DOLL EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9882, 12 November 1897, Page 3

DOLL EXHIBITION.

A sale of fancy dolls, Indian curios, and a conversazione is | being held in the Art Gallery in aid of funds for Mis» Harband's Zenana Mission, ill connection with the London Missionary Society. The exhibition is unique in its way, and yesterday was so well attended that the Committee has decided to keep it open to-morrow. It was arranged by a Committee of ladies who were teachers -with Miss Harband before she undertook missionary work, and I their efforts promise to be substantially rewarded. They have gathered from frienids and others about 400 dolls, which are drdssed in the most attractive of styles, and have for disposal a stall of beautifully worked Indian articles sent over by Miss Hatband. These comprise curtains, tea cloths!, cosies, lace work, and so on, all of which have been been made by hand. The feature of the exhibition is the representation of a wedding party, guests and spectators in church, in which over 100 dolls in gala costume are engaged. The b.ide was presented by Messrs Strange and Co., the bridegroom by Mr Gamble, the best man by Mr Tribe, the father by Messrs Wagstaff and Preece, the mother by Mrs Lawrence, tho bridesmaids by Messrs Eallantyne and Co., the D.1.C., and Black, Beattie and Co., and the minister by Mrs Goodchild. Arranged around the room is a very large number of dolls sent in from children for competition, three prizes having been awarded in each of three classes— Children under twelve, under fifteen, and over fifteen. The prizes are to be presented this evening. The wedding party is under the control of the Misses Pavitt (2), and Inglis (2), the competition dolls under Miss Jack and assistants, and the curios are in the charge of Mesdames Weeks and Beaven. The sale was opened at 4p.m. yesterday by the singing of the National Anthem, followed by devotional exercises and a short address by his Worship the Mayor, and a little later the Rev. S. J. Baker spoke on the work of the mission. In the course of the afternoon Mr Chas. Bead sang the recitative " Ye people rend your hearts " and the aria " If with all your hearts" (Mendelssohn) ; Miss Alice Corrick, "Rejoice, O daughter of Zion" (Handel); and Miss H. Meadows, "O rest in the Lord " (Mendelssohn). Miss Beath contributed as a violin solo " Romance," from Beethoven, and Mr Corrick's orchestra played an overture. In the adjoining hall Miss Marsden's juvenile orchestra performed "Reverie" by Fauconier, and "Air dv Dauphin "by Roeckel. In the evening the proceedings were commenced by the girls' choir, orchestra and audience singing the Mission hymn. Mrs S. M. and Mies Robinson played the overture, Miss Buchanan sang •• Vale of tears," Miss B. Steeds •• The children of the King," and Miss A. Macgregor " Let the bright seraphim," Miss Beath gave as a violin solo the " Largo" and "Allegro" from Mozart, Miss Burch recited the " Indian Widow," and j St. Paul's Sunday School gave an Indian club performance. An interesting item on the programme was the exhibition by Mr Seager of views of Indian life specially sent by Miss Harband, which were described by Mr Salter. The show will be open to-day and to-morrow and in the evening of Saturday there is to be a special lantern entertainment for the children.