Going grey

Monday, February 21st., Comarques, Thorpe-le-Soken.

Haymarket concert in aid of Wounded Allies Relief Committee at night. I have charge of the money-getting department of the Committee, and it is ageing me. I shall soon have quite grey hair. Greying hair, I am told, suits me. If I could get 75,000 dollars out of the U.S.A. for my fund, my hair would resume its original heavenly brown. The problem is that we are coming to the end of our tether for lack of funds, England being about squeezed dry. I may write to Mrs. Herzog.

For more on the W.A.R.C. see 'Coaching'

Though the concert went off without a hitch, I was very glad when it was over. I had no particular trouble but I will never organise another. The theatrical element, Henry Ainley and Nelson Keys, had a much greater success than the musical element. The latter was naturally jealous, but could not help peeping and hugely enjoying the former. One is more struck than ever by the forced cordiality of all greetings and all praise in this monde. Miss Ada Crossley, the oldest singer there, has very great charm and she got the first encore. After Ainley people began to go, and after Nelson Keys a lot went. These two had each more than one encore, and occupied a great deal of time, so that the concert was not over till 10.25. 

Henry Ainley was born on August 21, 1879 in Morley, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. he started as a bank accountant before becoming one of Britain's more esteemed Shakespearean actors.As an actor, he was known for As You Like It (1936), The Prisoner of Zenda (1915) and Rupert of Hentzau (1915). He was married to Bettina von Hutton, Elaine Titus Fearon and Susanne Sheldon. He died on October 31, 1945 in London, England. he was President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, 1931-33.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp5GdGqwz4Y

Nelson Keys was born on April 7, 1886 in London, England as Nelson Waite Keys. He was an actor, known for Knights for a Day (1937), Almost a Divorce (1931) and When Knights Were Bold (1929). He died on April 26, 1939 in London. he appeared in stage revues and musical comedies from 1906.

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/stage-stars-off-stage-nelson-keys-the-famous-chara

Ada Jemima Crossley (1874–1929) was an Australian singer. Born at Tarraville, Gippsland, Victoria, her singing in the country met with so much appreciation that she was sent to Melbourne to be trained, where Sir Frederic Cowen, heard her sing and gave her advice. Her first appearance was with the Philharmonic Society at Melbourne in 1889. She sang frequently in Melbourne at concerts and in oratorio, and in 1894, she went to Europe. Her first appearance in London was at the Queen's Hall on 18 May 1895, when she had an immediate success. For many years she held a leading place at music festivals and on the concert platform, and she gave five command performances before Queen Victoria in two years. She was also successful in America, and on returning to Australia in 1904 her tour was a series of triumphs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XcnTb5GMXE

I had a rotten night.

Additionally for February 21st., see 'Culture in the provinces'

Audience determined to appreciate high-class music, and applauding the noisiest and most showy. Crass inertia and stupidity of sundry women around me, determined to understand and to enjoy nothing.