The Van Buren press., 1874-07-14
Our School Exhibition

that it has been our privilege to witness
for number of years. Everything was
artistcally arranged, that pertained TO
the stage. and nothing was left to com
plete the loveliness of tae scene. save the
artistic grouping Of the beautiful young
faces in the many tableaux with which
the performance was interspersed. lhe
chaste aud elegant pictures that were
presented to our delighted gaze, gave ev-
idence of the love of the beautiful"
as well as the high degree of refinement
that pupils, alike with teacher, had en-
deavored to cultivate About half past
eight the bell jngled, and silence stole
over the vast auditory, as every one,
with batel breath, awaited the removal
of the veil that intervened between them
and the mysteries beyond At last tire
moment came, and there before our eyes
the beautiful Mary, Queen OF Scots up
on her bended knees, heard, with face
as calm and innocent as the guIleless
babe, the words that doomed her to the
fatal block. 1t was indeed beautiful
picture, and touched the heart Of every
one. The next scene was the prepara-
ton of Mary for death. 1t was very i'm
pressive, and reminded US all of the sol
emnity of earth's last duties. The finale
was grandly beautiful. With her beauti
ful white neck upon the executioner
block, her pale and sanity face lifted to
heaven imploringly in prayer Mary,
Queen of SCOTS, with christian heroism,
awaited death. A group of friends were
gathered weepngy around, and with
their crosses lifted up, did seem to call
down heaven benedictions on her de
parting soul. The axe is raised on high,
and pity, for the lovely woman, fills our
every heart The curtain falls upon the
scene amid stiffness SO profound, that
|" like Egyptian darkness, felt it even is >
Mary, Queen Of Scots. was elegantly
impersonated by Miss Bessie Green, and
the face Of the sweet girl wore that mien
of meek submission that would naturally
look from the eyes and speak from the
countenance of beautiful woman, dy-
ing for her religion. The other charac
ters in the picture were excellent.
The instrumental duett, by Miss Rose
Williams and Master Morehead Cornell
us, was really unapproachable. Miss
Rose played sparkling accompaniment,
while the young gentleman executed a
popular air on eight tumblers, 1t was
encored and repeated to the great delight
Of the audience.
Next came the charade, ' Politician"
1t would seem unkind to specify, when
the general conduct of all the performers
was so well worthy Of commendation.
But the character Of Poll, Evergreen, by
Miss Lucy Southmayd, to Us, at least,
seems worthy Of special notice. AS the
advocate of womau's rights she was
grand, and the locker on forgot the pure,
young girl before them, in the bold, i'm
pudent, arrogant haughiy and fanatical
Congressional aspirant and women's
rights fanatic The transformation was
complete the acting natural, and was en-
joyable in the extreme. Jessie Ward, as
the modest and unpretending niece of
Poll, was in strange contrast with the
masculine mien of the latter. Jessie
looked and acted prettly. She could not
well do otherwise. The characters by
Symc. Thrus;on, Morehead Cornelius and
Othelo Bourland, were excellent imper-
sonations.
The song by Master John White was
trstrate and SO pleased the audience
that he was called upon to repeat.
The recitation by Miss Maud Love
was a LOVE of thing. and pleased every
body. Little Maud did admirably.
One Of the quaintcst Of the pictures
that were presented to the audience were
those in exempificatlon of the recitation
entitled Dream of Fair Women" by
Miss Maggie Woods-and we do not be.
leve better personation than the beau
tiful girl. that with such modest micn and
musical moduation, murmured in our
ears the " soft flowing words" could
possibly have been made, At proper
points during the recitation, the curtain
was raised, exposing the pretty forms,
and faces of the " fair women," which the
beautiful Maggie was 50 sweety AMI
tremblingly describing.
The song, by Miss Pink DibrelI, was
complete success, and the fascinating
singer was again called by tho audience,
and repeated the song
The duett by Misses Bessie Green
and Rose Williams. was exceedingly
meritorious The young ladies have
both excellent voices, and with practice
may be far above mediocrity.
The next thing on the programme was
the play " pretty piece of business, "
aud it was "pretty," too. Two gentle.