DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 38, 26 June 1891, Page 7

DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

The above Society held its weekly meeting on Wednesday last — Father Lynch taking the chair — the attendance being about the averige. There was one nomination for membership, that of Mr T. Lynch, on the motion of Messrs Mooney and F. Cantwell. The business of the evening commenced with a rather humorous reading by Mr Carolin, entitled " Mr Monarty." — Mr J. Connor recited " Shiel'a reply to Lord Lyndhurst," which was very creditably rendered.— "The Sea Captain's Story " was given with gieat feeling by Mr E. W. Dunne. — Mr J. Caotwell delivered "Fielia invective against Cobett " in capital style. — What undoubtedly was tbe gem of tbe evening was a recitation, cr rather a series of recitations, by Mr Tobin, a visitor who was present. He gave "The Charge of the Light Brigade" in some of the ways be had heard it delivered on different occasion?, and displayed tbe contrast between the different styles. Mr Tobin possesß"s the gift of " taking off other people, if I may use the expression, ia a remarkable degree, his gestures and his "brogue" in particular, where it happened to ba Drought in, were so natural as to require but a slight stretch of imagination to bring the original before you. " Cynical Remarks on Mankind ia General " was tne title of a r tther lengthly paper by Mr Eager, in which he attempted to show that the general tendency of mankind was towards evil. The paper showed signs of careful study, the matter introduced covering a large area. It was well put together and was plentifully interspersed witb quotations from a number of the poets. A vote of thanks to these gentlemen was carried unanimously, the speakers being Messrs F. Cantwell, McKeay, Falkner, Simmonds, Griffen, ilally, Lynch, Mooney, and Haughton. All the recitations were well received, particularly that of Mr Cantwell, who possesses a clear, distinct voice, and had evidently taken pains to prepare his piece well. Mr Eager's paper came in for a good share of criticism, both adverse and favourable. Father Lynch, in conclusion, gave the members some advice in regard to selecting recitations, and threw out some valuable hints as to tbe beat manner of giving criticism.