The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-24
MAY PLAY.
A BEAUTIFUL CANTATA AT ST. JosEPHs
FEMALE ACADEMIA DELIGHTFUL EN-
TERTAIEMENT.

Yesterday afternoon at hali-past o'clock
most enjoyable entertainment was given
in the main assembly-room at st. Joseph's
Female Academy, on Fourth and Marshall
streets. A festival similar in some respects
to the May play witnessed yesterday after
noon is given annually at this season; but
the one on this occasion was par excellencc-
the queen Of all the May festivals.
The audience-room was well filed by O.
very attentive and appreciative gathering of
ladies and gentlemen and children, who
testified their appreciation several times du-
ring the afternoon by generous applause.
The pupils taking part in the cantata en-
tered the hall by way of the south and east
entrances: :(meeting upon the stage), while
Professor Thilow and Mrs. W. Inward,
who presided at the piano, played lively,
bright march. When the whole band OF
little misses had taken their places upon the
platform the scene presented spectacle that
was indeed fairy-like, the elegant and taste
full dresses, bedecked with flowers OF all
kinds, adding materially to the striking
effect. !
The entrance OF the participants in the
entertainment and the exercises Of the occa-
sion were in accordance with the following
programme:
Seasons entered as follows: "Spring,"
Miss NJ. Capston; "Summer," Miss e.
Laube; " Autumn" Miss L. Thilow.
"Flower Song" by little girls.
Entrance of herald maidens (Misses Nan
ME O'Keetfe and r. Page in search Of a
bower for the May Queen.
Flora (Miss II. Doherty) resigns her
throne and bower.
Entrance of Queen Cfiss Alice Lubbock)
and her maids OF honor.
Address to the audience by Miss T. Hutz-
Ter.
Chorus: "Hail to Our Queen"
Crowning Of the queen by Miss r. Page;
sccptre presentation by Miss Ida Hamilton !;
bouquet presentation by Miss +. Casey /;
garland presentation by Miss J. Wright.
To each OF these the Queen replied most ap-
propriately.
Flora presents the seasons to the Queen.
Song: Tive la Refine de Mai"
"Iris" (Niss B. Lubbock) begs some
more lasting tokens for the Queen than
'Efair, fragile flowers"
Flora shows the lessons OF virtue breathed
by the flowers and calls for mystic wreath,
to which the Beatitudes responded as fol-
lows: First Beatitude, Ivy Vine, "Poy-
erty," Miss L. Wendlinger; second Beati-
tude, White Violet, "Meekness," Miss A.
Redmund; third Beatitudc, Cypress Vine,
"Patience," Miss S. Feldenhiemer fourth
Beatitude Myrtle, s.Zeal," Miss NJ. Straehla;
fifth Beatitudc, Wild Grape Blossom, "Mer-
cy," Miss E. Gallagher; sixth Beatitude,
White Lily, Miss Libbie Kirk; seventh
Beatitude, Olive Branch, "Bessed are the
Peace-Makers," Miss A. Piemont; eighth
Beatitude, Scented Grass, "BIeSsed are
They that Suffer-" Miss NJ. Wilson.
Chorus "Gay Birds are Singing"
Flora calls the flowers and begs the aid Of
Spring. The call was responded to in the
following order: "Rose," Miss V. Boudar;
"Lily," Miss A. Hamilton; "Honey-
suckle," Miss X. Black; "Tulip," Miss NJ.
Kelley; "Heartsease," Miss c. Pizzini; !;
"Pink," Miss A. Hungerford; "Myrtle,"
Miss NJ. Boudar; "Violet," Miss A. B.
Kirk; Rosebud" Miss A. Hutzler.
The recitations OF the young misses We're
excellently delivered, each one speaking
with clearness and confidence. The Queen
and Flora deserve to be specially mentioned
for the creditable manner in which they
rendered their difficult parts. All, however,
rendered their parts so admirably, and with
such modcsty and grace, that they were ac-
corded the highest compliments on all sides.
The entertainment was gotten up with
great care and skill by Sister Maria Anna,
the very efficient directress Of the Academy,
and during the evening she watched the
progress of the festival with great interest
and anxiety.