ORPHANS CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11111, 8 May 1911, Page 3

ORPHANS CLUB.

THE OPENING NIGHT. With a largely-increased membership and further enrolments ,-in prospect, the Orphans Club, opened , its hospaable doors for the first time this season under the happiest auspices. Since last season these merry Bohemians have found a new home , in the .Sydney Street Schoolroom, the club having found it necessary to leave their old quarters in the Manns Institute for reasons of space-tho baby had grown out of its cradle. Of the manners and customs of. this cheerful coterie much—and sufficient-has already been written. The same little green-covered tables were scattered about the hall, the fiimo little circles of men encompassed them, the same blue clouds of tobacco smoke drifted lazily about; the same president's box, the same regalia of broomheads, bee- bottles,' spluttering candles, nnd the same "Most Orphan," Dr. A. V. Z ThV "Most Orphan" at the appointed time' smoto his desk with his wooden hammer, and in effect said "Here wo are again." His prefatory- address was bnei and characteristically to the point, ihey were gatiiered together, ho said, for conviviality and culture, two objects which were to receive just that nice proportion of relative' attention which would make their social evenings thoroughly enjoyable. So saying, the "Most Orphan introduced the guests of the evemng-tne Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. James Carroll), a party of officers of 11.M.5. Cambrian, Mr. A. L. Hevdman, M.P.,the president of the Arts Club (Mr. Eayward), and the Eastbourne Savage Club, headed bv its Chief Savage (Mr. T. M. Wilfoyd, M.P.). The coming of the Eastbourne tribe created no small stir, and they brought gifts from over the water, -to wit, a pumpki.i of noble - dimensions, a portly marrow, carrots, parsnips, and so forth, and last, but not le?st, - a little black sucking-pig, very much alive. He was produced from a sack, and plumped down under the very lwe of the "Most Orphan," from which placo of distinction he blinked nervously at the Orphans around him. The Most Orphan" gravely returned thanks, and made mention of some great Coronation festival, whereat an ox or two, if necessary, would bo ronst=d, and tho Savages and the Orphans would foregather to partake of it Pidrsrj- was then put back in his sack, cud the appreciatively referred to as "Jimmy by the "Host Orphan," formally declared the session onon." Mr. Carroll spoke as a member of an old craft of the Savages, one of the original orders of Bohemians. To the Arike O'rnhan and his hunibler subjects he gave "greeting, and said he was glad to note that there were no war-clubs about'.' It was a- peaceful gathering. He wished the club a'.l success in its coming season. This concluded 'the formal part of the business, aivd the company then settled itself to enjoy' the music of the club's orchestra, conducted !>y Mr. Bloy, which opened the ball, so' to speak, witli two inspiriting marches. .Songs and recitations kept tho company entertained till suppertime— c?.kcs fcinfl" ale.. Then came more songs and recitation?, a dramatic sketch from "Sherlock , Holmes," tho incident being the' celebrated meeting ,of the great detective and his p.rch-oppDiient,'Professor Moriarty, the master-criminal. The co.st of characters consisted of four—Sherlock .Holmes (Ornhan S.- Tingey). Professor Mcriarty [Orphan C. S. Girdlestone), Dr. WVson (Orphan C. W. Car-' roll), and. Smythe, the buMer (Orphan K. A. Keenan). The contributions to tho miscellaneous nortion of the programme were Orphans Fitzgerald, Fletchv. Gawthorpe. Frafcr-Thomso.n, Searle, Oia.vt.on. Bell. Hickmott, Cnrr, Clnrkson, Borneo Gardiner. Vard (Dnncdin Orphans) and Savage Grant (Eastbourne).