The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-07-02 00:00:00

ENTERTAINMENT IN EAST LONDON.

The Drapers' Company of ,the City of London
having entertained during the Jubilee week 20,000 of
the children living in the East-end of London at the
People's Palace, the invitation was extended to 4000
working men and women on Saturday night, and long
before the hour anaounced on the invitation cards,
thousands of people were assembled outside the palace,
necessitating an extra force of police to keep the road
clear. Soon after half-past seven the gates were
opened, and the men and wcanen thronged into the
Queen's Hall, filling every available space, and even
standing up in crowds in front of the stage, so that
those who had been fortunate enough to obtain a
front Beat saw but little of the proceedings. The
evening's entertainment was opened by Sir J.
Jennings, who, speaking from the stage, said that in
the name of the Drapers' Company, of which he was
the master, he welcomed them all that evening in
commemoration of her Majesty's Jubilee. They had
hoped to present to the holders of tickets a portrait
of her most gracious Majesty, but unfortunately
they bad not been able to be prepared in
time, but if those who had cards would
kindly take the trouble to come down to
the palace on Wednesday evening, between six and
nine o'clock, the portraits would be ready for them.
In conclusion, he said that those who could not find
room in the hall would be accommodated in the
refreshment tent. He hoped they would all enjoy
themselves. (Cheers.) The first part-of the pro-
gramme was occupied by the minstrel troupe of the
Grenadier Guards. After an overture by the band,
Lieutenant C. Fergusson sang "'La a voice in the
air," followed by a comic song by Lieutenant-colonel
H. Ricardo, "Razors in the Air." "The Days of
Happy Childhood" was then sung by Lance-Corporal
Rinks, and the comic song, "Kissing," by Captain
F. Ricardo. Then came the first great event of the
evening, and as Madame Antoinette Sterling appeared
on the stage to sing Blumentlaars " Sunshine and
Rain," she was greeted with a perfect storm of
applause. After each verse of this beautiful song
Madame Sterling was loudly cheered, and in response
to continued calls, kindly sang "Here's to the year
that awe'." The last three lines of the concluding
verse were appropriately altered to words referring
to the Queen's jubilee:

"May she ever be blest
And never regret
The fifty long years that's awa'..
At the conclusion of this song the audience were in-
vited to a tent adjoining, where tea and coffee, lemon-
ade, cake, &c., were provided ad lib. The minstrel
troupe afterwards concluded their entertainment, and
Madame Antoinette Sterling sang two more songs,
"Darby and Joan," and her old favourite, "The Lost
Chord," both of which were encored. The evening's
amusement concluded with a laughable sketch,
"Burglars in the House," which was performed by
commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the
Grenadier Guards. "God Save the Queen," having
been sung by the whole audience, the company sepa-
rated. During the evening, for those who could not
find room in the ball, the Royal Nassau Band played
a selection of music in the grounds of the palace. A
number of clergy were presented during the evening,
including the Bishop of Bedford, together with the
wardens of the Drapers' Company.