Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-18

A little more than a month only now remains
before the next annual session of our musical
festival will be held at Mechanics hall in this
city. The committee of arrangements have
been jealous in their efforts to so arrange and
mature their plans that the coming festival may
not be inferior to any that have preceded it, and
so far as possible may be in advance of all
former conventions of this kind. The talent en-
gagged is of the highest order of excel
lence, embracing Carl Zerrahn and Dr.
L. H. Southland of Boston as conductors, Madam
Anna Bishop, Miss Antoinette Sterling, Messrs.
George Simpson and j. K. Thompson, all of New
York, as solo artists. MIR. Thomas has been long
and favorbly known as one Of the finest 3ompos
ers of ballads, and whose songs are as house
hold words. He is also fine artist, standing
high as a singer, as well as composer of much
of our best music, sacred as well as secular
Miss Sterling is the leading contrato OF New
York, possessing fine voice OF much power
and compass and is most excellent artist
Mr.. Simpson and Madam Bishop are too well
known to require any word Of commentator
from us. We consider it fortunate that we are
to be favored with such an array of talent at
our next convention, and with the variety of
music to be sung including the great work Of
Mendelssohn, the oratoriO of Elijah, the next
session will be of more than usual excellence, and
the public may enjoy a continual feast of good
things. The committee of arrangements will
soon issue their circular giving in detail their
plans for the fourteenth annual session OF the
leading musical convention of New England.
FRENCH CoNvENTIoN.-The seventh annual
convention or reunion of the French Canadians
of the United States, began in this city on
Friday afternoon last. The speaking exercises
were preceded by a procession, which started
from the hall of the Societe ST. Jean Baptiste
on Mechanic street, at about one o'clock This
procession comprised the French societies of
Worcester, Springfield and Millbury, with the
congregation of Notre Dame of tins city, and
others from various sections of the country
They bore numerous banners and flags French
and American, and we've accompanied by four
bands, the Worcester brass band performing
escort duty. They marched through Main,
Summer, Front and OTHER principal streets, to
Mechanics hall, where the opening exercises of
the convention began at about three O'Clock,
with the examination of credentials. Forty
four delegates were represented to be present
from all points of the United States.
The delegates of this city were P.
L. Paquette, Joseph Marchesseault, and
&. Paquette for the Societe st. Jean Bap-
tste, and DIR. Napoleon Jacques, L. Langlois
and j. Lesage for the congregation of Notre
Dame. The convention was called to order by
Mr.. Charles Moussette of New York, opened
with prayer by Rev. F. Primeau of the church
of Notre Dame of this city and organized by
the choice Of the following officers: President,
Mr.. Ferd. Gagnon, editor of L'Etendard Ma
tional of this city; vice president, Alexandra
Bengley of Chicago; secretary, Fred. Hoade,
editor of lie Protecteur Canadicn of st. Adams,
VT; treasurer, Joseph lie Beuf of CohOeS, New
York.
Speeches were made by the chairman, by Rev.
Mr. Primeau, and by Rev. Mr.. La Verdeue of
Springfield, after which there was an adjourn
ment till ten A. NJ. Saturday. The speeches and
other proceedings are all in French.
There was political meeting in the evening,
at Washbum hall, Dir. Rousseau of Springfield
in the chair This meeting was an independent
affair from the convention, NJ. A. Lusignon,
representing lie Pays, daily paper of NJ on
treal, spoke in favor of the annexation of Cana
da to the United States George Bachelor of
New York spoke in favor of the unfcation of
North America, Mr. Ferd. Gagnon of L'Eten-
dard Rationale, in favor of the independence of
Canada, and Mr.. Houde for the French flag.
No vote or decision was taken.
At twelve o'clock, midnight, the company sat
down to a grand banquet at the Bay State house,
where, after the excellent lands were disposed
of the time till hall-past four in the morning
was spent in sentiments, speeches, SC.
The convention re-assembled at hall-past ten
A. NJ, Saturday, and the day was occupied with
speeches from various delegates from different
sections of the country on a variety Of subjects,
including French schools, naturalization, be-
nevolent societies, &c. In the evening there was
n presentation of gold mounted cane to Ed. N
Lacroix of Detroit, Michigan, a distinguished
champion of Canadian independence, accompan-
led with speeches by Mr.. Gagnon, in behalf of
the convention MIR. LeBeui, and Others, with a
response by the recipient.
The meeting to-day, the closing day of the
convention, will be held at Jean Baptiste hall on
Mechanic street