AMATEUR CONCERT AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3319, 6 March 1868, Page 3

AMATEUR CONCERT AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Ok Wednesday evening last a very racceitfixl amateur performance took place at the New Lwatio .Asylum. Great North Road. Tbe large dinio&>iooai on the ground floor i» admirably raited for inch entertainments, and was well filled with a highly re. spectable andience. Among*t the auditory w« noticed some of our leading citizen*, and ladies fore* most in works of a charitable »nd humane character. The performers yho> jrindly volunteered their services on this occasion were tbe Wbau Minstrels, who have earned for themselves, in a short period,' an excellent reputatio* as negro songsters. Their leader, Mr. Barraclough, a good tenor and' violinist, sang "Com* home, father" (little Mary's song), "Hen Convention," md "Belle of Tennessee.,''- -with spirited execution, which was wall Appreciated. Mr. Aden poetesses a fine voice, and the applause elicited by the songs " Kitty Wells," and " Old Kentucky Home," was well merited. Mr. Gittos's performance on the tambourine could not well be surpassed by tbe veritable "Snowball ? his singing was well reoeived. The songs of Meaars. Cook* (" Brudder Rones") and Mr. Wright (the Harmonist) were warmly applauded. The pleasing gong " flat and Feather*' was substituted by request for another, and sung by Mr. Cooke. The negro jeux d'esprit did not suffer aught at the hands of the Whan Minstrels. Mr. Barraolough's impersonation of a lawyer addressing twelve jurymen — "citizens of the greatest nation in all creation"— in a case of muider, received marked approbation. At the close of the performance, Dr. Fisher, the Besident Surgeon, tendered thanks on behalf of hiawelf and the patients to tha Whau Minstrels for their gratuitous tervices so efficiently rendered, and to th<>se ladies and gentlemen who had come a considerable distance to patronise the proceedings, but especially to tbe number of fair ladies who had lent a charm to the assembly by their presence on the occasion. Dr. Fisher also stated that he expected ttie proceeds of this concert would be something handsome, which went into the patients' relief fund, for the purpoie of procuring comforts and delicacies, and the means of rational recreation, 4c, sot provided fortn any way by Government. Mr. Barraolough, on behalf of the minstrel*, expressed bis gratification that they shonld be of service in doing good, and intimated their willingness to be useful in promoting any deserving charitable object. We should not omit to mention that during the whole performance a considerable number of the patients were present* many of whom listened with -evident 'enjoyment. Judging from the success attending this concert, and the numerous precedent! given us Dy the pursuit of such a coarse in. similar institutions in Europe and elsewhere, we have no doubt much good would result to the patients by the repetition of these concerts at intervals, say, of one or three months, with an occasional dance. We merely throw out this suggestion to Dr. Fisher in order that he may take it into consideration.