and detested European harmonies.

* * * * *

CABINET AND ADMIRALTY.

Another Disclaimer.

A correspondent writes:--"There is no reason to believe that the Cabinet
will remit to the Board of Admiralty the report of the Land Committee
appointed by Mr. LLOYD GEORGE with a view to securing the views of the
Sea Lords, as possessing a wide knowledge of naval affairs, on this
aspect of the Government's policy."

* * * * *