ORPHANS' PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 58, 6 September 1926, Page 13

ORPHANS' PARTY

GOVERNOR-GENERAL THE CHIEF GUEST.

To be an Orphan in the social, not legal, sense of the word, is to know how to extend a right royal welcome to visitors and to put on an entertaining and excellent programme. This was shown on Saturday evening, when His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, was the guest of honour and was initiated as Chief Orphan for the evening. Orphans in large numbers gathered in the Masonic Hall, and the chairman, Mr. M. Carr, welcomed His Excellency, who was received with mu.ical honours. In his introductory remarks, the chairman extended on behalf of the Orphans a hearty welcome to His Excellency, who, he hoped, would find relief from the laying of foundation stones in the laying of the foundations of many and lasting friendships. A welcome was also extended- to the other visitors, who were told to be at their ease: "They will not be asked to respond, as His Excellency and I have decided that whatever talking there is to be done, we can do quite well ourselves." His, Excellency, having been installed as Chief Orphan for the evening, briefly returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him. He referred to the opera, "The Pirates of Penzance," in which a band of pirates to salve their consciences, made it a rule never to molest an orphan. Consequently there was a boom in orphans and business became dull until a live general and his daughters were captured. The general lied and said he was an orphan —a statement which he repented for the rest of his life. "You,",, said His Excellency, "have captured a real live British General, but he will never repent having been an orphan; my prototype lamented, but I shall always be glad." His Excellency concluded a humorous speech by relating a story about a lady of his acquaintance. She was visiting an old people's home when one of the inmates reminded her that she had on a previous visit promised to sing. So, after singing some Scottish songs in fulfilment of her promise, she asked what next she should sing. The inmate, with an eye on the clock which indicated the passing of the dinner hour, promptly suggested, "God Save_the King." "The hint," said His Excellency, "was taken, and j. will stop too." An excellent programme, which, besides music, embraced elocutionary items and character sketches, was given during the evening, to the success of which the Orphans Orchestra gfeatly contributed.