The Portland daily press., 1869-10-01
Portland, Oct. /, 1869.

HAGAR's ALLEGoRY.-Before we entered
City Hall last evening, we expected to see
something novel in the spectacular line, and
listen to a number Of patriotic airs very prop.
erly sung by number of young ladies and
gentlemen, flor we had attended a portion of
oneofthe rehearsals and thought we had formed
pretty correct idea of what the performance
would beg but we were not prepared for the
surprise which awaited us. The stage had
been built out as it usually is for dramatic
performances, but no wings or flies were erect
ed, leaving clear stage from balcony to bal
cony. AT the back of the stage tiers of seats
had been erected, as is customary for school
concerts, which were filed with girls all dressed
in white, some three hundred in number; be-
hind these were row of boys in uniform, and
in front sat Liberty on her throne, supported
by Truth and Justice, and surrounded in o
semi-circle by young ladies bearing banners,
and wearing fillets around their heads en-
blazoned with stars. representing the several
States. Overhead fifty gas burners were ar.
ranged so as to throw sufficient light upon the
scene. And that charming scene The
blonde, the brunette, the young child, the
blooming maiden, all mingled together, pre-
senting in their purity and freshness of YOUTH
fit subject for the artists brush.
But where shall we begin? What shall we
say? 1t was a glorious success That is not
to be disputed. There was wit, and humor,
and pathos in the dialogue. There was pa
triotism in the songs, and there was beautiful
voices to sing them. We challenge any city
i'll the United States to produce young lady
of the age of the one who sang "The Flag of
the Free" who has such a rich, sweet, mezzo-
soprano voice, with such clearness of enuncia-
ton as she possesses, or again with tine fine pow
erlul soprano of the young lady who sang "The
Realm of the west" and still another in 'Vve
L'America." Singly they might be excelled
with the exception of the first one mentioned,
united we don't believe it. The choruses
throughout were very fine, and the elocution
OF the young ladies and gentlemen in the re-
citations was excellent, and here our public
school training was exhibited. We grant Mr..
Hagar his full need of praise for the manner
in which he brought out the girls powers on
this occasion, but the schools had laid the
foundation, and moulded the work to his hand
To Miss Peters also we desire to mako our
acknowledgements. By her acquaintance with
ehO vi tuc youuS Reutiemcu
she knew iustwhere to seek the requisite mate
rial and has labored hard withMr. H. that the af-
fair should be successful one. We must not for.
get to mention the excellent acting as well rs
singing, and the mimicry and naturalness of
little Sambo will long live in the memory of
the children present. The Black Brigade was
irresistibly comic, and the grand army, Sher-
mans bummers, the God of War, attendant
sprites all received their full mead of applause
or laughter. When all the States were so we'll
represented we may not particularize, but we
must mention the little scene where Virginia
is urged to secede by the rebel States, how she
fingers, dreadng to take the false step, but at
last makes the fatal plunge and is hailed with
joy by the rebel sisters.
The closing tableaux was grand, represent
ing "Peace." We have not space to particu-
larize all the situations in it, but suffice it to
say that it is fitting conclusion to so well act
cd and SO we'll arranged a spectacle. We
| think that such a performance as the one OF
last night will do more to perpetuate the histo-
ry of the causes of the war; and the names, the
braves and power of the leaders, both North
and South, without fostering spirit of bitter
ness than fifty written volumes could do, for
it appeals to the senses of the Dung as well as
to the mind. We expect to see another house,
if possible, more densely packed than the one
of last night.
Miss Hager accompanied the performance
with great ability on one of Steinway's grand
pianos, and SO pleased were those who had the
pleasure of listening to her playing, that by re-
| quest, between the acts, she played charming
ly, with great execution and expression Lyst-
| berg's "La Fontaine" and a Bal'a1ne by the
| same composer.
We would suggest that few policemen be
| sprinlsled through the hall to keep noisy boys
| quiet