The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-03-05 00:00:00

Ilot r 0 anb If ints.

rzum cla wai /

Since the wretched three days after Plexus were held
up to the civilised world as an instance of the horrid
hardness of heart to which war brings its votaries, it
cannot be doubted that large numbers of us hare turned
dckened f rom the victors, and that that innate loathing
of cruelty which so set the great maws of this country
against the Torts has equally taught us to distrust the
purity not only of Russian motives, but of Russian acts.
And now that the programme aketched out Wig ago by
the Emperor Alexander and revealed to ow Government,
is on the point of being accomplished, the enormous
demands of the Russians have nearlr completed the
revulsion of feeling against the great Northern Power.
The interests which are always bewailed by war are
quick to take advantage of the feeling, and we stand at
present in more imminent danger of war than at any
previous point of the Russo-Turkish contest. That mad-
ams which prompts w to be rushing headlong into the
midst hail, it it said, become partly communicated to the
Russian people, as well may be the case, considering the
furious diatribes shouted in Parliament, and sooner or
later Interpreted into Russian. Yet—

" What can war but endless wan still breed r
111 might ask what do the war party propose to do, and
how they intend to do it, and if the most furious would
deeply consider the immense amount of work to be done,
they would, instead of raging for war with Bug* be
first looking at home, and petitioning Parliament to meg
an Act for Universal Compulsory Efficiency of English-
men for Defence. Let the noisy shouters set their teeth
and buckle to drill, and when they have had a
fair share of that work and trouble and inconvenience,
they will be • title calmer as to the ways and
mune of dealing with a mighty empire that
stretches from Ltpland to Georgia, and from Poland to
Bamschatka, and which could actually part with • vast
tract of North America to the United Btateg The French
who shouted • &Hirt r and dashed so fiercely at &ar-
twork, were met by • race who held their tongues but
who 'bowed the strength of quiet readiness, and the
government of him who spoke of his son's haptems de feu
had to be followed by the Government of the National
Defence. I say nothing now about the unutterable
wickednem of going to war if it can be avoided; I only
would have our warehouters take it into their heeds that
not • man ought to speak up for war, unless he Is, at the
very least, in a volunteer corps, The true way to abate
the temptations to attack us, is to become less absorbed
In business, lees devoted to !meting and pleasure, and
more apt in drill, in standing shoulder to shoulder, more
used to abetinenoe, in short more like men. That the
danger is much under-rated, that the majority of the war-
shouters an as blind as the Turks themselves, there CAD-
not be any doubt. But let us know something of the
lighter inconveniences of soldering, something of giving
up hour after hour to drill, of patiently bearing
fatigue, and if Necessary, of submitting to inclement
weather and short commons, and we shall be not perhaps
nearer to war, but certainly farther from an unsuccessful
one That is, always assuming that the nation enters
Into preparation not with • light heart, but with earnest
bumbling before God, earnest striving that all means
shall be used before the last dread eatimatuaa, which
leaves us the fearful dilemma to kill or he killed. The
practical outcome of all the shouting for war ought to be
the adoption of • system of universal military training,
not the German one, which proems so heavily on
that poop but the firm principle that every man, of
whatever grade, no exemptions and no substitutes being
allowed, shall become proficient in drill and (nine use of
=for the defence of home. There may he thaw
tally incompetent ; in that case they can produce •
certificate and bear • full share of the pecuniary burden,
or let them abdicate all pretence to political infinenoe, and
even to • rota

THE SINGING CLASSES CONCERT.
The cantata " Esther " was repeated on Wednesday
night, at Hops_ Chapel, by the singing cleans of
W Upwey and aymonth, which are said to number
70 Tolosa They were admirably accomm‘slated in
the singing gallery of the uhapel. and Mr. G. Bartlett.
who is at. had an excellent 4q,prrtunity ,4
accompanying them on an instrunent well-known to
him. A very audience gathered, nearly filling the
oi..sre
parts available for hearing well. Mr. C. Crocker, who
ably teaches the eds.-sea Mall c nduct r; Ind a place
I elevated above the pulpit. and in fact rather too high.
as it occasionally interferred with the view of the
principal singers. I hi, was almost the only .le'r4
for every one we heard expressed very great pleasure
at the proficiency of the classes. The character, were
represented by the same singers as at Upwey,
namely Esther, the Queen, Miss Waters; The
King, Mr. A. Pover ; Zeresh, Mrs C. 'rocker;
Hainan, Mr C. Reunion ; Queen's Maid of Honour
Milli Wright; Mordecsi, Mr. H. Crocker; Prophethea,
Miss May Freeman • Harbonaki, Mr. T. Crocker. The
choruses were especially well rendered, the beautiful
contrast in "H. that goeth forth and weepeth " being
affecting and effective, and the bright " Haste to the
Banquet Ball " veer pret!y indeed. The subdued,
almost muttered, effect of •' God is the Refuge," well
expressed the hope against hope of the people devote I
to destruction, afterwards relieved by the very
sprightly " Open ye the Gates" and the musical
" Trust ye in the Lord for ever " ; but they swelled
Into full joy in '• When the L Tri turned "—" Our soul
Is escaped,' (a very transport of jubilation.) and the
gr
and chorale and chorus "Praise ye the Lord." Mrs.
r had almost too good a voice for Zereth's
villainous suggestions, and so powertul and well-tuned
was it in "Thy galling defeat," that she was heartily
encored. Miss Walters as Queen was very effective
in Eather's desperate, almost hysterical, cry—" The
adversary is this wi. ked Haman." Miss Wright
sustained a considerable portion of the singing NI maid
of honour, and with uniformly good results. Mies
Freeman's feeling and tastes were well adapted
to give effect to the air "Lo l o'er the wicked." The
men also contributed successfully to the perfection of
the cantata, and Mr. T. H. Crocker as Harbonth was
good in "Thou will keep him in perfect peace," but
better still in the recitative wherein the villainy of
Haman is revealed. Mr. C. Reunion sustained the
difficult part of Haman with very considerable judg-
ment and miccese, and Mr. Pover was well adapted to
be king, and sang with much dignity and taste.
Mr. IL Crocker, contributed by his representation of
the part of Mordecai. fairly. Praia* is fully due to
the different singers for so well and unhesitatingly
taking up their parts in this ratter difficult made, all
of which went in proper style, the duets, quintet, and
double quartet in good time and time, and also the
choruses. Mr. Bartlett accompanied with proper
task, and a verptty effect of a particular stop, not
long after the beginning of the seoond part, wa. very
piquant. Mr. C. Crocker, the conductor, had the
ammo evidently well in hand, and all must be con-
= the sitcoms. That was what the Rev.
V.tulaLerill did at the close.