The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-04 00:00:00

Metropolitan Charity Schools.

Yesterday the annual meeting of the Metropolitan
Charity Schools was held at the Crystal Palace.
Early and special trains were despatched that they
might be conveyed to Norwood with all convenient
speed, but, though most of them travelled by train,
many also went down by road in vans gaily deco-
rated with flags and garlands. The weather, un-
fortunately, was unpropitious for outdoor amuse-
ments, and the children, therefore, were obliged to
amuse themselves in the earlier portion of the day
by inspecting the various courts of the palace. The
weather, however, began to clear up about 2 o'clock,
when there was a display of the upper series of
fountains. The interval between that time and 3
o'clock, at which hour the great choral performance
—the principal attraction of the day—was to take
place, was occupied in marshalling the various groups
of charity children, and arranging them according
to order on the grand orchestra. This was done
without the slightest confusion. When all were
seated, the orchestra presented a most animated scene.
The appearance of a space twice the diameter of the
dome of St. Paul's at any time full to overflowing
must be an interesting sight, but the interest which
is ordinarily felt was greatly enhanced yesterday by
the regularity of arrangement and the distribution
of the colours of the various uniforms worn by the
pupils of the several schools. In all about 4,000 took
part in the choral performance. Boys occupied the
centre under the festival organ, while boys and girls
were arranged in alternate lines on either side. The
boys for the most part wore black jackets with
brass buttons; but every separate group of female
pupils had its own distinctive dress. Costumes of
pink and white, of all shades of blue green, brown,
and yellow were blended togetherbwith happy effect,
while the dark blue ribandswon
won medals or other badges of y those who had
distinctionworn
formed a
conspicuous element in this heigheleyrz appearance
ar-
rangement. The healthy and
h aprraensscieonnsf
the collective body of children elicited
of admiration more than usually marked, and the
whole scene became for the time a splendid testi-
mony to the generosity of the metropolitan public.
At 3 o'clock precisely Mr. Henry Buckl au d e.
ap-
peared at the conductor's seat, and was greeted by
loud cheers again and again renewed, until the di-
rector gave the signal for the opening of the musi-
cal performance, which commenced by an organ solo
by Mr. Coward. At its conclusion the children
stood up and sang in admirable tune and harmony
the familiar " Old Hundredth," the rendering of
which was received with great favour by a tho-
roughly sympathising audience. Haydn's " Crea-
tion," which followed shortly afterwards, was
enthusiastically redernanded and given a second
time with more than former accuracy and strength.
An encore was also requested for Handers " Halle-
lujah," which Mr. Buckland wisely declined to
grant, Owing doubtless to his consideration for the
children, as well as to the length of the piece. A
short interval was then allowed, and at its expiry
the well-known Christmas hymn " Adeste Fideles"
was given with susprks. ingtaste and sweetness. Other
pieces having beensung, the full volume of the youth-

ful voices broke forth to the strains of the National
Anthem. At its conclusion a most enthusiastic demon-
stration took place. The children Clapp 3;1 tl. eir hands
and waved caps and handkerchiefs, and their friends in
the body of the hall responded by a similar display.
The band of one of the schools then played " God
bless the Prince of Wales," which was the signal for
renewed cheers from the occupants of the orchestra.
All the children now dispersed oyer the building and
grounds until 6 o'clock, when Ethardo made the as-
, cent of his spiral column, to the amazement and de-
light of the visitors. Soon after the children began
to return to town, after having spent what must
have been to them, as it was to all others present, a
gratifying festival.