ST. JOSEPH'S CLUB ENTERTAINMENT, DU N E D I N.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 46, 16 November 1899, Page 6

ST. JOSEPH'S CLUB ENTERTAINMENT, D U N E D I N.

Those who attended the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, on Thursday night in the expectation of enjoying an excellent evening's amusement were not disappointed, as the entertainment given by the members of St. Joseph's Gymnastic Club, the pupils of the Christian Brothers, the Dominican Nuns, and the Siater.4 of Mercy was one of the best that has been given there for some time. There was a good audience, and the financial results were satisfactory. The entertainment opened with a kindergarten performance by about thirty pupils of the Dominican Nuns — the boys attired as sailors, the girls in pretty white costumes — who gave a laughing song and went through their pretty movements with admirable precision. The junior and senior pupils of the Christian Brothers' School then exhibited their proficiency as gymnasts, and a very creditable display it was, showing that the physical training of the boys receives more than ordinary attention from their painstaking teachers. The next item was a chorus, ' Drifting,' in which about sixty children of the Valley Dominican School took part. The little performers, attired in pretty costumes, made a very effective group on the stage, and their singing was creditable alike to themselves and their devoted teachers. The pupils of the Christian Brothers' School gave an admirable performance of a scene from ' The Rivals,' in which they excelled any of their previous dramatic efforts. The costumes were appropriate, and the boys entered into the spirit of the piece in a manner which could only be attained by careful training. The parts were sustained by Masters F. Bevin, P. Wilson, E. Durnihg, ana R. Burke, all of whom acquitted themselves well, especially the two first-mentioned. The second part (of the programme opened with a gymnastic exhibition by the members of St. Joseph's Club. When it is 'remembered that the olub has been in existence less than six months, the value of the training imparted there could be guaged by the finished manner in whioh the performance was given. The display was a good criterion of the work done in the gymnasium, and of the benefits conferred by it on onr young men. That youthful elocutionist, Master C. Marlow, next favoured the audience with a recitation, 'Babies,' which created great amusement, and was remarkably well done. The pupils of the Sisters of Mercy School, South Dunedin, then Bhowed their proficiency in a pretty Spanish dance and tableau, in which the admirable instruction received was shown in the graceful movements of the children, whose bright and varied dresses, as they went through the intricacies of the performance, made an exceedingly pretty picture. A recitation, ' Reclaimed,' by Miss L. Mcc, was delivered with an amount of dramatic power and pathos that might be envied by more experienced reciters. Another gymnastic display, in whioh the members of St. Joseph's Club and the pupils of the Christian Brothers' School took part, followed. The various items were neatly and cleverly done, and the audience showed their appreciation by frequent applause. A grand floral march by the pupils of the Dominican Nuns, remarkable for the precision with which the intricate movements were performed, and a song and chorus concluded the entertainment. Ac this was the first venture by the club since its start a few months ago, they are to be congratulated on the excellent account which the members gave of themselves. It is unnecessary here to refer to the painstaking manner in which the Christian Brothers strive to develop the moral and intellectual faculties of their pupils, whilst the display on Thursday night showed that physical culture obtains a very prominent place in the curriculum of the school. We doubt if there is any state school in the district could compare with them in this branch of culture. The successful part taken by the pupils of the Dominican nuns and of the Sisters of Mercy was a very strong proof of the thoroughness of the education imparted at both these schools. The club is to be congratulated on providing such an admirable evening's enjoyment, and also on giving the people of Dunedin an opportunity of seeing what is being done here for the intellectual and physical culture of the rising generation of Catholics. The gymnastic displays were carried out under the direction of Mr. J. C. Smith, who had every reason to be proud of his pupils, and the accompaniments during the evening were played by Miss K. Moloney and Mr. F. H. Stokes. A word of praise is due to Mr. J. Hussey, the honorary secretary, to whose energy, a great deal of the success of the entertainment was due. Towards the olose of the proceedings the Rev. Father Murphy, on behalf of the olub for whose benefit the entertainment was given, returned thanks to the Dominican nuns, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Christian Brothers for the assistance rendered, and also to Mr. Instructor Smith for his valuable aid.