THORNDON GIFT RECITAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 5, 1 October 1917, Page 3

THORNDON GIFT RECITAL

IN AID OP THE BED CEOSS FUNDS. On Saturday aftornoon the much.-tnJlc-ed-of girt recital, arranged by Mrs. P. J. Nathan and Miss Estelle Beere, was held in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall, for the benefit of the l'horndon day at the Wollington Hed Cross Shop. The audience quite filled the chamber, both upstairs and down, and for tho ohildren who wore present (and there wero a good many) a very handsome Christmas tree had been provided, full of promise to their eager eyes. The entertainment, whioh had been arranged by Mrs. Nathan and Miss Beere, was uf nn uncommon character, and consisted of tho recital of three fairv stories, English, Japanese, and Belgian, by . the former, while a number ot picturesquelydressed children performed dances principally of a national character, under the direotion of Miss Beere. Mrs. Nathan, as a fairy queen, was a strikingly effective figure in her dress of ivory georgette over sold tissue, made with long hanging sleeves of the latter material, and finished with a golden girdle embroidered with Jewels. Golden iridescent wings fastened to the back of tho shoulders, and a golden circlet worn with powdered hair, added the finishing touches to a very picturesque appearance, which was made still mora effective by tho grouped figures of tho children during the recital of stories which would havo beon a very heavy tax .upon the memorising powers of a grent number of people. Tho Selfish" Giant" was the name of the first story, the second, f TMslnme Tare," and the third, life Belgian story, wm called "The Silly Jellyfish." Miss Rene Taylor danced "a Highland fling with bagpipe accompaniment by %lr. W. If. Brown, and preceding tlie English fairy story a fairy ballet, specially arranged by Miss Beere, was danced by a jiumber of children,! with Miss Zelda Bailey as soloist. Miss 'Joan Beere danced delightfully an Irish jig, whioh she preceded with a iittle Irish song, 6ung .with muoh coqnettishness. Miss Thurza Itogers,. who is a oharming dancer, gave, fn costume, an Italian dance, for which she was recalled,- and an effective haTlequin ballet, by the Misses Ooodson, Lambert, Connop (2), Donnelly, Ossipoff, Banning, and Knowsley, picturesquely dressed to "suit the character, was another'appreciale'd item,upon the pTogramo. M. Eugene Ossipofi's national songs, Polish and Russian, also the "Marseillaise," were sung with fine spirit, and during the latter the children maTched upon the stage carrying the flags of the different nations they represented. Mr. Tombs's very efficient orchestra, , with Miss Valerie Corliss at the piano, added very materially to the success of the afternoon. , After the entertainment was at end tho tree for the children became the centre of attraction, ' Mrs. Hobbs and Miss D'Oyley, with assistants, being in charge, and it was not long before the many fascinating toys and gifts with whioh it was laden found their way into the eager hands of the small folk. Her Excel; lency, the Countess of Liverpool, Mrs! Massey, the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Lulce), and Mi6s Massey were among those who were present, also Mrs. Fulton and Mrs. C. Richardson, and other members of the Entertainment Committee. The sale of sweets (Mrs. F, M. B. Fisher)~and/ programmes' brought in the sttm of Jill.