WINTER EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 86, 4 July 1871, Page 5

WINTER EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS.

(Communicated.) In our advertising columns will be found the programme of the first of the series of Winter evening popular entertainments, to take place in Cromwell during the course of the current hybernal season. The inaugural performance commences next Thursday night in Kidd's Concert Hall, and from the varied and undoubted talent of the professional and amateur artUte*, who have kindly volun i teered their services in this behalf, a full house, and a full measure of exhilarating enjoyment may be safely predicted. ; Instrumental music, songs, readings, recitations, Ac, are the good things provided for the patrons of the amusement; while as a further enhancement of the allurements of the bill of fare, and by way of giving it the one thing needful to crown its attractiveness, several ladies have graciously tendered their invaluable aid. With such fair and potent auxilliaries, success becomes a certain tv. This is a movement in the right direction, well deserving the hearty support of every person desirous of participating in innocent, mirthful, social recreation ; move particularly so, when the end intended to be compassed hereby is contemplated—the procuring of funds to be applied to the cost of erecting a building exclusively for the public use of the people. Happily, so far, the harmonious combination of all classes, ladies and gentlemen, bids fair to soon achieve the desired object, and it may be reasonably hoped the time is not far distant when our energetic citizens will bo able proudly to point out to the admiring stranger the People's Hall of the picturesquely placed town of Cromwell. The long, dreary, winter nights now weigh wearily upon us, and any pleasurable method of diverting their tedium should be thankfully accepted as a real boon. None bjtter for this purpose could be devised, or none more agreeably calculated to enlarge and cement, the circle of our friendly intercourse with each other, than that afforded bywinter evening re-unions of the kind announced above. Through.various of the Oiagan diggings—perhaps all—where, from the nature of their avocations, or the force of untoward circumstances, men lead isolated lives, in numberless instances unblest by the softening, refining, almost sanctifying influences, of true woman's presence, the poor fellows are apt, gradually, to undergo the process of decivilisation. This retrogressive tendency, if not timely arrested by remedial measures, such as these "gatherings" offer, eventually causes them to grow harsh and gnarled., like solitary old trees on a rocky promontory, whose tempest twisted trunks have been salinely indurated by the ceaseless surges of the troublous ocean. Hundreds of fine able men, full of noble aspirations and of generous emotions, so conditioned, are dispersed over the riparian wdleys m which our alluvial auriferous treasure is stored, or perched high up amidst the alpine fastnesses of our golden rocked mountains ; and not a few dwell in and about our own neighbourhood. To them these entertainments may' be made a positive blessing, as, by their media, are attainable the much coveted opportunities of again sharing in those amenities of civilisation, always to be found attendant on the social commingling of the sexes. The kind smile of welcome recognition will brighten up the eye, the soft low voice of matron or maid will sound musically in the ear of many a rough bearded, stalwart, but tender hearted digger, who, by these courtesies, may have vividly brought to mind, sweet yet sad reminiscences of mother or sister, or dearly loved one far away ! Awkward habits of demeanour, angularities of disposition begotten of solitude, or restriction solely to t.ie companionship of the self-dubbed "Lords of creation," will pleasantly smoothen down, and curve into gainly suavity. Old time-honoured memories again resume their soothing sway in his perturbed bosom, and after an evening spent at such meetings, he will return to the shelter of his lonely hut, or the society of his mates, a batter, lighter souled, prolnhlv more wisely improved individual. And not only to the adult will advantages of so beneficial a nature be extended : youths, lads, and lasses, can also derive information and instruction, in connection with gratification, through these means. A judicious selection of readings mav bring round a result of this description. Eloquent chapters from standard historians, rare bouquets, culled from the odoriferous gardens of the great poets, extracts f rom the biogr-ipliies of eminent men,

pathetic and humourous passages from tho works of renowned writers of fiction : thus the minds of the "young ideas" can be cultivated, delighted, 'and expanded. Other modes of diversion being, too, at command, we shallhaveever present at theso assemblages, as Milton sings,— " Mirth which wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter holding both his sides ;" so that the winter in a large degree will bo shorn of its monotony, and its inclemency a thing not to be at all regarded. But to make these entertainments truly that which they profess to be, Popular, we must have Popular prices. Tiie one now about to take place, being the first of the season, the charge in this instance i 3 exceptional, and not to be continued at so high a rate. A shilling for admission is quite enough ; and for children, half of that sum. The committee, we bebeve, mean to fix these lower and more pjpul ir figures as the price for tickets on future occasions. By the way, it is as well to state that these entertainments have been arranged to take place every alternate Thursday night—fortnightly. We bid them good speed.