The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-12-18
Miss Jeanne Patterson in Columbia.

| Miss Patterson gave two of her charminE
! entertainments, consisting of readings anC
| Rotations, in this place last Thursday anC
| Friday nights, to large audiences. Thursday
| evening was rainy and cold. but an audi.
| ence respectable in numbers and appear
J ance, was waiting patiently in the Athe
| n#eum Hall, when the radiant maiden
| simply and tastetully attired, entered and
| was introduced by Capt. X. ID. Smith, in 8
| neat and complimentary speech. After
| waiting few moments, Miss Patterson re-
| cited the Legend of BregenZ," n beautiful
/ story by Miss Proctor. 1t was trying piece
| on Il female voice, remarkable for Its sweet
| ness and purity, but she recited 1T with
/ power and effect. 1t is much more difficult
| for a woman to recite anything dramatic
| than ii is for a man, as it requires more
| power and strength than sweetness and del
| icacy of voice. If we thought it likely that
she would pardon our preSum ptton and ac-
| cept our adVice-but then she would not,
and we will not offer it. The next piece
| was ssNothing 20 wear" and we are perfect
| ly willing to confess that she read it better
than we had ever heard it read before. She
read il perfectly; every shade of meaning in
that fine poem was brought out so that eV-
erybOdy could see it and appreciate it. Her
face is exceedingly mobile, and is kept in
perfect unison with her refined and musical
voice; both are under perfect control, and aid
each other wonderfully in interpreting and
presenting the poem. This piece suited her
voice as well as any she read or recited.
"Ghe Famine, from Hiawatha," was the
next, and it is evidently one of her faVorites
She executed its difficult parts, made more
difficult by its stilted measure, with fine
effect. She read Dora" exquisitely; because
she read it plainly, naturally and under
Standingly. Her enumeration is remarka-
bly, distinct, and this is one of her greatest
charmS-it makes her so easy to follow.
Her "Caudle Lecture was capital, and as
natural as il she had had a subject to prac-
tioe on Friday night was beautiful; the
stars shUue out as il in honor of the fair
her. She had an entire change of pro-
gTamIne. proud Miss Mcbride" YVES the
gem of the evening; its delicate punS were
so eXpreSSively spoken by her sweet, hcx-
ible voice and Interpreted by her intelligent
and WinSOme face, that everyone saw and
laughed at them. Col. Mcdowell says she
rccites il better than SAKE, its author.
Miss Patterson left for Huntsville last Sat
uTlay morning, She remained here only a
f.'v days, but She will not soon be forgotten.
She was the guest of the Institute for sever
al days, and read and recited for the girls;
and in many ways won their hearts 50 com
plctely that there was quite a stir i'll that
noble inS tuition the morning she left-a
general waving of handkerchiefs and kiss
also greatly charmed by the charming and
WinSOme young lady. Nor were the teach
eTs of both institutions exempt, We might
say something about her influence on the
other sex, but probably the least said on
that subject the better-fCr as, as well as II. |
VI. Mckay and others. We trust Miss Pat |
terSOn and her ACCOMPLISHED aunt, Mrs. |
Sanford, will visit Column bia again, and |
We are sure this sentiment will he echoed |
by all who attended the readings and reel |
tatiOnS. And wherever she may go, we |
wish her large and appreciatiVe houses. |
Hers is noble miSSiOn-tO cultivate love |
of all that is best in literature; elevate the |
taste of the people, and interest them in |
speaking the English language correctly. |
In New England readings and recitatiOns, |
and lectures, are always largely attended |
by the people, and the consequence is that |
that section Is noted for its culture, and |
gives intellectual tone to the entire Union.
In the South lectures and readings are but |
poorly patrOnizCd, and the consequence is,
That the highly cultivated are few in num-
Der. 1t is no argument to deClaim against
the new EnglauderS; they have good points,
and should not let false pride deter us |
from emulating them. Everything that
tends to create a taste for pure and elevated
literature should be encouraged and pa
trOnized; and we bid Miss Jtanic Patterson
in her noble mission. After see
ing her, We are not afraid that appearing
before the public in the capacity of reader
will ever take away any of that great charm
OF 1COndaIiHess and sweetness, SO CharaC-
tcristic of our Southern women.