ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 436, 23 August 1877, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.

(From a correspondent.)

~ August 18th. ..... The first of the cheap concerts promised some time ago in aid of the Catholic School caine oft'on Thursday evening, the 16th instant, and was in every way a great success. Mrs. Wakefield kindly presided at the harmonium, and, with Mr. Pyle as violinist, rendered some choice music in very superior style. Dr. Allan occupied the chair, and in a very neat speech explained the object of this and the concerts to follow, which was to get the school out of debt, and, if possible, form the nucleus of a fund for the erection of a new Church, it being inconsistent (except in eases of necessity) to hold divine service in schoolrooms. After some further remarks, the Chairman called upon Miss Maggie Cormick for a song, and that young lady responded by giving in sweet and musical voice " Sweet Belle Mahone." Miss Cormick s excellent rendering of this song drew down frequent and deserved applause. Mr. G. Prescott followed with a comic reading, which was well aeceived. Mr. Gannon was the next to come forward, but, having attempted a song which he had not sufficiently committed to memory, broke down—a most unusual occurence for Mr. Gannon. Miss Prescott then "gave a recitation in her usual fine style. The piece selected by Miss Prescott illustrated in elegant language the pride of a mother's heart —a noble young man —wrecked and ruined by a too frequent indulgence in strong drinks, and concluded by warning young men to be ware of the fatal drug. The next was a Highland fling by Mr. M'Kenzie, whose neat and superior style of dancing was frequently applauded. Mr. Pyle, who appeared to be in good voice, brought the first part of the pro • gramme to a close by singing " The Minstrel Boy," for which he was warmly applauded. After a short interval, Miss Theresa Gerkins came forward and gave a recitation on " Beauty" in excellent style. The moral of this pretty piece points to the folly of choosing beauty of face rather than beauty of heart and mind ; and at its conclusion Miss Gerkins received well merited applause. Mr. M'Eay followed with a song upon " Noses," which created general laughter. Mr. John Cormick was then called upou to dance the sailors' hornpipe. Mr. Cormick always dances well, but it was said by many that he excelled himself on this occasion, and when he finished there was loud applause. The Chairman then gave a reading "The two Mrs. Smiths." The worthy doctor, who happens to be an excellent reader, was loudly applauded when he sat down. Mrs. Bunny then sang " Marble Halls" with such taste and perfection that she had to submit to an encore. Mr. Eenwick followed with " Where there's a will there's a way," which he sang with much spirit. Then followed what may be termed the event of the evening " Mother, he's going away," sung in character by Mesdames Allan and Bunny. Both ladies were in good voice, and very effective as mother and daughter, Mrs. Bunny's impersonation of the former being simply side-splitting. When they retired there was continued cheering and shouting of " encore," until they had to appear again and repeat the same song. It is to be hoped, now that these ladies have been coaxed from their retirement to aid in a good cause, that they will bo equally generous again whenever a similar cause calls for their assistance. Mr. Melvin as usual brought a very agreeable and successful enter* tainment to a close.