PUPILS OF THE DOMINICAN NUNS COMPLIMENT THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 23, 2 October 1896, Page 15

PUPILS OF THE DOMINICAN NUNS COMPLIMENT THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

On Monday, the eve of the Feast of St. Michael, the pupils of the Dominican Convent High School paid a graceful tribute of respect to the Most Rev. Dr. Verdon. This took the form of a musical and dramatic entertainment in honour of the Bishop's Feast, and the children were gratified by the presence of his Lordship and the Rev. Fathers Boyle, CM., Hanly, CM., Lynch, Murphy and McGrath.

A short speech by Miss G. O'Connell explained that the children hoped to please their Bishop by the little play to follow, and consequently they had resolved to do their very best. But they only looked on this as a beginning. They hoped to celebrate many, many returns of St. Michael's Day, and prayed that his Lordship would find each more happy than the last if such were possible.

The following programme was then gone through : — Pianoforte solo, " Norwegian bridal march " (Greig) ; " Alexius, or the Hidden Gem" <(in two acts), act 1, scenes 1, 2, and 3 ; song, selected; scenes 4 land ,5 : pianoforte solo, "Tarantella" (Raff); tableau; pianoforte solo, '• Valse " (Chopin) ; act 2, scenes 1 and 2 ; violin solo, selected ; last scene ; piano solo, " Souvenir de Varsovie " ; tableau ; song, selected.

The play, entitled " Alexius, or the Hidden Gem." is of »reat beauty. Briefly, the plot is this : — Alexius, the only son of a wealthy lloinan Senator, leaves his home, by the command of God. to wander as a pilgrim for the space of five years. At the end of that time he again receives \an order from heaven, to return to the place of his birth, and to die there. Disguised by his pilgrim's dress, he travels home, and, under the name of Ignotus, is received by his father, Euphemianus, with extraordinary kindness. The household slaves of the Senator are indignant that a pilgrim, " a beggar," should be so honoured, and their jealousy finds vent in a thousand ways, but nothing can shake'the virtue of Alexius. No word of complaint ever passes his lips. After the failure of a plot to make him appear

guilty of attempting the life of his benefactor, Alexius for soma time continues to live as before, loved by Euphemianus and persecuted by his servants. At last circumstances concur to prove that the youth had tried to rob the house of its valuables. Even Euphemianus is forced to believe in his guilt. Alexius makes no defence, and when conjured to acknowledge his guilt seems unable to understand. This is God's appointed time. The youth recognises so much. He is "to die a thief reputed in that heart where upon earth alone I cared for love." Gasping out these words he seems to faint, but when raised and laid on a couch it is evident that he is dead. All are shocked, but none more so than Euphemianus, who considers that the youth died impenitent, and worse sn'll blaspheming, for he had heard the invocations addressed to the angels by Alexius in his last moments. The entrance of the adopted son of the senator causes a diversion, and this boy, who dearly loved Alexius, draws attention to two facts which go far to prove the innocence of his dead friend. While these are being discussed, a commotion is heard, and two men who have been caught on the premises are brought in. They confess the robbery. Now Carinus (the adopted son) discovers in the hand of the dead saint the history of his life. The grief of the father ia extreme. He reproaches himself bitterly, and deplores his wretchedness in moving terms, but his closing speech in the play reveals a soul at peace. Addressing Carinus, he says :—: — " Oh Carinus ; stay, The mystery now I read of this great day, Which to my house, through ways by us least thought, More glory, than all the earth's renown, has brought. I read its lesson, too, so high and true By him well taught, so best learnt by you ; None in the Church's golden diadem Can shine, that is not long, a hidden gem."

The stage was skilfully done up, and some tableaux shown between the scenes were artistic and truly beautiful. It is not fair to criticise the private performance of the High School pupils, but one cannot help marking how naturally and how sweetly Miss Isabel t-'eelye acted the part of the youthful St. Alexius. Her performance was consistent throughout, and in the death scene especially she showed a wonderful appreciation of her part. Miss Lizzie Herbert as Bibulus, a coloured slave, made a perfect rascal, and this, in her part, is high praise. The parts of Euphemianus (Miss M. O'Neill), Proculus, the tyrannical steward (Miss N. O'Neill), Eusebius, a slave, friend of Alexius (Miss M. Blaney), Gannio, friend and accomplice of Bibulus (Miss M. Burns), were well bestowed on the young ladies named. Indeed, each character, from St. Alexius to the blackest little slave was made the most of by the child to whom it was assigned.

After the play his Lordship said a few very kind words to the children, He reminded them that they had said they were going to do their best. They had succeeded. He did not think that anything superior to the musical items they had enjoyed and the play they had witnessed had been produced in any convent school visited by him. At the time of his consecration he had expressed the Bame opinion of the delightful entertainment then presented. But it was not surprising that the pupils of the Dominican Nuns should suceed, as these good Sisters were eminently successful in every work they undertook. The High School was a credit to the Dunedin diocese, it was so admirably conducted, and the children were extremely fortunate in being able to get such a thoroughly good education combined with moral and religious training. He simply did not know how to thank them for the celebration of his festival — the festival of St Michael, but he was indeed sincerely grateful. At his Lordship's invitation the Very Rev F. Boyle, CM., addressed the children. He said that the play had been a sermon, and no one could follow it without feeling that it conveyed the sublime lesson of charity in a forcible manner. The performers had acquitted themselves wonderfully well, and he could not have enjoyed an evening more. He congratulated his Lordship on the recurrence of his Feast and he hoped that such congratulations might be offered for many years to come.

The Rev Father Hanly, CM., then said a few words. He had expected much from New Zealand children, for he had heard a cantata performed in another part of the Colony some years ago, and he had thought at the time that it could not be excelled. He did not think, however, that the performance of that evening could have been better. The play was very beautiful, showing as it did the beauty of virtue, It was in honour of his Lordship. He almost envied the Bishop his glorious patron, St Michael. This saint was a favourite patron throughout the Church and he had great pleasure in felicitating the Bishop on the occasion of the great Archangel's Feast.

On the recent occasion of a big bazaar the Limerick people took it into their heads to have it decided by popular vote who was the mostjbeautiful woman in the city. The result of the ballot placed Miss Shaw, daughter of Mr. W. Shaw, J.P., at the head of the poll, a proud distinction in a place bo renowned for the comeliness of ita women, says Ilei/no'dx'x

Intending purchasers of bicycles would do well to inspect the stock of ladies and gentlemen's cycles which have just been imported from America by the Massey-Harris Company, whose show room is in the Octagon. The machines are replete Avith all the latest and best appliances and are said by experts to be equal to any machine in the market. Inspection, we are sure, will bear out the high opinion that has been passed on these machines.

Joseph Knott, temperance lecturer, of Christchurch. has applied for letters patent for an improved " combined gasometer." Whereupon a contemporary remarks : '• This is really too funny, We are afraid to comment lest we should do Joseph an injustice."