Sir Tennyson Smith

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 76, 15 December 1892, Page 2

Sir Tennyson Smith

+ A change was made last evening in the lecture and recitals with which Mr Tennyson Smith has delighted his crowded audience in the Assembly Booms, during this week, in his special subject of the " Humourous, pathetic, and tragic phases of life, " which dealt with miscellaneous subjects interesting to all classes of the community. The lecturer gave sufficient proof that as an entertainer he has few equals. Mr F. Y. Lethbridge presided, and introduced the lecturer to a large audience, the entertainment opening with a selection by the Feilding orchestra, which was rendered with taste and exactitude. Mr Smith then commenced his lecture by giving a most amusing imitation of elocutionists he had met. He then recited the " Road to Heaven " — a touching story beautifully told — changing from the sadder " Phases of Life." His next recital (Eton's " Fireman's Wedding ") pictured a deed of heroism ; the scene, a London fire, graphically described, and the whole recital was a splendid elocutionary effort, evoking a stormy of applause. " A concert in R ," a most laughable and humorous sketch of a chairman sometimes met with, and an amusing imitation of a recitation given by a young man who always kept his engagements followed, and the lecturer's humour simply convulsed the audience with laughter. Space will not permit a description of the remainder of the recitations given by Mr Tennyson Smith. They were all gems of the : elocutionary and dramatic art, but perhaps in the recitation of the patriotic poem, " Shamus O'Brien," the ability of the elocutionist was most powerfully shown, while in the delivery of the temperance poem, entitled " Tbe Vagabond, " was a specimen of splendid dramatic effort and realistic word-paint-ing. The audience showed marked appreciation throughout of the intellectional treat afforded them, the applause was most enthusiastic, and it would be difficult to say whether the representations given of the tragic, the pathetic, or the humorous phases of life met with most favor, but all received their meed of praise and due appreciation, and a most enjoyable programme was brought to a close at a late hour. During the evening Miss Fraser, (Miss Bell ye accompanied) Mr H. Dixon, and Mrs Lyon rendered capital solos, the former being encored. A word of praise is due to the large and efficient choir which rendered very nice selections under the direction of Mr Shearer, also to the Orchestra "Is Prohibition Bight?" is the title of Mr E. Tennyson Smith's lecture to-night which has always proved one of the most interesting of the series wherever given. A special feature of the meeting is that discussion and questions bearing on the above subject, are invited, and doubtless some very interesting information will be elicited. At the conclusion Mr Tennyson Smith will give his famous dramatic representation of a "Tug O'War "— prohibitionists versus liquor traffic. Tomorrow night Mr Tennyson Smith's special, and farewell subject " The Trial of a Notorious Criminal " (alcohol) will be given. The crowded meetings at the Assembly Booms each evening this week have amply testified to the popularity of the lecturer and we predict every success for the last night of the mission. A nominal charge of one shilling and sixpence only will be made.