The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-07

OPERETTA IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES time
during the present month a number of young
ladies of one of the city churches will give
an entertainment at Assembly Hall-viz. /:
the cantata OF Laila and the drama The
Earth Child in Fairy-Land. Great care has
been taken to make the spectacular features
of the drama as pleasing as possible, and the
chorus and other lyric parts OF The perform.
ance have been industriously practiced, and
will no doubt be well performed.
The cantata consists of four parts, and
closes with full and beautiful chorus. In
the first scene band of mountain children
are assembled to enjoy summers day PIC
nickipg," and while they are spending tue
hours in sportive delights of childhood
singing. gathering wild flowers, and feasting
beneath the shadowy branches of the forest
trees-a beggar.w oman, with her children,
annroacbes and asks for food. The selfish
IMPULSES of the children at first prevail, and
the Door beggur- woman is rudely repuised
from the happy throDg of young mortals.
But Laila steps forward, rebukes her
nIaymates for their unkindnesS and lack OF
charity, and ministers to the necessities OF
the poor beggar. The other children $50
great is the force of example, even among chll-
dren, and the power Of word titly spoken)
at once reverse their inclinations and JOIN
Laiiu in kindly words and attentions TO
the DOOR beggar-woman and her children,
whom they now invite to share Their ENJOY
mept, and proceed to the feast with merry
songs aud happy hearts.
AS the day advances and evening deWs
are falling, poor Laia, wandering alone 70
pl1ck a few flowers, loses her way .~NIsht
comes on and the poor child, lost IN the
gloomy forest, her limbs overcome Wild
WEAKNESS, sinks to the earth and lfalis
asleep.
The second scene, represents the court OF
the Fairy Queen, the scenery being IN Keep
ing with the character of such court.
In the third scene one of the little iays
while amid the bowers of fairy-land dis
covers the poor child. The curiosity OF tne
little fairy at the sight of the "chlid OF
eartb.:' is graphically depicted, and this,
with the other features Of the scene, Will
contribute greatly to the enjoyment OF the
entertainment. :.
In the next scene the Fairy Queen is
fonnd administering the laws OF her larry
realm. Two prisoners are brought before
her-ope O fairy, the other mortal. The
culprt fairy Fidella, who happens TO De tne
Queens favorite, Is accused Of having spoken
| to u mortal, which, according. to the code o.
the .'fairy-land," is a dreadful crime. a
terrible punishment is pronounced upon
her and the mortal, whereat the bells SO
.emnly toll. and the whole company ol
lher fairy companions form procession ana
nass out with bowed heads and teariul eyes
Il While Fidella, accompanied by Lana,
/ both covered with black, kneel before tne
! Eajrg Oueen to receive sentence OF ntlai
doom, the. genii OF the ialry realms muo to
seems to be a sort OF syndic IN system oi 81 +,
iyernment, is heard in the distance appIoaIhn, ,hr
Hing, and his ppearanee al once cnansesa sne
state of affairs but the denouement mus
/ not be anticipated. "a.
The performance Is to conGiuae WIN :.
grand chorus in praise OF Lana, 70 W. y
rendered BY about fifty young voices, Alto