STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1922, Page 7

STRATFORD.

DAILY NEWS AGENCY. Advertisements arid Items of news for frublication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatative, care Mr. VV. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders fojpapers may -also be left with him. - ' MUSICAL SOCIETY. September 15. _Uhe Stratford fcfusical Society’s performance of the operetta “Chloris,” in the Town Hall fast night, was greeted by a good hduse, and it was a complete success. The society is a young one,, and exercised a wise choice in selecting “Omoris,” which is a simple theme and a suitable vehicle for such a company, as it does a naanimum pi actjnfc/anj .which relies cbiefly on its choruses, solo numbers, and the dressing of the performers. By painstaking rehearsals, thiese three essentials were very well brought . out, and the result should be a great encouragement to the society, which’ has some distinctly good' talent at its disposal. ' Miss BessierfHmahsnr, as-Chloris, thecentral figure, was very effective in thia solo' number, “Out, Out. in the Fields.” Opposite her, as her lover, was Mr. S/ Robinson, as Robin, the brave young sailor, who is forced to leave on a three years’ voyage. Mr. Robinson was well chosen as tKe"Kefo, although his voice in solo parts was rather weak in the middle registers: The part of George, the farmer father of Chloris, was ably sustained by Mr. Peter Aitken, who took the. part at .very short notice, in place of Mr. Alan Betts, who withdrew on account of a family bereave ment. Mr. Aitken also played as, Caleb, i a crusty bachelor suitor for the hand of Chloris. his solos being decidedly good. Mrs. J. Weston, ns Phoebe, the mpther of i Chloris, sang “ ’Tis Joy to See” very effectively. The finale is the wedding scene. The dressing in this scene, when the flow-er-girls joined in, was very effective, as was the chorus, “The Story is Ended.” The chorus on the whole was good, though lacking a little in balance in some numbers. The society’s orchestra of seven players, under the baton of Mr. V. N. Lester, was a strong feature. A novel flower dance, arranged by Mrs. Mcßeth and performed by Misses Cormack, Barry, Bianchi, M. Milne, F. Milne, Henry, Cramer, Richardson, Q. Jones and Davis, was beautifully done and enthusiastically encored. The success achieved should put the society on a more sound footing ftnfl. encourage more public support than has been given in the past. MUSICAL MATTERS.

The success of last night’s performance of “Chloris,” by the Stratford Musical Society, gives promise of success to the society’s future vrorks. In an interval in the performance last night, Mr. P. Thomson said the society had proposed to produce “The Messiah,” but the Wellington Royal Choral Society suggested that it should send some of its members along to assist the work in Taranaki. The Wellington Society proposed to send about members to assist in the chorus and wchestra and to take special parts. Mr. Thomson hoped to be able to arrange combination between Stratford, New Plymouth and Hawera societies, and have “The Messiah” produced in each town with a combination of about 300 voices. He would like to see Stratford offer 100 voices, and he appealed for support to the proposal. Such a production would do a great deal of good to musical interests in the town. Mr. Harvey, of the Hawera society, spoke of the coming performance of “The Country Girl” at Eltham, and solicited support. The play was not coming to Stratford because the promoters were doubtful about the financial side.. Mr. Harvey appealed for support to the local societies, and referred to the capabilities of Mr. Lester as a coriductor. THE “MARDI GRAS.” The organiser of the “Mardi Gras” and Messrs. W. Kelly and H. Burmester yesterday visited the districts around Stratford, meeting several leading residents, each of whom expressed keen sympathy with the proposal to establish the Stratford band on a solid basis. Several meetings have been arranged for next week, and at each of these the “Mardi Gras” organiser Will attend and fully set out' the proposition and receive nominations for Queen candidates. The statement that a percentage of each district’s vpting money will be returned has been very well received. On Monday evening, at 7.30, the Toko residents will hold a meeting in ‘the Coronation Hail, while the Midhijst people .will, meet at 7.30 on Tuesday evening. The residents of Wharehuia are notified that a meeting will be held in the Public Hall on Wednesday evening, at 7.30. Particulars of each of these meetings are to be found in to-day’s advertising columns. THE KING’S THEATRE. “SENTIMENTAL TOMMY,” TO-NIGHT,. “Sentimental Tommy,” the famous work of Sir James M. Barrie, the noted English ! playwright and novelist, has- been pictuc--* ised •by Paramount This picture is an example of’ the bigger and better possibilities of the screen. Beginning with Tommy as a boy, it takes him through many entrancing episodes until he reaches maturity. A very fine presentation of that little Scotch village called Thrums is shown lit this feature. Mabel Taliaferro and Gar= , eth Hughes take the leading roles. The supporting items include, amongst dthers, a Charlie Chaplin comedy, entitled “The Doughnut Designer,” a rattling good comedy scream; also gazette and educational. The above programme will be screened at rhe matine to-daey and again to-night. Usual prices. Box plan at' Humphrey’s, bookseller, Stratford. GENERAL ITEMS. Mr. L. C. Vicary. who has been a member of the Stratford Musical Society’s orchestra, and who is shortly leaving the town, was farewelled by. the members of the orchestra after last night’s performance. As a conclusion to a successful series of socials, the social committee of the Midhirst Anglican Church has decided to hold a plain and fancy dress ball at Midhirst on Friday, October 6. Are you interested in wirelees ? If yon are, call arid see W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. All parts stocked. Marconi V 24 valves, condensers, wire, terminals, mica, tinfoil, celuloid sheets, aluminium, etc., etc. Sets made up to order. Broadcasting is coming. Get in early and be ready for it.

LIQUOR TIJADE ON SHAKES“TONGUE” & “LIBERTY.” A REJOINDER, The “National Council of the licensed Trade of New Zealand” has published a glaring advertisement', viz., “Hold Fast to Liberty.” The Trade very partial to the “tongue” of Shakespeare, and so the agonising cry of “Hold Fast to Liberty” tapers off in the “tongue” of Shakespeare on this wise—“We must be free or die who speak the tongue That Shakespeare spake.” And so say all of us. But the “Licenced Trade” does not traffic much in that “tongue,” hence it is no surprise that -all genuine illustrations are omitted. Perhaps the reason is simply because Shakespeare does not talk about the wares and fruits of the “Licensed Trade” with icicles hanging about his lips. Yes, our love for Shakespeare leads us to look at a few soothing samples of his temperately sweet and . gracious .“tongue,” if for no other reason than to preserve the love of “The Trade” for their moderate ally. Now let us read, . mark, and learn. In Othello, act 2, scene 3, we find a tolerant, meek and mild bit of the “tongue”: “O! thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou ‘hast no name to be called by, let us call thee devil. O! that men should put an enemy to their mouths to steal away their brain's, that we should with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause transform ourselves into beasts, ft has pleased the Devil Drunkenness to give place to .Devil Wrath, one imperfection shows me another; to make me frankly despise myself. To be now a sensible m an > by arid by a fool, and presently a beast. Ol strange! every inordinate cup is un- . blessed and the ingredient is a devil.” We may be classed among the “persistent group of faddists and extremists,” hut we are quite at home with our company. We like the “tongue” of Shakespeare. Let us hear him again as he deeply deplores the evil of the drinking customs of England in his day; In “The Tempest” he speaks with appropriate significance and contempt thus: “I’ll be wise hereafter, And seek tot grace. What a thrice double ass Was I to take the drunkard for a god And worship this dull fool.” Would Shakespeare describe in language bold and chaste the ideal old man ? Listen:

“Let me be your servant, Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty. For in my youth I never did apply Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood, Nor did I with unbashful forehead woo The means of weakness and debility, Therefore my age is as a lusty winter, Frosty, but kindly.” “Is that,” you ask, “really, an.expression from the “tongue- of Shakespeare? Surely it cannot be a “sweet morsel” for “The Trade.” Nd. doubt it has been overlooked. “Why?” Because all skaters are not navigators. “Tell me where that fine bit of 'tongue’ is to be found.” It is to be found in “as You Like It.” But “the Licensed Trade of New Zealand” is so desirous of squaring and sublimating its speech after the “tongue” of Shakespeare that it practically says: “If the hand that I love lay me low, There cannot be pain in the blow.” Yes,-“the Trade” likes Shakespeare. Therefore, let us have one choice bit. more of the melliferous “tongue” of the master. In “Henry V.,” Shakespeare makes the Lord Chief Justice rebuke Fslstaff, who was the victim of a pothouse. r “Have you not a moist eye, a dry hand, a yellow cheek, a white beard, a decreasing leg, an increasing belly? Is not your voice broken, your wind short, your chin double, your wit single, and every part about you blasted with ahtiquity?” Q yes, we like the “tongue” of Shakespeare, and fully endorse “the Trade’s” quotation that: “We must be free or die who speak the tongue That spake.” But lest our . friends of “the Trade” should be tempted to only a slight deviation from the path of honor, unselfishness and sincerity, let us hear Shakespeare in his sublimest “tongue”: “Be juSt and fear not: Let all the ends thou aim’st at, be thy Thy God’s, and truth’s.” Our language and aims may be poor and low compared with the pure and lofty “tongue,” but verily, verily, we say unto you, that we swear by no other' “torignb” in its nobility than Shakespeare’s. “THE TRADE’S” NOTION OF “LIBERTY.” The liquor advertisement is put in the form of a loud cry, ‘‘Hold.. Fast to Liberty,” whicH, being interpreted, means “Help us to preserve our trade, with all its financial gain’s and festering sores/’ A big noise to barter away the best. The loud voice has. been a favorite device with “The Trade” for centuries, and its specious, impudent and cruel plea in the face of all its enslaving influences has been “Let us alone.” No other trade under the sun claims a similar kind of “liberty,” Now, what is liberty? Herbert Spencer says: “No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be perfectly happy till all are happy.” It is but a trite thing to say that the laws of • Nature and of the State restrict the. liberty of the citizen. The plainest definitions support this. Herbert Spencer says: “Every man is free to do that which he wills, provided he infringes not the equal freedom of any other man.” Is this the kind, of “liberty” “the Trade” is shouting sb fervently to us to “hold fast?” Again, Spencer says: “All other re-, quisites are unimportant compared with this primary requisite, that each shall so live as neither to burden his fellows nor injure his fellows.” Again we ask, Is this the liberty “the Trade” believes in and practices conscientiously? - Reader, thjs over. New Zealand in its brief history has spent’ over £150,000.000 on liquor, arid over 350,000 arrests for drunkenness have been made.

(Published by the Taranaki Provincial Prohibition League.)