THE CEMETERY CONCERT.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 74, 25 September 1880, Page 2

THE CEMETERY CONCERT.

The long-looted for entertainment in" aid" of the Palm erston Cemetery Fund, took placo on Wednesday evening, and we are pleased to say proved an unqualified^uccess, the attendance being greater than on any occasion since*the Hibernian Concert. The programme opened with a pianoforte duet, by Miss Y;ourfg'and' Master Hayns, mo»t (creditably, "executed, folloVed by the^glee '"May Day," by the Wesleyan Chdh% and we must i»j"w« w^re most' agreeably surprised at the manner m which -jt was rendered, the juvenile portion exhibiting a proficiency and training whicli. was a flattering tribute to Mr. Hartley, the leader. Mr. Burns did not make hit appearance to spin " jJack's Yarn," but the gap was mos«. enjoyably bridged by the appearance of Master Feasy, who ;,in jthe most spirited /manner gave' VJlhe Good Templar's" Watchword," a temperance song.to tlieair pf "Hold the Fort." Before "holding forth" Master Feasy invited the audience to give him a a request which .those present , good '" naturedly complied with, and the effect of which was far from-; ; displeasing. The pathetic solo—" The Lonely Harp," was given by Mrs. Keeling m thnt lady's beat style, followed by the duet, " The Elfin Call," by the Mis»es Young, wKo, it is needless to say acquitted themselves m the most efficient manner. The very difficult and trying recitation, "Clarence's Dream," was recited by Mr. Green with excellent effect, thehorrible phantasies. which tortured the unhappy Duke being pictured with a faithfulness' which,? while amply displaying the elocutional powers of the reciter, were rather toe, Vividly ,' portrayed to be pleasant. As Mr. Bat chelar has been, heard before m " Sweet. jOhiming Belis," it is needless to comment upon that ' item, suffice it to say the rery genuine applause bestowed was most deserved.. " U'he ••plaintive ballad, 'I When .-, the Tide Comes, m," served to introduce ! to theaiidience a lady heard for the first time h^ Paimerstqn-Tljirs. Gk.W. Eussell, of Foxfon, and truth compels us to say to her the palm must be given. As might have been expected, she was somewhat nervous, but considering the. piithetio subject and its plaintiff, melody, this was * decided advantage, than otherwise, giving as: it did & depth/of feeling' to .the Tendering which was. most appropriate. The pleasing trio; ' : "When ' the * : Soft Moonbeams are Beaming "-^another ,piepe.: J not; new to the audience— by Mrs. Keeling and the Misses Young, was well received,, and brought the first .portion of the programme to a close. After a ; short interval, the 'second part.com--mencedr^ith. *, ,auet. by the Missei Young, followed by the Irish ballad, " Aileeh *Alaniiah," by" Mr. Eusseli, to Mrs. Russell's accompaniment. ;■ Although : the piece, was capitally given.' we have an impression ' that fcht singer wa.s . not at his best ; but then it itiust be remembered that he had to contend against. the. drawbacks of a strange hall, of wfiose iqnipass he had no guage; and that the* piano ; Was strange to both .vocalist and accompanist.. Any shortcomings, however; if such 'there were- weva amply atoned for by the admirable manner- rin^ which, m conjunction with Mrs. Eusseli, be acquitted himself, of " Come, o'er the Moonlit Sea." Although we believe- th» Wesleyan lchoir had staked their reputation upon " The Belfry Tower " 'to our mind, although, of course, capitallr' given, if could not bear comparison' with 1 "May Day," ibs extreme length forming no small objection. Still, as we - have said, it was. ,* moifcj creditably given, the variety .and intricacies of the musiclsCppjßaring no difficulty to the juveniles. Mr.'Eichard LearyThas so deservedly 'iroh a reputation as, a finished elocutionist, that the audience 'had' set ; themselves down for a treat ia' hearing him recite ".The Last Days of Herculaneum," an anticipation which we feel, was more ithan realised ; at the same time we feel conyiflced that Mr. jLeary. was not ; satisfied with' "himself, and jfelt that he was npt seen at his best. This, *t all er'e'ntsi Wasrou^idea, but.that;may : be Accounted for by .the. Jfact. that we heard Leary recite the same piece upon another oobWsion^and it is said that fii-st impressions are always the most effective. Tht pleasing duet, « Music^and lifr Sister, 'Song/ was perhaps 'one -of the- greatest successes :of! the reyeaing/' if we except ' To the Woods," by the Missts Young, which fairly brought down the house. Mr. -Perkins faiily astonislied the.; audi.eace. Bj.-hi* rtrtistic rendering of "Si tv Savais," which, as its title indicates, is a selection of a some.what ! high class, and wei-e: ;if;n;o;t ,tha> m particular portions ; bis, jV^ice seemed to be. slightly unnatural, his effort would otherwise bave been •faultless. '" Although at times h,e appeare.4 to be suffering fvbm nervousness, certainly i,t did aot Rrave.nt himL giving the music fu.ll volume, and above all the other singers he- could have been heard m every portion of the. hall. iW.hen.Mr. Slad* appeared to sing. <? The Ex»e Lance/, the ovation which ■ he received, gave. ._ a. very convincing proef . that, he. was a with the audience, an.dtae.mann t r m, which" he acquitted himself of that very difficult song did not lower him m the.good. graces of h's admirers. In contjradistinction to, Master FeasVs temperance ode, Messrs. Batchelar, Slade, and Watson, gave the magnificent trio, " Life's A^Wer," aa^ b^

the applause the Bacchanalians carried the day. Mr. Pirani as usual enjoyed the honos of a vociferous encore for his humoroai^ delineation of the serio-oomio "song" It V Nicß '"«mu d £ L r » s P°n«» to a general with gave "The Babies on the Block," which created the most boisterous applause. Mr Dungan then same forward and read an original epilo* us written espeoially for ih» oosasion by Mr. Thbma? Bracken, se well known as the author of the New Zealand National Anthem, and the author of those inimitable gems of satire " Paddy Murphy* % Political Letters, Thf addwsa wai "«■/ fpjlowsj— ■ _ , ; . To-nig:ht we meet together here, to pay A tribute to'flie dsar oqes who have fled- ■ " arfchly cares. We pri^e the sacred clay- > That covers up each silent, narrow bed - ><, '■-» Where those we loveS repose m dreamless sleep,; - ■-.: Touches the dust, and makes the ashes lean A wer^- ,-=«*;«»Wtaal clod f P . .„r A portion of divinity retains, ' - J ■ '■ • - -■ ■ -' '■•■ Awaiting but the MndUng of His breath Tofan the spark. Our losses are all gains v \ t eUs M * nere ™no s *<& thing as Deatii. Andfaith assures us that 'tis but a toll i ' eaLn * at^ ch^ 01^ sl ??y:? he . tt Sassmgftpß3L the night Of Sin. The grave's the passage to the goal Where spirits, bask m Gto^'s eternallight ... We knew the vanished ones. They ixvSS. and died--' ~ As we now live, and as. we, too, on^fc die. . We may. ere long, be resting by their aide— _We mayneed quiet beds where they.now.lie, „ Then, let usTeverience the spot of earth^ ! - ' . Claimed by.tiielpvjd ones gone. i'Tis theirs ana v ours. .■•*■■.'■ . ■•■' ■„: The path through which we pass to Second Birth> ' - : - Should wear a lovely dress of shrubs ani : . flowers ; • ■ ■ . - ~" r- ' Fencied in ffdin all the busy scenes of i(Ee; : ' ■ 'f ' - J Wealth's tiresome struggle and ambition's race • Away from all the trouble and the strife— . God's Garden should be made a Hallowed place For this, to-night, my friends, we've gathered here. • .- "■■■'■•■■ <\, - " ■:;"•'■•■'■ : - ; - ■ °. To our appeal a kind response you've given. If through the grave we reach to Qpd, 'tis dear We should repair the road'that leads to Heaven-, ;:^ Mr. James Linton, Chairman of the Cc- ;M metery Trustees then came forward, and ' thanked all those who by their assistant* . . - and patronage bad contributed to .the sue-, cesi of the entertaimrient. Mrs; Holt presided at the piano*,uuring the evening, "and Mil Keeling performed the duties of Ma». ter of Ceremonies m an efficienfrmanner. W* are pleased to. learn tbafc the entertainment ;*/*'* will be the means of reducing the Cemetery f .1 debt hy some £16] ■> ,v ' ; ! ..; V? % - '-r