THE CHAUTAUQUA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 136, 4 March 1919, Page 11

THE CHAUTAUQUA

, -, j»... >... - ; '!• Ml. AN.DEEW JOHKSO'N; MP. A GII'TED THIO. ' . '

The Chautaiitjua is 'certainly finding favour with' the Wellington public La6t evening, which.was calm and peaceful, found the big bvown tent in Boulcott Street : eoinnletely- filled'", with an audience which showed'-every.sign.of appreciation for the fare : provided. Tho management showed'-its discretion by allowing a trio of New-Zealand artists.'to ■supply the ''musical part of the .programme, and if all the-entertainerswho are to-appear in the tent this week exhibit the same standard, of -musical quality, there will be no complamt-s. .' The three young ladies are Miss Evelyn Harvey (pianistc). ■ Miss Jessie .. Bartlott (mezzo-soprano),'■ and Miss'A. Symons (violinist). - Miss Symons, who produces a very strong and sympathetic tone in alliance with a technique and finish that would ' hold audiences anywhere, made a deep impression on her audience by her vital- rendering ofi,-,Fritz Kreisler's "Lieberfreuk," and infused 'a wealth of tenderness and delicacy'into Drdla's familiar "Serenade." Recalled again, Miss Symons played 1 with rare skill an "Allegro Brilliant," which made considerable demands on-'the- purely technical side of the 'player's art, Miss Bartlett's rich mezzo voice, true to pitch and'alive with feeling, was heard in "Love's Coronation," "Harvester's Night Song," "An 01d,Fashion'ed Town,'' Alfred ■ Hill's "Waiata Foi" (delightfully sung)', "My Ain Folk," and "At Dawning," and Sucifccded in captivating the big audience by her effortless art."-Miss Harvey is a skilful pianist, l : hut was handicapped by having to play on'o- piano the tone of which has passed its prime. '• She played •the "Prelude in' B Minor" of Mendelssohn and - Sinding's "Match Grotesque," a ouaiiit composition of. the patrol type. Miss Symons's violin obbligatos to. some of Miss Bartlett's songs were an artistic, lesson on how such embellishments can be made to grace the singer's art. The musical' part of the, progranihie over. Dr. Andrew Jolinaon held the platform with a'lecture oh "Eli and Dennis," in 1 the course of which he sought, in a breezy manner that held the audience firmly throughout, 'to ' illustrate . the fundamental necessities of the happier life. The lecture wqs enriched With a score or so of bright tnappy stories toldto • illustrate a ; point, make a contract, or strike a simile, with the result that' tin audience was kept in mi ripplo of laughter, whilst absorbing tho philoso-' phy that-character-counts, not money.. Dr. Johnson made a strong point of the manner in which the school teacher was paid—not in New- Zealand ; alone,' ~ but throughout' the world!'' He .illustrated his grievance against the prevailing coih ditions by stating 1 that in his home State the farmer? were not satisfied with the stamp of horses they had,'and clubbed together to purchnse a'really good horse. Having secured a high-grade animal, they decided that the horse could' "only be properly looked after by an-expert, and thev hired ono at £W a month. At the samo time they wanted a new s«Jiool teacher j advertised for one, and accepted the lowest bidder—at' ,£8 per '.-month. Then they wondered why they had finer colts than children.

Dr. Johnson apd tho Artists' Trio also supplied the afternoon programme. •. At' its conclusion. Miss Ostler,']l,A.,.. gathered all the little, children who! were present round her, and told them 'glories —simple little stories, with .'a carefully camouflaged moral, but the children listened open-mouthed, apd took in tho,'.fas- 1 cinating , fiction like, mother's milk. Everyone loves v. story—with children it is one of the primitive, .passions. : ;