"Good-Bye and Good Luck"

Levin Daily Chronicle, 21 July 1917, Page 3

"Good-Bye and Good Luck"

LEVIN'S FAREWELL TO MEN FOR THE 32nd REINFORCEMENTS. The Century Hall was comfortably filled last night, when Levin Patriotic Society gave a "send-off" to the Reinforcements iVoin Levin town and district who are to join the colors as members of the 32nd Reinforcements for the ;New Zealand Expeditionary Force. His Worship the Mayor of Levin said farewell to the men, and t'he mayoress (Mrs \BlenMiorn) ipresented each recruit with a Cardigan jacket, the gift of the ladies' tee of the Levin Patriotic Society. Tho entertainment took the form of a concert in the first part, and tho second part of it was concluded with a display of conjuring and sleight-of-hand by Mr W. Scott, of the Seigel Picture Company. The sftago was tastefully arranged with seasonal flowers and "tho national flags that vanked the proscenium made a very effoctivcl contrast of bright colore against the green, white and yellow of tho horticultural displays. Owing to the sudden ' indisposition of Mr J. K. Hornblow, who was to have motored over from 'Foxton, the Foxton party that was to have taken part in tho concert was unable to attend. Levin Brass Band, under Bandmaster G. Davison played a spirited selection of airs, dn front of the hall, by way of prelude to the doncert. T l, indoors program |Was opened by Mfrs Matthews, whose contribution of a pianoforte solo was artistically interpreted.

''Wheal all was young and pleasant" was sung by Misa W. Walker, with excellent expression and pure tone.

, As ia substitute for Mr iiorrtblow, Mr W. Brown followed with a. spirited 'descriptive song of a type now s 'Mom attempted lin public and he infused into it a dramatic earnestness that made it realistic and impressive. As a second number he gave "Son of Mine," and infused into this wellknown ditty, with its strong-contras-ted' phases of plaintiveness and vigor, the . requisite contrasts of expression. He received a well-deserved ovation. Miss G. Drew's fine mezzo-contralto voice was heard to advantage in "'Do you iremombt/r long ago," aind fjhe received a well-merited recall. She responded with "iComing iHbme," in which number she was especially successful in the trilled staves. A series of short sketches of "ißair-nio-dom" were given by Mr W. Brown. An American lullaby monologue was so esp6cially pleasing that even an infant in the audience expressed its appreciation of the item. "Little Breeches," the evergreen composdtikm. of a famous United States Ambassador also pleased the audience. ".Little B&ptigta," a . lYenph-tGanadi-tau sketch, iwjas another recited set of verses; in fact it excelled the others.' Mr 'Gilder's contribution "True as tho Compass," a nautical love song, pleased his auditors and gained him an appreciative recall. He gave "In tho West Countree" as his extra contribution to the program, and again won well-meited' applause. Mr J. Golder's comic song "I've Brought tho Coal," elicited the heartiest applause of tho evening, and before the audience was content he had to contribute three more items. "Any Rags?" his seoond item, was given with a vim and appreciation oi the writer's humor, that stamped the siiv ger as one of more than ordinary ability. The second part was opened by Mrs Matthews, who played a' a, daintilytripping overture in artistic manner, after which the mayor of Levin eaid farewell to the departing soldiers.

Mr Blenkhorn began by saying lie was pleased to welcome back Messrs Piring'.e, Morgan aoul Lodge. Unfortunately they were allowing signs of the strenuous times they had been through :. Sei-gfc. Lodge had lost an

alrrn, Private Morgan had suffered from shrapnel wounds, ahd Private Pringle had been incapacitated by fever. However, they were back again, and they had the satisfaction of knowing that they had done. their duty; a satisfaction that would increase as the years went on. The mayor nest referred to the departing soldiers, and said he was sure that Messers L. B. Bairron, G. Broomfield and J. C. Milnes would do their duty as ■well as had any one who had gone before them, and ho trusted they would come back safe and sound (applause). At this stage Mrs Blenkhorn present-

Ed Messrs Milnee and (Broomfield' with Cardigan jackets (Mr Barron was unavoidably absent in Wellington) and expressed his* desire that they would have good luck and • a safe return. The audience hero p;avo th;;ee hearty cheers. In acknowledging the reception given him—

Private IMilnes said he was one who Iritl waited for the ballot; lie had had ties which lie fev't it hi- ( duty -lo lpok after; now he was drawn in the ballot he was going forward with a good heart to do his duty. But he did wish to say that if it was good for one to go forward it was good for tho lot; he had no time for the "coTiscientfkws objector" Nvlio religion as a handle to shirk iliis duty" (Applause.) Mr Mil nee concluded by thanking the audience heartily for

the reception given him, and exposed a hope that he and his fellows would be able to do credit 'tot the patriotic ladies of - Lev/in, who had given them the Cardigan, jackets that evening (applause).

Mr Motteirshead's song "When the Bells of Joy Shall Ring," was well sung, and tUie lilting rhythm of the chorus was voiced with telling accuracy. In response to a recall he

gave} "My Old Kentucky,' Home," and did full justice to this plaintive air of the old'-time Christy Minstrels. A "hidden chorus" helped effectively with the refrain.

"The Aider man of the Ward'—a Yankees-Irish ,com)ic ditty of well-es-tablished popularity was interpreted by Mr J. Golder to the complete satisfaction of "the boys," and he had to give a recitation as an extra item: apthctie composition about a_ heartbroken woman who awaited the homecoming of her drunken husband "with a poker up her sleeve 1" Miss G. Drew (of Palmerston North) won approval from the audience witha 'vocal number—"The Tide Stuns Out"—a pleasing little llove lyric. She had to respond to an imperative recall. A highly diverting number was Mr W. Brown's ,it!em "A Modefrn [Scr- 1 mon: Mother Hubbard." The ah" surd and humorous points were made with aplomb by the recitefr, and he soon had his audience in convulsions of' laughter. As an encore number he gavel that beautiful Scottish id.j!ll "Bairnies Cuddle Doonl" It was excellently pourtrayed- Mir Brown undoubtedly has more -tiha® ordinary talent, and he will ibe warmly welcomed whenever he chooses to appear in Levin. Mr W. Scott's conjuring and sleight-of-hand "tiu'rn" was pleve/r land ciotertaining. (He gathered l ooinu from tliei >air, (passed articles from one receptacle to janotiher (without his audience being able to detect his methods; tied handkerchiefs together apparently by firing them from a 'gun, and proved, 'himself adept 'in many of the harder testis of hand. His "patter," also' was of an, entertaining nature, and' his portion of the evening's amusement was much enjoyed by one and all.

Mrs Matthews acted as accompanist to ail performers, and her playing was l sytnpatlietjic and fcpiritcd throughout.