ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 441, 27 September 1877, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.

(From a correspondent.) Another cheap concert in aid of the Catholic School came off 011 Wednesday evening last, aud was attended by a large and appreciative audie ice. Dr. Allan was requested to take the chair, •which he filled in a very able manner. In the few words which he spoke by way of introduction, he alluded feelingly to the death by drowning of one of our townsmen (Mr. Kyan) since the previous concert,-which sad event had, he said, prevented the ladies and gentlemen who were about to amuse the audience from bestowing that careful preparation on their different parts which they would otherwise have done. Miss Prescott theu opened the proceedings by reciting a piece " your Grapes " very cleverly. She was followed by Miss Uormick with a song " Where is Lulu gone to ?" for which . she was encored. Both theso young girls (only children as yet) well sustained the reputatiou they have earned—the one for reciting, the other for singing. Mr. Ewing gave a comic reading, which kept the audience laughing while it lasted. Mrs. Runny followed with a song "Good-bye at the .Door," which she gave with much feeling. Mrs. Wakefield was then requested to play a piece of music on the harmonium, which -she kindly Mfcri ia a very clever mau-

sier rendered; Mr. ?. Eagle gave & very uncommon performance " The Greenock Railway." His imitation shriek ami beat cJf the engine was so psrfofet that one cutiide would fancy there was a locom-ftive tearing away inside. He took toe audienco past many stations and landed thc-m in Glasgow in a short time, and was rapturously applauded for ho doing. Mr. -1: Tien'ty brought- the first part of the program ins ,id s close by giving a couiic song, for which ha was loudly encored. The Chairman lead off in the second part by reading A. piece of poetry, which recorded in feeling language the " Death of a Russian Volunteer." Mr. Ganhon then eang '' Pat Molluy" Very cleverly. Mr. Eagle followed with another song, for which he encored. Mr. T. Dillon, who by the way malj his first api pearance on a stage, then sang *' The dear little Shamrock" in superior style. Mr H'Kay. in his character of " Ching Cheng," was very clever and created general amase» meiit. Mrs. \Y aketield'followed with another rendering of sweet music. Mes lames AUau and Bunny sang " Fanny Gray, ' and when they retired there were loud calls for " What are you crying for, Nelly ?" which t-Hey kindly gave again very cleverly. Mr. John Mel via closed a very agreeable entertainment by singing in good style a Scotch convivial •song. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Chairman aud the performers.

An interesting experiment has been made at a horse-s!p.ughterinp establishment at Dudley, with a view of testing a new system of slaughtering cattle b\ means of dynamite, and thus putting them < ut o." existence more speedily and with less suffering than by the ordinary pole-axe. Two large powerful horses and a donkey (disabled for work) wc-re ranged in a line about half a yard apart under a shed; the donkey being placed in the ceiitre. A small primer ot dyne mite, with an electric fuse attached, was then placed on each, .of their foreheads, find fastened id position by a piece of string under their jaw. The wires wer« then coupled cp in circuit, and attached to the electric machine, which stood about five yards iu front. The handle of the machine then being turned; an electric current was discharged, which exploded the three charges simultaneously, and the animals fell dead without a struggle. The whole affair was over in two minutes, and the experiment appears to have been a perfect success. It was conducted by Mr. Johnson, agent for Noble's explosives, assisted by Mr. Harris, one of the dy*. n ami to instructors. By this uc-anß, it is stated, any number—even a hundred or more cattle—may be instantly killed by the same current of electricity; There cannot be a doubt that the present system of slaughtering cattle is open to l the charge of being cruel and and the slightest want of skill on the part of the slaughterer often subjects the unhappy beasts to horrible torture; Any attempt to extinguish life painlessly is a ■step in the right direction, not only as regards cattle, but also as regards criminals sentenced to capital punishment, whose case equally deserves consideration. The 4 Manchester Guardian's' London correspondent says that three sisters of Mr. Eidsdale's congregation have joined the Catholic Chuieh in consequence of their pastor's submission to the recent decision. They were amongst the most generous of his supporters. The Bishop of Lincoln has written io one of his clergy; severely rebuking him for forwarding a petition in favor of uafermented wine at the Holy Communion. The "Bishop says that in their present frame of wind the petitioners are not fit to receire the sacrament at all, as in their pharisaic self-conceit they set up their private opinions against the universal practice of 1800 years. The mistakes made by bookmakers in pronouncing the names of racehors&a are sometimes very amusing. Keceniijr at Epsom they were laying 3 to 1 "Piah" and 4 to 1 against <r Coffee eater " (Cophetua). At ih& Streatham meeting they yelled " 10 to' 1 agin the Opera Singer: I'll lay agiri the Opera Singer," as they familiarly termed Mr. Potter's Salvini.