DUNEDIN ORPHANS' CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 16824, 28 August 1918, Page 6

DUNEDIN ORPHANS' CLUB

"HARD-HP" NIGHT.

Once more a long line of "dead-beats" and impecunious-looking individuals of all descriptions gathered together at the Dunedin Orphans' Club rooms last evening to help to a successful issue the club's annual " Hard-up" night. This year a large number of those attending had gone to considerable trouble in "making up," tho result being some really good representations of the under-dog in the human world —men who had apparently _ long ago reached the end of their financial resources (if ever they had any). Most of the characters were those of the familiar type of loafer, and the member who was eventually adjudged to have best sustained the character he represented certainly looked as though he had got to the stage of " let her slide." A huge, sandy Hielander, proud of his nationality, though no longer able to replenish his ancient and well-worn wardrobe, was another outstanding character. Then there was a seedy but bene-volent-looking old gentleman in whites ; a sailorman who had lost his ship in the early days and never signed on again; an ebon-hued coon in Hessian; and an Orphans' schoolboy in tatters. Bill Sykes was ako there, attended by his faithful bulldog. Midway through the proceedings there was a grand march past the judges, who placed the best characters thus: —Bro. H. Wise (loafer) 1, Bro. J. Murray (brokendown gent) 2, Bro. J. Thomson (swagger) 3.

The programme of musical and other items was a long and varied one, and in most instances the performer chose items consistent with the character assumed. Bro. R. H. Bryant sang ' The Vagabond' in his usual good style ; Bro. C. H. Russell recited an amusing piece about the troubles of a Scot named M'Lean; T3ro. T. G. Grant sang ' Couldn't Help it, Had To'; Bro. J. M'Connell, in his rich Irish brogue, told in song how " Pat Malone forgot that he was dead"; Bro. G. A. Wycherley recited an original alphabet in verse ; Bro. P. R. Robb sang about ' Nothing': Bro. W. Wilson warbled a, lay by some Scottish minstrel; Bro. H. M'Keclinie told of the doings of ' A T' -feet Lidy ': Bro. J. W. Oaten Rang the illad ' Because ' very nicely ; Mr F. Bastings amused everybody with a song in which ihe buzzing of a bluebottle fly was a prominent, feature ; and Bro. W. J. Hutton told the good old ' Yarn of the Nancy Belle.' The president (Bro. G. W. MTntosh) told a stirring 3tory of the battle of a hawk against tremendous odds, and (by special request) repeated his 6tory of how a fanner was successful, after one notable failure, in getting rid of a certain pestiferous bird. The two big musical features on the programme were the, fine selections by the club orchestra (under the baton of Bro. G. B. Laidlaw) and the first appearance of the Orphans' Bellringers. The supper on this occasion consisted of appropriately hard-up fare, described by the chairman (Bro. M'lntosh) as " sa.v's and spuds."

That tho hard-ups were not entirely " broke " was manifested at the conclusion of the proceedings, when quite a respectable sum was collected, on an appeal by the president, for the benefit of a widow who is in necessitous cir-'uinstances.