The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-13 00:00:00

A NEW PALACE OF ENTERTAINMENT

FOR LONDON.

The Albert Palace at Battersea, which was in-
augurated by the Lord Mayor, on Saturday, is an
elegant structure of brass and iron, which was used
for the purposes of a National Exhibition in Dublin
thirteen years ago, and was opened by the Duke of
Edinburgh in 1872. Having served its purpose in
the Irish capital, the palace was taken down in 1882,
and its owners, believing that such an institution
would supply public needs in the Battersea district of
South London, determined to re-erect it in the
vicinity of the park. In its present form the building
consists of a nave of 60 feet high, 473 feet long, and
84 feet wide, with a gallery all round, with an apse at
the centre of the nave 50 feet long by 84 feet wide.
There is also an annexe, known as the Connaught
Hall, 60 feet high, 157 feet long, and 118 feet
wide, Ni ith a double gallery all round, which
is admirably adapted for musical enter-
tainments, the acoustic properties of which
appear to be perfect. A grand organ
has been erected here, for which it is claimed that in
the points of magnitude. tone, balance of power, and
constructive art, no equal exists in the world, the
nearest approach to it in size, power, and sweetness
being the grand organ at Haarlem. The instrument,
which stands 50 feet high, exhibits a bold and impos-
ing front; it has four manuals, of the usual five
octaves compass, with a pedal board of two and a
half octaves, but consists of six distinct organs and
not five, as these particulars would seem to imply,
the highest keyboard serving for an echo, as well as
for a solo organ. The number of steps is 65 and of
pipes 4200. The company ta whom the palace belongs
propose to issue associates' certificates, which will not
only admit to the building and grounds, but enable
the holder to participate in an annual distribution of
works of art, while the ordinary advantages of the
place will include reading-rooms, musical and other
entertainments, a picture gallery, and the exhibi-
tion of various handicrafts in operation. The
Lord Mayor, and the Lady Mayoress (Miss
Fowler), who were accompanied by the Sheriffs of
London and Middlesex, were received at the entrance
by Sir Robert Carden, M.P., chairman of the com-
pany, and the Board of Directors, and were conducted
the Connaught Hall, where Sir Robert presented
to the following address: "My Lord Mayor,—The
Albert Palace has been established to provide
rational amusement and recreation for the public,
and such an institution cannot fail to prove a great
boon to the densely-populated district south of the
Thames. The fine arts and music, interpreted by a
permanent orchestra, composed exclusively of British-
born musicians, will form a prominent feature of
attraction, and the Council moreover venture to
think that the proximity of this building to the
picturesque park of Battersea will greatly tend to
popularise the latter, as the site chosen by the
late Prince Concert for the re-erection of the
Great Exhibition of 1851, ultimately rebuilt on
the slopes of the Surrey hills. It now remains for
me personally, and on behalf of the Council, to
welcome your lordship and the Sheriffs and to
thank you for your presence on what I believe
to be a most interesting occasion, and I now as%
your lordship to confer upon it your good wishes, and
declare it open and dedicated to the public." In
reply, the Lord Mayor congratulated the founders of
the palace, which, he felt certain, would not only be
popular with the people of the district, but would
receive the patroiage of the public at large. He then
declared the building open, this announcement being
received with a flourish of trumpets, and by loud
cheering from the assembled company.
The inaugural concert, which commenced irme-
diately after this brief ceremony, began with a Dedi-
cation Ode written by Mr. W. A. Barrett, and com-
posed by Mr. A. J. Caldicott, in which, by special
permission of the Queen, the Chorale "Gotha," com-
posed by the Prince Consort, was introduced. The
solo voice parts were allotted to Madame Alwina
Villeria and Mr. Herbert Thorndike, whose admir-
able performances were ably assisted by the choir.
Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise" formed the second
part of the concert, the chief parts being taken by
Madame Valleria, Miss Winthorp, and Mr. Edward
Lloyd. In the evening the grounds were illuminated,
and notwithstanding the wet weather Mr. Pain was
able to give a very successful illumination.

A political stumper, while making a high-flown
speech recently, paused in the midst of it and ex-
claimed, "Now, gentlemen, what do you think ?"
Instantly a man in the assembly arose, and with
one eye partly closed, said, with a Scotch brogue,
"Mr. Speaker, I think, sir—l dae indeed sir--I think
that if you and I were to stump the country together
we could tell mair lies than any ither twa men in the
country, sir, and I'd no say a word myself a' the
time, sir."
Type-writing machines are coming into general use
among hilliness Men who
.have,an extensive corre-
spondence. An amusing Incident growing out of
their use is related. A gentleman received a business
letter from a man in a neighbouring county, and the
reply was written qn a type writer. In a few days
thfr correspondent wrote again to our friend, pre-
tieing his IPtter with this: "You needn't go to the
p o f getting the letters printed that you send
me: I can read writing,"