Mr. Henry Bird thought that all musicians should be at liberty to assume names provided they were appropriate. But for a composer to call himself Johann Sebastian Wagner was to court disaster. He ventured to submit the following list for the benefit of persons who contemplated making the change. For a soprano: Miss Hyam Seton. For a contralto: Miss Ritchie Plummer. For a tenor: Mr. Uther Chesterton. For a bass: Mr. Deeping Downer. For a pianist: Mr. or Miss Ivory Pounds. For a banjoist: Mr. Plunkett Stringer.
Miss Phyllis Lett, in a brief speech, explained that her name was all-British and had no connection whatever with Lithuania.
Ultimately, on the proposal of Lord Howard de Walden, seconded by Mr. Josef Holbrooke, a small committee was appointed, consisting of Sir Edward Elgar, Professor Bantock, Madame Clara Butt, Mr. Ben Davies and Sir Henry Wood, to enquire into the different proposals, and the meeting dispersed to the strains of "For he might have been a Rooshan."
A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
"The audience was divided into two sections; the Smith supporters cheered every blow Wye landed as a point for their man, while Wye's friends were equally enthusiastic on his behalf."—Daily Mail.
With the Smith supporters behind us, and a Smith referee, we are prepared to take on Carpentier.