The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-06-06

| LITERARY AND DRAMATIC ESTERTAIN-
| MEST AT UNION HALL, .JOHNsTOwN.-Ou
! readers, or y portion of them at least, can
scarcely fail to be interested i'll q sketch of
the entertainment given by the members
of st. John S Literary Society, at the above
named place, on Saturday evening last. 1t
not only reflected much credit on the taste
and energy Of those engaged therein, but
also deserved the hearty approval of every
lover of the intellectual rs forming an ini-
tial step in the cultivation of literary talent
in JohnstOwn, ami thus clevating the pub
lie mind. This if followed up, cannot but
lead to the best results. 1t is a noble work
whose end is ultimately its own crown.
The programme was well arranged and
the selections indicative of the most cult
waited Judgment The entertainment was
opened with song, The dearest spot on
earth, which won hearty applause. This
was followed by a reading from Shakespeare,
which certainly deserved great commenda-
ton, being forcible without the affectation
considered necessary by some Of our over
rated Observation-Disclosures and correct with
out display. Added to this, the readers
voice was one of rare purity and sweetness
"A fit channel for the thoughts it clothed
in sound, The selection was that favorite
passage frCm King John, where the cap
tive boy prince persuades Hubert to ''spare
his eyes, A vocal duett, ''The Gypsy
Countess, = followed this. 1t was well sung
and evidently well appreciated by the au-
dience. The Drama of the evening was
now ''put upon the boards" to use a tech
nical expression. 1t was play founded on
the principal incidents in Cardinal Wise
mans beautiful and classical novel, ''Fa-
biola,' and arranged by the celebrated
English writer, Canon Oakley. 1t was rem
dered with evident appreciation of its own
intrinsic merit, and in many of its parts
remarkably well acted. But the object of
this notice is not to criticise, and therefore
we refrain alike from particularizing the
best where all were good, or pointing out
faults which experience Will correct. The
selection of the play i'll itself a proof of
cultivated taste, and the efforts ofthe mem
bers to do Justice to their choice cannot
be too highly lauded. That they brought
home its sentiments to the hearts of sheir
hearers, illustrating the nobility of Chris
tianity by their modest yet earnest pers0n-
ationS of its characters, should be their
best reward. The time spent in preparing
such play, and the criticism braved in
bringing 1t before the pubic, were worthy
of this end.
A vocal duett followed the play, GUAM
ita. A sweet old melody whose popularity
wanes not with years. We, with many 9TH
ers present, regretted the omission of
translation from the Italian and an Origi-
nal essay, next in order on the programme.
The entertainment concluded with
farce, "The Troubles of an Editor 1t
was a reproduction of well known story
which has been going the rounds of tho
press. cleverly arranged for the stage, and
ON this occasion extremely well acted, as
was testified by the hearty laughter, which
was its almost unceasing applause
Though our mention of the music intro
duccd at different stages OF the entertain