Birmingham Notes

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 50, 13 October 1892, Page 3

Birmingham Notes

[FBOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.] The leap-year hall given by the young ladies of the neighborhood to the bachelors of Birmingham and district, took place on Friday evemng last, and was in all respects a most successful affair. The Town Hall was nicely decorated, and dancing was kept up with great vigour and animation till the small hours of the morning. , „ It was cool in there when the waltz was done — . , , All green, with the moonshine through Somehow I was tempted to steal— jiwt one — , . , Don't know how I came to do it ! Her cheek had the tiniest tinge of rose, She'd have answered " Yes "—and I knew it; But she seemed so ready to hear me propose That, somehow — I didn't do it. Great praise is due to the committee of ladies who had tbe management of the ball and the bachelors were highly pleased with the attention shown and the good things provided for their creature comforts. I am sorry that a slip of the pen made the notes of last week say of the, instead of to the, bachelors. The Literary Society held a most enjoyable meeting last Saturday evening. The Town Hall was well filled. Mr Fergusson, V.P., occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the hon. sec. proposed, and Mr Guy seconded the motion, That as all the ladies of the district were now entitled to free membership of the Society, they be asked to proyide an evening's entertainment to the members of the Society this day month.— Tbe motion having been carried by acclamation, it now rests with the ladies to form a committee so as to bring the affair to a successful issue, and knowing how the leap-year ball was managed I am sure the ladies will carry out the affair in a most creditable manner. The evening's programme consisted of a song by H. Tolley, senr., entitled "The Man that Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo's ; Miss Carter, song, " The Kerry Dance " ; H. Tolley, junr., song, " A Hundred Fathoms Deep " ; Miss Tolley, a selection of Scotch airs on the piano. The curtain then rose, and on the stage was to be seen a very good representation of a law court. Mr Morton, as " Judge Starleigh," occupied a raised seat, and With his wig and gown looked tbe character to the letter. Mr Baynes was " Clerk of the Court " ; Mr Ashton, " Sergeant Buzfuz " ; Mr Tolley, iunr., "Sergeant Snubbins." The jury having been properly sworn in, a great sensation was caused in Court by Mrs Bardell (Mr Stokes) being eseortQd to the witness-box by her friends Mrs Cluppins (Mr J. Pelligrew) and Mrs Sanders (Mr W. Tolley). As Mrs Bardell took her seat all eyes were on the lady (?), who acted his part in such a manner as to quite bother a gentleman in the body of the Court, who would have it that Mrs B. was a veritable woman. The performance of Mr Stokes was quite one of the events of the eyening. Her little boy (Master Guy) afforded much amusement by his artless behaviour, evidently he was quite surprised at the whole proceedings. The Clerk Of the Court called on the case " Bardell against Pickwick." Sergt. Buzfuz opened the case for the plaintiff with a most forcible and entertaining speech on behalf of his client (as described in Pickwick papers). Mrs Cluppins was put in the box, and intormed the Court how she heard (but would scorn the haction of listening) the conversation between Mrs Bardell and Mr Pickwick, Much laughter was caused by the appearance and action ot this witness, who acted the part to perfection. Mr Winkle (Mr A. Moss) was next in the box, and his get-up and appearance caused much amusement. The way that this gentleman went through the ordeal of being bullied and badgered by thelearned Buzfuz and the Fussy Judge .showed that he had carefully studied and thought over the part he had to perform. The next witness was Mrs Sanders (Mr W. Tolley), and the way the character was worked out caused much laughter, when Sam Weller (Mr H. S. Moss) was called it was the signal for a general cheer. The stalwart usher (Mr McNair) had to call silence, seyeral times. When " Sam " was asked how he spelt his name a gruff voice was heard in the centre of the Court "Spell it vith a* We,' Sammiveil! Put it down a 'We,' my lord 1" The Judge ordered the usher to take that man into custody, but he could not be found, and Sam could not see his father. The case proceeded, and Sam completely bothered the counsel so that he was glad to get rid of him. This gentleman's acting was quite artistic, and created a most favorable impression with the audience. Sergt. Snubbins (Mr H. Tolley) then rose to address the jury on behalf of Mrs Pickwick, the defendant. As Dickens only gives an outline of this Bpeech, it is left to the actor to provide his own address to the jury. It is due to this gentleman that he acquitted himself in a most praiseworthy way and worked his pomts well. The little Judge summed up, and the jury brought in a verdict of damages £750, Mr Pickwick declanng that he would never pay a farthing of the amount to those scoundrels— Dodson and Fogg. Great paise is due to all concerned in this performance, the first of a series and we may look forward to with pleasure to the next. The wigs were from the establishment of Messrs Lambs, Wool, and Co., and the dresses from the firm ofPullout and Cabbage and were much admired. Mr H. Tolley, senr., was prompter.