The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-21 00:00:00

i= anb Wrist jet.
THE EXHIBITION AT THE SCHOOL OF ART

The exhibition of artistic glass and other indus-
trial products at the Stourbridge School of Art was j
brought to a close on Monday night with a con-
versazione, to which the principal supporters of
the school were invited, It is satisfactory to find
that the exhibition has not only been a source of
pleasure to the visitors, numbering some 5,000 or
ti,ooo persons, who have been attracted, but that
the foreign glass has been the subject of close at.
tention of many of the local workpeople. There
are a number of specimens of glass in the South
Kensington collection which have puzzled English
glassmakers as to their mode of production, but
we learn that as a fruit of the exhibition attempts
are already being made to produce some of the
articles in the neighbourhood of Stourbridge.
the Art pottery at the exhibition has attracted a
good deal if attention as well as the glties, ani it is
said that the clay found in the 'neighbourhood of
Stonrbridge is as well adapted for ornamental
purposes as for the utilitarian manufactures to
whi .h its use is now almost exclusively confined.
If the requisite enterprise was shown, thee appears
to be no reason, as far as the materials at cora-
mand go, why there should not be a devLdopment
of the industries of the neighbourhood in the
direction referred to. Sir Phieip Cunliffe Owen,
the director of the S;uth Kensington Museum,
when at the School of Art a few weeks ago,
strongly advocated the establishment of a local
museum and we are glad to fad his words have
not been lost sight of. Mr. C. E. Swindell, who
has been a most generous Mead of the School of
Art, has promised a don tion of £5O towards the
museum, and some of the exhibitors, including Mr,
C. King and Mes-re. Muckley and Co., have
promised some gifts for the museum in the way of
specimens. This beginning is some encourage-
ment to the committee in taking the matter up.
seriously, and it may be hoped the ultimate out-
come will be a satisfactory one. The visitors at
the conversazione found a pleasant programme
arranged for them, and the musical entertainment
was provided by Mrs. Holyeake Wight, Miss
Hudson, Mr H.Mobberley. Mr. Hayward
and Mr. S. Simms, jun. In the course of the
evening Mr. G. Perry, chairman of the committee
of the school, expressed their obligations to Mr. G.
W. Hastings, M.P., for the assistance he had given
them in obtaining a grant of X4lO from the Science
and Art Department for the school, and for other
help he had rendered. He also mentioned Mr.
Charles Swindelrs donation of £5O towards the
proposed museum, and said he hoped it would be an
example that would stimulate others to help them.
The sug4estion of Sir P. C.Owen as to the establish-
ment of a museum was a mo-t valuable one, and be
trusted that many of th se in the neighbourhood
who had objects which would be useful f r the
museum would help them by contributions for it.
Mr. G. W. H %stings. M.P., said he was pleased
to be present that evening, and he was very glad
to find that the application he made at the instance
of the committee for a substantial grant for the
school had been successful. No one could have
seen the exhibition which he had looked at with
the gr atest possible pleasure, without feeling the
utmost interest in it, and Leing sensible of the great
development of the industry of the neiLehbourhood.
He could not doubt that tie School of Art was
destined to do more still in the future, and if there
was anything that he could do as their representa-
tive to further the interests of Stourbridge and the
neighbourhood it would be his duty and pleasure
to do it.

Mr. Worthington, in alluding to some presents
of terracotta work by Messrs. King for the intended
museum, said he hoped this work would before
long become an important branch of the industries
of the neighbourhood.
Lord and Lady Dudley, Lord and Lady Lyttel-
ton, Sir R. Temple, and others were invited to the
convergaz;one, but were unable t) attend.

ALHAMBRA THEATRE,—This week the theatre
has been occupie 1 by the "Fair Fame Corn- any,"
under the direction of Mr. Montague Ashton. On
Monday and Tuesday evenings Feir Fame was
placed on the boards in a splendid manner. Simon
Diaolis, the villain of the piece, was taken
in such a manner by Mr. Montague Ashton,
that on several occasions he was hissed at.
Lecoar, a servant in the employ of ouichon, by
Mr. M. Carroll, caused roars of laughter; and the
Loui :bon by Mr. A. Trail was good. Mr. H. Coup.
laud acquitted himself in a perfect manner in the
character of Athol Standford. Miss Clara Sa,ntley
won a considerable amount of applause in the
character of Babeite, (Madam Caron). Miss Pollie
Manhall did full justice to the piece a, Jose Loui-
chon ; whilst Miss Su-de Winter was wll received
as Emilie. On Wen, sday and Thursday a comedy
drama written by j. T. Day, entitled Pharieees, was
played. The characters were taken as follows :
General D'Arcy, Mr. Arthur Trail ; Bertrand
D'Arcy, Mr. H. Coupland ; Emile Berthcn, Mr. C.
H. Stafford; M. Gregoire, (a Notary), Mr. M.
Carroll; Lawton, Mr..e_W. Richardson ; David
Lanesteffe, Mr. MontaguG Ashton; Helen Lang-
staff e, Miss Pollie Marshall; Marcell° de Bruyere.
Miss Susie Winter; Marquise de Bruyere, Miss
Clara S tutley. Last night (Friday) was set apart
fo: the benefit of Miss Pollie Marshall when was
peeeented Foul Deeds; and to-night (Saturday) tha
curtain will rise on the Octoroon.—We think it is a
pity that people who visit theatre, who do not wish
:to listen to the piece, would let those who:do. Last
Saturday night the performers could scarcely be
heard in the front for the noise that was going on,
JUVENILE FORESTER'S TEA. AND ENTERTAIN-
MENT.—A. tea and entertainment was given in the
Corn Exchange in connection with the Javenite
Foresters Society, on Monday evening last. About
200 or 300 persons sat down to a sumptuous tea.
After tea an entertainment was given. The Rev
11. Sherrard, M.A. presided, and the following pro-
dramine was gone through :—Pianoforte duet,
"Patience," (Lancer,) Miss Maud Randle and Mr.
J. Randle; glee, "As the moments roll," Messrs
W. Bourne, J. Fletcher, H. Emelt, and Geo.
Pagett ; song, "Anchored," Mr. Bourne; sang.
"Once again," Mr H. Pugh; song, "Dream of
home," Miss Maud Randle; song, "The happy
bachelor," Mr. J. W. Andrews; pianoforte solo,
"Fre Diavolo," Miss M. M. Turner; recitation,
"Gloster, on his deformity," Mr. H. Cox; song.
"The old brigede," Mr. H. Lea; flute so'o, "II
Travatore," Mr. Geo. Blenkarne ; Sco ch sir, "Blue
bells of Scotlond," Wollaston hand bell rinse s ;
pianoforte duet, "Canary bird quaslrilles," Miss
'lan I Randle and Mr. Rand'e ; song, "Scenes th tt
are brightest." Mr. H. Pugh ; song, "She trotted
me off to church," Mr, Andrews ; song, "etauncli
and true," Mr. Lea; song, "Tit for tat," Miss Maud
Randle; glee, "The gipsy laughing trio," Messrs.
Bourne, Ensell and Fletcher; pianoforte sole. ''La
Clemenz tdi tine," Miss M. M. Turner; reciettion,
"The captive," Mr. Cox; flute el°, "Englieh Airs,"
Mr. Blenkarne; Scotch airs, Wollaston hand b 11
ringers.—The pianoforte duets were well played,
and reflect great credit oa Mr. R tndle, who muet
have taken great pains in teaching his daughter,
who is very young, to p!av so nicely. Mr. Bowes
sane well, and was warmly applauded. Mr.
Pugh is the possessor of a splendid tenor voice,
, which he knows how to use, lie was in excellent
form, and his sweet, clear voice was heard to great
advantage in the songs- he had chosen. 'Ps singing
tnroughout was marked by the careful attention lie
paid to the modes tof expression, which is the prin-
cipal feature in singing. He partieul iriy distin-
guished himself in his first song, "Oeee Ageia,"
which was rendered in such a style Eh tt he fairly
brought the house down, and cries of "encore" we. e
heart from all parts of the ronm, but lie did not
respond. The Rev. HeSherrard, in thankine them on
heletlf ef Mr. Pugh, said as the eneeeramme was a
rather long one, he was afraid it would make it
la,e if he responded. He was sure Mr Pugh had
sung very nicely, but they must excuse him for n )t
reepoudine. The glee, "As the moments roll," was
nicely sung but we think they would have done
better if they had had a little more practice. The
trio was very well sung and did the performers
credit. Miss Maud Randle appeared to be a trifle
nervous whilst singing her first song, but was better
in the I tat. She sung them, however, in a credit-
able manor ; awl we think, thet wite ear ftil
tuition, sh, would make a good singer. Ur. Bien-
karne pl yed his solos in a masterly style, and ;t
showed that he had htd no small ametint of careful
pra eice. 11:s playing was highly appreciated, and
ha /jay des ,rved it. Mr. Andrews, we need
searc,ly say, was vociferously applauded for his
two ceruic songs. for both of which he was encored,
end respoaded. Miss Turner pleyed her solos very
well, und garnet a good share of applause. Mr.
Cot's reciting powers are well-known to the people
of Stourbridge, that we need only st tte that he was
ia good form, d was loudly applauded, especially
for his lest piece, "The captive." Mr. Lea disposed
of his songs in his usual dashing style, and was
leuily applauded. ['he Wollaston hand bell ringers
played the parts allotted te them in a style tnat
sh wel they were e emplete masters of their inetru-
ineut-e Their playing was in irked by payiee and
keepiug strict attention to time. They received
hearty applause, speuially for their list Scotch airs.
'Pakine tee sinsing aid plae ing all reund it was
very goed , each one did their best, and the affair
was. a complete suceess. Mr. J. Ran :le accom-
panied in his usual style. A vote of thanks to the
performers wes proposed by the Rey. U. Sherrard
and carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman w
proposed by Mr. Walker and carried. This brought
a hood everSng's entertainment to a c!ose.
11 tr :I OF ENGLAND ANNUAL S.)IREE.—TiI

annual soirf:e -,f thcOeurch of c:u.datid Ass JcLattr,
was heti in the Corn Excaange, 0.1 Tuesday even-
ing. After tea, te which a fair number sat down,
ML ilammoud Smith took the chair, and tho tollow-