SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5504, 16 November 1878, Page 3

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS.

The Melbourne Daily Telegraph of the 10th inst., in speaking of Sunday entertainments, Bays: —" Within the last two weeks two barbers have been fined £5 each for earning 6d. by shaving on Sunday. At the Opera House last night certain performers appeared in their professional capacity as caterers for the public amusement, for which amusement the public was charged full value. The actors, in fact, followed their usual trade for their own gain, just as the hairdresser who shaved a man did. From this narrow, technical, and purely legal view of the matter, therefore, it would seem that each person who appeared on the stage of the theatre, or any person who benefited iadirectly by the performance, has committed an offence against the law, and should in equity be prosecuted. On broad public grounds, however, it is to be hoped that this prosecution will bo entered on promptly and vigorously. Sunday performances for purely selfish pecuniary profit are increasing. , . A theatre U opened, and an entertainment given, which, testhetically, intellectually, and morally, is inferior to that of most ordinary theatrical performances." The following is the description of the entertainment referred to:— " The first of a series of Sunday entertainments was given at the Opera House last evening, Mr. B. D'Oraay Ogdon acting as director and chairman. The audience was a vory good one, and the proceedings throughout were ordorly. Mr. Montagu Scott, who has attracted attention since his arrival in Melbourne by his portraits of Victorian notorieties, made his first essay in a much higher branch of his art, his subjeots being taken from the Scriptures. The four heads, which he drew with more care than he has in ordinary bestowed upon his subjects, were Jesus Christ, Judas Iseariot,- St. John the Baptist, and St. Poter. Each was introduced by a preparatory essay, and was distinct in conception and well delineated by the artist. Some recitations wero given by Miss Beatrice."