'Our Fernery.'

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 21, 22 May 1902, Page 15

'Our Fernery.'

The above is the p'easing title of the interesting annual issued by St. Mary's Convent, Wi llington. In consequence of unforeseen circumstances it was not published in 1901, and consequently amends have been made by the incorporation of two volumes in the present issue. 'Our Fernery' always ranks high among school annuals, the present issue being a particularly good one both from a literary and artistic point of view. The contents open with a brightly written sketch entitled 'Advance Npw Zealand,' after which we come to a record of s-cbool work during the past two years. In looking over this we are reminded of the prominent and successful position which the convent occupies as a centre of musical instruction. In this portion of the magazine are two artistically reproduced photographs of successful music pupils — Miss Gwen Flanagan, the winner of the pilver medal presented iii 1900 by the Royal Academy for singing and Mi-s May Sullivan, Vocal Associate of Trinity College. Having passed over the rec-rd of school happenings we come to the most important part of the annual namely an historical tale, entitled, ' From out the Buried Past.' The writer, who is evidently no novice at literary work, wields a facile pen, and her description of Roman life in the early part of the fifth century, \vhen still the populace hankered afuer many of the oldtime customs despite the influence of Christianity, shows that she has been no superficial student of the times, men, and manners of which she writes. Many characters come upon the stage figuratively speaking, in the course of the tale, such as Pope Innocent, the Emperor Honorius, and the newly-ordained Celestine who, afterwards as Supreme Pontiff, sent St. Patrick to evangelise Ireland. We have a pretty full description of the Catacombs, not drawn from the imagination but really as they -exist to-day, and many of the inscriptions found therein are quoted. The illustrations to the tale are by the authoress, and these show that the writer ia as successful with her pencil as with her pen. On the whole the annual is a very creditable production, and will no doubt meet with the appreciation of the many friends of St. Mary's Convent.