DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 6, 7 November 1890, Page 19

DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

The Catholic Literary Society brought their meetings for the season to a close on Wednesday evening with a very agreeable entertainment given by them in St. Joseph's Hall. The hall had been converted tor the occasion into a handsomely-furnished and oeau'ifully decorated saloon, rich curtains araping the windows, well-executed paintings and engravings adorning the walls, and banners and pot-plants, tastefully arranged, hanging from the roof. Messrs. Scoular and Chi holm, with almost unexampled generosity, had set their large and admirable sioc* at the disposal of the Society, woo had amply availed themselves of the opportunity by selecting fine carpets to cover the floor, luxurious and pretty chairs to accommodate their guests, and tables of elegant make to place in positions uf advantage. The room presented quite a magnificent appearance — perfected by the stage on which also a great deal of tastetul labour had been bestowed, and which did infinite credit to those ladies and gentlemen to whom the task of adornment had been committed, for it is nee less to ay the services of the for sex, indispensable in anything of this kind, involving the exercise ot refined taste, bad beeo secured A well-chosen programme was the principal attraction of the evening— the open ng performance being the overture from B neldteuV (Jahph of Bagdad," played by an orchestra recently formed by the Society, and who, under the circunostauce*, did themselves credit — wh > should, moreover, find encouragement to persevere in the applause given them. Miss Foppelwell then Bang Macfarren's " Sylvia " in the sweet and toaia ted manner which distinguishes her as a vocalist, and always ensures for her a hearty welcome and a due meed of admiration " Waiidenngs in America," a lecturetie by Mr. J. P. Armstrong, followed. We think, however, that when Mr. Armstrong again favours the Society and meir visitors he must be invited to dispense with the diminutive in any shape or form. I Beemed to us thai the lecturer had hardly crossed the ttuesho d of his subject, as it were, wben an iuexorable arbiter declaied that the allotted time had expiied. The subject, i ideed, was a most interesting one — the America of the past, ot the period preceding the civil war, and when slavery still txietrfd — when, moreover, immigration from reland had ]ust received its fast and furious impetus, all described by one, wno had personal experience of it, aud who had the intelligence to appreciate what he had teen, and an infinity of humour m dealing with it. The " lejturette," in fact, was a notable fia ure of the evening, and, as We bave said, the only fault to be tound with it existed in the diminutive connected, ia more senses than one. with its termination. " 'Jlose to tbe Threshold," a pretty a mg, ace imuanied on the piano by Miss Poppelwell, and with flute obbligato by Mr. Daehan, was then sung by Miss Walsh, who was doubly welcome a ter a prulonged absence from Dunedin and who proved herself once more well capable ot charming a Dunediu »uihencrf. N xt, in ro»m of another vocalibt, whom a cold rendered incapable of keeping the engagement Mrs. Angus, accompanied by Miss D. Horan, *>aag " Erin, dear Kiin,' a very preity song by Futljng, b Melbourne composer; and which was sung now for the first time in this city. We need hardly say that tbe mellow notes aud artistic training ot the lay singing it dm it more than justice, and made the audience acquainted with it in a manner that could scarcely be surpassed In response to an enc ire, undeniable, i bough forbidden a 9 a rule of the evening, the last verse was repeated. Mrs. Angus afterwaids gave witti equal effect, Molloy's " The Kerry Dance," During the interval in the programme tea and coffee and other refreshments of a very excellent kind, w r^ handed round, and the opportunity to converse was taken advaniage of. During the interval also, some instrumental music, not on the programme was played — chiefly remarkable being the " Onslow Waltzes/'iplayeJ by toeir composer, Mr. Harry Rossiter. These wal a -s are deservedly beard with pleasure wherever they are pert jrmed, the slig -t tone uf quaintness toat adds to their beauty tending to maintain their lreshness, and prolong their popularity. As played by their talented compos r they wire especially well wor-h listening to. The secoud part of t ie programme opened with a duet, by Ascher, " Li c's dream is o'e ," bung by Messrs E. W. Dunne and W. Woods. This was a v> ry acceptable number, the voices of ihe\&ingeiß, ia each instance a veiy fijevoic 1 , bland'ng admirably, and due attention belli* best i wed upon expressit-n. A recit ttion finely given by Mr S. Bim nouds, who excels in this very pleasiog metuod of contributing to 'ha c. t rtainmen ot an audience, ani the vucal quartette, " Kate Dah>nu>ie " prettily sung, concluded the programme. Eveiythiog combined to make the eveoing pass off agreeably, and the guests evidently enjoyed themselves highly. The Socktv are to be congiatulated on the success of their season. Ita concluding entertain-

ment gave striking proof that their literary pursuits were oondnciTa among them to refinement and cv ture generally, m»i important ends to be attained. As nothing succeeds like success, next year no doubt the Society will have a much m >re numerous membership, and will be able to carry on its proceedings on a more extensive and influential scale. Thn Society palpably, ani judged on its menta. deserves the support of every intelligeat member of the Cath ihc community, to whom its existencaaod progress must prove in many ways most valuable.