An appreciative and enthusiastic audience, assisted at the prem the Lyceum Theatre last "The Willow" a Chinese fai set to music by Mr. Luigi de Luca, He was also particularly fortunate in the selection of his cast in that Mrs. Eva Hwang admirably portrayed the part of Willow, a Soul from the Spirit World, whilst Mr. A. Slshodskey who, well known to the light opera, sang his part, as the scholarly prince, in better than usual form. although his acting could have been more a¢apted to the Chinese n."
Miss Billie Harvey anà Mr. R. L. Stuart, who only appeared in Act I, acquitted themselves of their task in expert manner, whilst the whole supporting cast, in particular the three Spirits, the Misses Floria Paci, Jean Finch and Jimmie Holwill, were outstanding in their movements which could have hardly been improved upon even by Chinese actors.
All in all "The Willow" pleased last night's audience, the cast and the author, being called on many occasions, and it is more than certain that the production, if presented abroad, should be well received, although the whole opera could be somewhat improved upon if Maestro Paci would see to it that the volume of the otherwise perfect rendition by the complete Municipal orchestra is considerably reduced. The repeat performances today, tomorrow and Saturday, should receive the app they deserve—A.s.t Coming Here Tokyo, Feb. 22.
Mr.'Fumitaka Konoye, son of Prince Fumimaro Konoye, former Premier and at present President of the y Council, left Tokyo on Tuesday mor: ing en route for Shanghai to assume a new post as Dean of Tung Wen College, which is a Japanese higher educational institution in Shanghai to train Japanese who are engaged in various work in China.
He is sailing from Kobe on February 24 aboard the N.Y.K. liner Tatsuta Maru.
Fumitaka Konoye studied ai sity in America, and until recently, was private secretary to his father, Prince Konoye.—Reuter.
Britain Can Stand Strain U.S. Consul-General's He stated that although it was not the British way to indulge in any vain and inglorious boasting, nevertheless it was right to say that Great Britain could stand the strain better than any community in the world. That was so, he sai from every point of view and not only from the financial and economic strength of the country, but through the association of the whole people.
It was a great comfort, Mr, Chugehiil continued, and an additional security that both the Opposition parties, in spite of the many grievous differences which existed, were in no way challenging the principle of this exceptional measure which the Government felt it its duty to propose.
The coming year, concluded Mr. Churchill, would see a very great accretion to Great Britain's defensive strength. For the first time, British aircraft factories would be earning sums on a scale hitherto only attained by Germany.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.