Concert at Cheltenham.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 251, 28 April 1896, Page 2

Concert at Cheltenham.

A highly successful social in connection with the formal opening of the Cheltenham Fubiic Library was held in the Hall on Saturday evening last, when fully one hundred oftbe public were present in response to the invitation of the Committee. Mr Fowler acted as M.C. to the proceedings and carried out his duties ener- | getically and wel], and was ably assisted by the other members oi the Library Committee. The proceedings took the form of songs, in the choruses of which the andience joined most heartily, instrumental pieces, dancing, and addresses by the President, Mr Wm. Mills, and the hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr Spencer. Befreshments were provided and banded round by Mesdames Spencer, Bruce, Dowdle, Nicolls, Barrow, Fowler, and Miss Mills, the quality and quantity of which were much appreciated by those present. Songs were sung at intervals by Messrs B. and H. Templer, Pelling, Tappin, Sykes, Fowler, and Masters Guy and Templer. Mrs Spencer played several instrumental pieces, and, also, furnished the music for tbe dancing in conjunction with Messrs Bobinson and Fowler. A large number of those attending the social became members and the hon. Librarian, Mr James Mills, was kept busy the whole evening in receiving subscriptions and issuing books. It would not be out of place here to give a description of tbe reading room which is attached to the Library — and which the Committee have determined to open two nights in the week, viz., Tuesdays and Saturdays — and is commodious and is furnished with reading tables, periodicals, games, ches?, draughts, halma, and back gam mom and is well lighted by a magnificent Bochester lamp, the munificient gift of the United Farmers' Cooperative Association. The Library so far can boast of over two hundred really good books and when the promised|donations come in fully three hundred volumes will be on the shelves, a state of affairs . which, for a smalljplace like Cheltenham, is highly creditable and the Committee deserve every encouragement for the "way in whicb tlie undertaking has been brougbt to such a successful beginning- •