The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-25
TIE 0ratal'io.

evening was spent il singing and happy
social converse, G.
TIE 0ratario.
The 0ratosio Of ''Esther, the Beautiful
Queen" was splendidly rendered IT Chs
Court House on Thursday and Friday
evenings, Feb. ltth, and 18th, under the
direction Of Prof W. p, Danforth. The
effect was heightened by the appearance
If Ill tie actors Ill dazzling Oriental cos
tunes In notice of this kinl we cannot
give list Of al the participants, bun
will mcntiona few IN Who took part,
however, performed tie duties assigned
them with credit and g Gle great. s,fisfac-
ton of .hc large audiences attending.
Queen Esther, Mrs. j B. Hedge
Queens Maids, Misses Emma Frazee,
Eva Fuller
King Prof. W. p. Dauforth
Kings Guards, I Forlcr, j. Norton
Mordecai, g. T. Bfadsha
Hannah, G. II. Goodrich
Zeresh, wife Of Hannah, NrsG r. Goodrich
Zcresh's Maids, Nrs. y. It. Alden, Miss
+. Tfazec
Prophecies, Mrs D. Camcry
Pricstess, Miss Allie Cannon
Eiegai, Nv. A. Free
Haibouah, j. d. Hedge
Kings Courier, G. D. Jones
Cup-Bcarers, DcLa Coates, Lacy Edwards
IIeralds Quartet, r. Johnson, j. Il.
Hedge " 4. Free, e u Palmer
Ladies Of tie Court, Mrs. L. H. Belby,
Nrs. s. NJ. Bartlett
Miss Louisa Coates,
Miss F. Johnston
Oraonist Miss Carrie Guilford
As a specimen OF modern composition,
tie Oratorio Of Esther needs no praise
Bcaut full III conception 1t stands as one Of
Tie erandest pieces over which the eye
can wander VI the mind contemplate
When re SEE II actej with our own pco-
ple assuming t!,c sandals and other habi
liments Of the Orient We become lost II
tllc intensity Of admiration.
The exercises were opened With a cho-
rus Of over forty voices in honor of the
proud Haman who scorns AIordccai sitting
in sack cloth ut the Kings gate, refusing
to bow to the iordiy Persian, and the eff
feet was very fine, carrying tie audience
back O realization Of the vices and SPLEEN
doris Of the ancient court.
The meeting Of Hannah and the King;
The proposed destruction of the Jews; the
orgies Of the retaincrs the appearance OF
the prophecies and The perediction of the
evil to come, were wei rendered and put
the audience il symathy with the whole
plot Most touchingfy was rendered the
lamention Of the Jews over their condemn
cd nation, lIordecia repeatedly entrcating
the Queen to Intcrcede with the King,
while she asserts that to go unbdden is
death unless he holdeth out the golden
scepter Bat when she showed her full
comprehension of danger and duty and
exclaimed, eff perish, ! PERISH there
was a sympathetic pulsaton in every
bosom and hors and trust that her efforts
might not be in vain.
The ring of the battle axes the quickly
raised scepter and the redemption of
people all made up a scene that battles
description.
Passing over the chorus by the friends
Of Hannah, we come 70 tie solo by Zeresll
as she entreats him to builda gallows fifty
cubits high The singing and acting
throughout this part was simply perfect
there was something touching in the
passionate earpestness Of the whole scene
which was sung with clcarness and
force that gave admirable effect to the
words, "and thereon tomorrow let this
Hebrew die"
The reading of the chronicles the reply
Of Hannah when in the height of his glory
lie declares himself the favored one, his
dismay at finding his hopes annihilated,
are all interesting i'll the extreme, and add
force to the crushing decree announced.
Mordecai is brought in, his sack-cloth re-
moved and in its place the royal apparel.
The banquet is served, the petition OF
Esther granted and Haman condemned to
die He retreats before the uplifted
battle axe while Zcresh walls and the
Jews rejoice over their dcliverance. Al
together twas performance that will be
long and pleasantly remembered. The
entire work was accompanied on the or
gan by Miss Carrie Guilford, who did her
self great credit, both in sustaining the
choruscs and encouraging the solo parts
She deserves the highest praise Of aI Who
witnessed the entertainment.
As there appears to be great desire
to have this entertainment repeated, we
would say that II will probably be given
again in short time, when some new
clloruses which were omitted in the last
= o.-e><..,. ,.1,.e ,r;ll Ia ;nfr duccd Should