Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-03-27
MtsrcA1 AND LITERARY ENTERTAIN


MENT.-Another. soiree was given by the
pupils of the Virginia Female Institute,
on Friday night last, which in every re-
spect sustained the enviable reputation en-
joyed by that Institution for it's recherche
and thoroughly delightful entertainments.
We started early determined to secure
good seat, but, when we arrived at the en-
trance of the hall discovered that the same
brilliant idea had struck a large number
of others, for the room was crowded to its
utmost. We, however, succeeded in OBJ
tanning standing room for one. The exer-
cises consisted of music, tableaux, recita-
lions and the reading of the MSS, of 1.-THE
Soiree." The following composed the en-
pertaining programme for the evening:
Magic Flute, (music,) by Misses Hartman
and Fisher; Editorial, read by Miss E.
Minnigerode; Cruss An Hanover, (mus-
ic,) by Misses Cuttings and Fairfax What
is Alone ? from The Soiree,) read by Miss
Maggie DunovaEt; Di Bravura, (music,)
Misses Minnigerode and Jones; Pen Photo
graph of the V. F. l., read by Miss Minnie
King; Capricede Concert, (music,) by Miss
Addie Barnett; 1.-The Passions. Recitation
and Tableaux Ave Maria, Song Miss
Nellie Clarke; Letter to Editress, read by
Miss Minnie King; Report, Miss Sue
Wright; ''Last Hope" by Miss A. Hun
ter; ssWhat is Grandma thinking about"
Misses King and Baker; Criticism, Miss
Bessie Austin; Obituary, Miss M. Dunno
want; Widow of Glencoe, Recitation by
Miss Morrison La Domino Noir, Misses
Flower and Ewing.
To descant to Staunton readers on the
merits of the performers at these soirees
is to tell twice-told tales Suffice to say
upon the occasion in question, the young
ladies' exceeded themselves, rendering
many favorite aao1ceaMr of eminent COM
posers, with such skill and eXactriess as to
win the warmest praise and highest CON-
mendations from their auditors. The tab
Ieaux were without exception the finest it
has ever been our fortune to witness-a
representation of "The Passions the mise
en- scene was In the highest degree credita-
BILE to the taste and skill Of those having it
in charge, and there were novelties in the
arrangement of curtains which will readily
most exquisi e and graceful picture was the
he adopted by the lovers of such things
among us. The recitations were well re-
ceived, and reflected great credit on both
pupils and their teachers. The MSS. of
The Soiree' were read and remarkably well
read too, to delighted hearers, and whilst
they contained many instructive articles,
well written, betraying the results of study
careful thought, and preparation, there
was by no means lacking the sparkling
jeu de mots for which the re porter's column
has become proverbial. They are always
received with feminine cries of delight,
and appreciated especially by those ac-
quainted with the habits and lives of our
'.poor school girls" The entertainment
in every way was Il most perfect success,
and the audience was unanimous in their
verdict Of satisfaction.
F No! Not exactly unanimous. In the
readings from the Soiree, a bolt from the
reporters column aimed at the use of
opera glasses at private soirees came like q
thunderbolt on a devoted band Of young
men caught in .fayraate. 1t is an awful
thing to be complaceltly cycling a pretty
girl with an opera glass, and catch such a
shot as that girl sent. There wasa hur-
ried struggle to get the glasses into their
pockets and then to look round as if they
had never had any. One young fellow sadly
folded his telescope and sat down chanting
that tender refrain ''Put me in my little
bed" We would Suggest that the editress
of the ''Soiree'' is done with the boys, she
should hunt in the jungles of silks and
rufus and water falls, for some of those girls
that destroyed the happiness of everybody
else Friday night, by talking while the
music was going on, and 'when found make
a note"