ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 174, 5 July 1872, Page 5

ST. BATHANS.

June 29. The second entertainment, since this winter commenced, in aid of tho National School, came off in the schoolroom on the evening of Friday last, and was fully as successful as the The residents of Welshman's, Hill's Creek, and the various stations attended in large numbers; in short, the house was crowded, notwithstanding a considerable addition to the building provided by the School Committee since-last month. The stage +brmed a very attractive feature. Besides being otherwise nicely decorated, th« drop-scene presented a grand view of the Lake of Como, painted in a, very artistic manner by Mr. "Wilkes, and a most beautiful painting by Mr. Kelty of " The Banners of-War," or an AllKations flag, filled the .space, between the top of the drop-scene,and the ceiling. I was not in time to hear the Chairman's address, but' heard that Mr. M'Phail acquitted himself in an admirable manner. I may say shortly of the entertainment that it consisted chiefly of songs, readings, and recitations. Misses Jamie son and Hanger presided at the piano, alternately relieving each other. The singers, nearly all of whom were repeatedly encorec], were Messrs. S. Inder, Watson, Rose, Pyle, junr., Wilkes,. Hewit, Kelty,' Master Prescott,.and, though last not least, Mrs. MThail and Miss 1 Smith. • These'- ladies are not only gifted with sweet voices and sing with; perfect good taste, but. they have also another merit, not quite universal with singers, I mean ihat of perfect articulation. There singing on this occasion

was rapturously encored. The readings and recitations by Messrs. -M'Na.uiara. and Preseott >; were warmly, applauded. THe entertainment concluded '.with the comedy, of " The Waterman.V The actors were Messrs. M'Gormick; W. Pyle,junr, Preseott, and Wilkes, who sustained their several parts well.The Catholic School will be opened here on Monday next, the Ist day of July, under the' tuition of Mr. P: M'Caffry, and considering that" they expect no Grbverument aid, the. pockets and the energy of Catholics will be taxed largely in order to keep it open; but, as they appear to be in earnest, I dare say they will prove equal to the occasion. It is highly creditable to at least two" of the gentlemen who have taken active parts -in aiding the National School during the late entertainments, that they have offered similar' aid to the Catholic School should its supporters desire to get up an en-

tertainmeiit of,their own by an.d--bye.il This is highly character}-»iic of the good feeling which has always prevailed amongst all classes in St." Bathansj and it is unnecessary for me to say that it is entirely because Roman Catholics believe it essential to. their children's future welfare to. have that religious instruction imparted to them which' they cannot get'in the National School', that they (the Catholics) are now opening a school of their own. In doing this they are not the less inclined to live, as they have hitherto lived, on terms of true friendship with their neighbors ; and to this assertion I am in a position to add that the teacher of the- National School (Mr. Torston) is fully as much respected—and deservedly so—by the Catholic portion of the population, as by those who may honestly differ from them on matters relating to education. The frost during the .last few:- weeks has been severe, and in' several claims mining operations are,at a,,.standstill ; but at present there are signs of a thaw setting in.—:A .B.C. '"'