The social event of the week has been the great benefit performance to Nellie Farren at Drury Lane. The famous old theatre has seen some notable benefit performances in its time, but never anything to equal this. The performance was to begin at half-past twelve on Thur-day; and immediately after the doors were closed upon the pantomime on Wednesday night a score or 0 of people took their places outside the gallery door.
On' Thursday morning. there was no getting near the theatre, and no one who had not secured his seat weeks ago, before even the booking office was open, stood the remotest chance of getting in unless he had waited at least five hours outside the gallery or amphitheatre door. There was erdly an actor or actress in London who did not appear in one or other of the monster list of entertainments; and when Nellie held her reception the enthusiasm was indescribable. Unfortunately the rheumatic affection from which she is suffering is pronounced incurable, and she will never act again; but the £6,000 resulting from the benefit will at least secure her from want for the remainder of her days.
18th March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.