Soldiers F.rewelled

Levin Daily Chronicle, 26 May 1917, Page 2

Soldiers F.rewelled

. » i LEVIN'S "SEND-OFF" TO MEN GOING TO THE FRONT. / * i . ■ I Inclement weather deterred 'but . few from attending the "send-off" to ' s Levin's draft of men about to pro- • cced to 'military training daim.p |at ' Trehtham to undergo preparatory ; tuition for active service in France. ) The farewell took the form of a oonI cert and dramatic entertainment. The 5 Century "Hall was crowded in every . part with a warmly sympathetic' i audience. As a preliminary to the • 1 concert the' Levin Brass Band (in front < • of the liall) played an excellent selec--3 tion of military and other popular ) .airs. His Worship. the Mayor pref sided over the gathering. 2 Monsieur de Mey, an old soldie-r of - Belgium, .played the overtures. His * i opening piece "The March of 'the BelI , gian Carbineers," was oharaeteristic- ■ ally military, with two strongly con' • ' - trasted, themes. In introducing M. i de Mey, the mayor of Levin said that -i i 'the overture was the march of M. do ' Mey's old regiment which still was - doing its duty on the fields of France. - 'Miss Doris Clarke sang "Wake Up" her voicing .of the difficult '; higher I) notes being excellent. She', received 1 an encore. . /. ; 5 , ' A musical monologue sketch "The ' Italian and the Hose," waS clev-erly f interpreted by >Mr O; Bentley [Rus- - sell, but as a composition it deemed 1 to this writer to ,be more b" than p ; or, ~ 3 at least, to blurr the b and p that 1 separata bathois from pathos.' In 3 response to a recall Mr Russell pleased L the audience greatly with a; travesty ? • sketch of the same old policeman and the same old ccolk and the [same old evening meal in the same old kit- • chen. Miss R-üby Scott . contributed the f scng v "An Emblem" 'artistically. (Her 7 ~ voice is of pleasing quality, her enunciation excellent, and the song suited \ " her well. As a recall number she " sang "A Perfect Day," and again > -"leased her hearers. ;* w ' Mr Ken Aitketi's most amusing spe--1 eiality, "The Spaniard that' Blighted 5 my Life," awakened the heartiest applause of the (evening. .The mock tragedy of this absurd song; awalkened laughter that was uproarious. Mrs C. S. Keedwell's humorous reci- "* tation "In the Dark" interpret , ted' with naivete that betoken the true artist. She was recalled, and Ki then gave To!m jßraeken'is immortal ' verses '.Not Undertstoodi," dtfretssing ? - - witli well-'balanoed' emphasis the 5 poet's philosophical .thoughts which ■■ i j give varying distinction'to each sue- ; , ceeding verse. Mrs R. (R. D. Wal- , . lace's playiiig of a musical accompanl--3 ment to the monologue was highly 3 sympathetic. A one-act comedy "Supper fn The Temple," was the next item.Mr O. Bentley Russell took the part •%. of "Kennedy Ross" (a solicitor), and Miss Jluby Scott played "Mrs Doug- »: las" (a widow). The 'supper was .on© to which other guests were (supposedly) elxpected, but only "the solicitor ■'/ and the widow appeared. The fun arose out off successive answers given toy telephone messages from Kennedy "Ross's friends by the widow. These end in the widohv becoming under ; v the necessity of reversing her former refusal of Kennedy's offer of marriage. The humor of the comedy was ; well portrayed' by actor and actress I alike, and they were rewarded with i the heartiest of appla-use. - . . THE MAYOR'S SPEECH. After M. De, Mey- had opened the ■, second part of the program with a i well played pianoforte solo "The Miari seillaise,"Mr. C. Blenktiorn bade farewell to the 'departing soldiers. He referred to the (welcome return Ito Levin of Lieut. T. 'G;'-Vincent, Sergt. .■■■■' Guy Marriott and Private T. M. Kingi don, and - expressed' thef general a-p----i preciation felt foj* their duty .done, ■ In -bidding farewell to tlie : , soldiers Mr Blenkhorn said 'it was ; > : th'e wish of one and all that these' men would be given a safe return to-. Le~ . vin. Tlie list of departing men is aa i. follows:— , - ' 'J 1 ' . J. B. Winchester, Levin. , 0. Rogers l , Levin. ' 1. T-. 'Rawsosn, Levin , •T. H'aniian, Levin. " i ill. G. Staveley, Levin. Hewitt, Levin, -i Presentations .(of Cardigan jalokets were made td the departing soldiers by the mayoress (Mrs Blenkhorn) on behalf of t-hfe ladies' Committee of Lei vin Patrioitic' Society." -The audience then rose .and .heartilyVisang "For they are jolly good fellows. TJi© mayor concluded his speech by tliarik- ? ing the talented performers ' who had oome forward and given them the i excellent ©ntertiainment-lMiey lh!ad . ■< been enjoying. Be made special re- * ference to Misses 'Clarke and-Scott (of -Wellington) . arid O. Bent- r ley Russell and Ken 1 -Aitken'. " . Mr Blenkhorn also spoke appreciatively < of the arduous work of the ladies' committee. ' , * . , THE SECOND -PAR/I'. After songs J»ad been sung by Miss Doris Clarke May" and The "'r Heart of You") Miss - Ruby Sootfc — ("Rose of My Heart" and 'A (Rosebud") and Mr Ken Aitken ("My " Beastly Eyeglass," - monologue) the entertainment was concluded -by -a dra<matic sketch—"Anms and a Man"— - written hy Mr O. Benley R/ussell. Th'e was 'as -fjollows:—'"Brian ißankin" (a millionaire) Mr C. Bent- <> ley ißiUssell, - "Dallas Holly," (late seci'etary to the millionaire) Mr 'Ken

Ait(k«n; "Jennings," (a servant), M Ken Aitken; "[Lady Marion Cover dale Sinclair, Mrs C. S. Koedwell. Tli sketch, concerns the affai/s of the mil lionaJre and life pilfering secretary 1 whoso wont had 1 boon to act as lii employer's almoner and to embezzl for himself labout four-iftfths ;iof tin money the millionaire gave him t distribute to charity. On tho grouni of incompetenoe the secretary ha: been discharged from, his (situation; and then, in the hope of hiding hi: defalcations, he induces Lady Sin ©loir to endeavon tjo abstract some incriminating papers from the mil lionaire's domicile. Tho secretary is engaged to Lady Sinclair, who believes him innocent. While endeavoring to secure tho -papers, iLady Sinclair is discovered by the millioriairt who nllso is in love with her. Explanations follow, and Lady Sinclair is convinced that Dallas has robber) - his employer. In tho end- she becomes betrothed to the millionaire, * afted having seen her late ' 'fiance's vjlliany exposed, in the course of a drnmaiie scene between "Brian Bankin" and "Dallas Holly." The part of millionaire was taken 'by Mr Russell with .a convincing nir; the. man he pourtrayed was of a type of virility? that wtell (have beooime a millionaire. Mrs O. S. K-eedwell's characterisation of the woman in the ease was .giv6n with dramatic earnestness and stage presence. The double parts played •by Mr Ken Aitken were both well taiken, and the whole l effect of the playlet was pleasing. The performers were separately recalled. . "'God Save the King," sung by the audience concluded the proceedings. A special measure of_ praise is undoubtedly due to Mrs It. D. iWallace for the artistic manner in which she carried out the duties of 'accompanist, for the whole of the performers. . The stage decorations, which were again admired, were the worik of Mrs B. R. Gardener,' itnd the ilrandsome bouquets, which were, presented to the ladies performing, were kindly provided by Mrs A. "VV. JRichtor.