HERR BANDMANN'S READINGS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2479, 1 March 1881, Page 2

HERR BANDMANN'S READINGS.

SECOND EDITION

The large room of the Timaru Public School was crowded last evening by an assemblage of children and their parents, Herr Bandmann having generously offered to entertain them with a series of select readings. The building was well lighted, and the scene presented was interesting and attractive, for arranged along the rising gallery on one side were about 400 children while the rest of the floor was occupied by their parents and friends, the fair sex very largely predominating. Besides the teachers several members of the School Committee, and Mr Hammond, Inspector of Schools, were present. Mr R. B. Walcot, Chairman of the Committee presided, and introduced Herr Bandmann, who was accompanied by Miss Beaudet, both artistes receiving quite an ovation from old and young. The programme was prepared on the .spur of the moment but with admirable skill, when the nature of the audience is considered. For nearly two hours Herr Bandmann kept every one delighted, ministering alternately to the fastidious tastes of the grave, eliciting roars of delight from the gay, gliding from humor to pathos, and altogether presenting a most inviting assortment of elocutionary feats. The pieces selected for reading comprised “ Mark Anthony’s Address,” which was rendered with a power and force of expression that made the listener almost realise the thrill that passed through the Roman populace as they listened to the memorable language of the gifted oratoi\ This was followed by “ Eugene Aram,” a poem familiar to so many school boys, and to the lights and shades of which the fullest justice was done. “The Bashful Man,” so familiar to readers of the humorous, brought tears of hearty laughter from the youngest in the room. Shakespeare’s drollery made an equally startling impression, the reader choosing a happy selection from Henry IY. where Falstaff figures so prominently. “The Vagabond” enabled the reader to display his versatility, for he fully took in the position, and adapted his elocution to the language of the poor old tramp. Hamlet’s soliloquy was, to those who can appreciate the sublime language of Shakespeare (but unfortunately it appears that nobody understands it), the gem of the evening’s readings. It was given with an earnestness, a pathos, an expression, that held the audience spell-bound, so much so that even a whisper might have been heard. To produce such an impression on an audience of over 700 persons,half composed of mirth-loving, prattling children, was an achievement of which any artiste, whatever may be his elocutionary attainments, might well feel proud. At the conclusion of the readings Mr H. W. Hammond, Inspector of Schools, moved a hearty vote of thanks to Herr Bandmann, which was carried by acclamation. Herr Bandmann, in reply, said :—Ladies and gentlemen, and my young friends —It gives me the utmost plaasure to return thanks for the attention you have given me, the compliment you have paid, and the way in which your appreciation has been conveyed to me. The statement just made is perfectly true. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see happy 1 children. I am the father myself of two

children, and although they are sixteen thousand miles away it gives me pleasure when I see so many happy faces for it makes me think they must he happy also. (Applause). It I have pleased you to-night. I hope it will make you remember what you have heard in years to come. It is not that I place any value on what I have done, or in any sacrifice I have made ; for in pleasing you I have pleased myself. But I want you to think over what you have heard and seen to-night, so that you may also try to read properly. My earnest wish is that you will reflect on the importance of the consonants and vowels of pronouncing your words as they should be spoken. Many men, bitterly x-egret that they neglected this when they were young. You should learn to open your mouths and give full and free expression to your words. Language is too seldom spoken as it is wi’itten. The rule is to write one way and speak another. 1 should like to take you where I have been before a learned assembly of six hundred of the best speakers in the world. But when many of them spoke you heard something between a mew a groan, and a growl. It was painful to listen to them, although next morning their speeches in the newspapers were full of noble sentiments and grand philosophy and read smoothly enough. How 'different, however, is it to listen to such orators as Bright, Gladstone, and Beaconsfield, drinking in their soul-inspiring utterances, and forgetting as you listen how the time is passing! I hope, my young friends, that you will not forget the value of elocution —the art of speaking correctly —and that yon will try to acquire it now while you are young and capable of doing so. (Applause.)