The Carnival.

There is little doubt that the Capping Carnival concert has at last found its way into the "soft place" of popularity within the heart of the Wellington public. Whether this is due to the advertising capacity of the Procession or to the fame of our dramatic powers, is a difficult matter to decide, but let it suffice that by 8 p.m. on Thursday, 26th June, the large Town Hall was filled to the point of overflowing with one of the most lenient, agreeable and appreciative of audiences.

The first part of the programme, as in former years, consisted of glees and similar musical items, and the in-evitable College songs, of which "Dreadnaughtia," with its topical allusions, evoked the cheeriest laughter and the loudest applause.

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Then followed the extravaganza, entitled "The Shaming of the Shrews," and described by its perpetrators as "'ridiculous, senseless, idiotic, but laughable." The theme, dealing with the state of the world as it will appear in 1950, when swayed by the rule of woman, gave ample opportunity to the men for the donning of the popular petticoat and the burlesquing of woman's wilful ways, and under the assumed names of Miss Dorothea Baird, Miss Lily Brayton, and Miss Titell Brune, three able actors delighted the audience with their artless sayings and their mode of managing ultra-fashionable feminine apparel. Mrs. Spankhurst especially was responsible for many an outburst of hearty laughter, at the expense of the suffragettes.

For the entertainment of the politically inclined, such personages as F. M. B. Disher, Worn Til ford, and B. C. Dates came forward to discourse smartly upon Parliamentary problems while for the special benefit of students the manners and customs of three Professors, Sir Robert Stay-out, and the Rev. A. W. H. Compton were cleverly caricatured.

Part of the final act took the form of a parody of the chamber scene in "Othello," giving Miss Desperado an excellent opportunity of showing her skill in a clever imitation of Oscar Asche's voice and manner, and in this connection it is worthy of note that our old friend, "Bill" Shakespeare, rose to the occasion with an allusion so apt that many people still refuse to believe that he was responsible for Miss Desperado's speech.

Incidentally there was a wonderful airship scene, introducing an amusing parody of the notorious "Everybody's doin' it now," and a popular entr' acte, containing an effective Tableau of Nations, performed by women students.

A repetition of the concert was given in the Town Hall on the following Saturday evening, but "thereby hangs a tale" too bitter to impart.