Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-11

Entertainment sat BalstOn.

Entertainment sat BalstOn.
The success Of the late entertainment at Balls
Ton has heretofore been mentioned iu the Ca
7.r,e. The following additional particulars are
taken from the Washington Republican
The new Presbyterian Church at Balstou,
Alexandria county, Va, was crowded to its
utmost on Thursday evening. the 4th instant,
10 witness au entertainment given by the Off
GERS aud scholars of the Sunday school connect
ed with that church, conducted BY Professor
J. c. Brown.
The exercises were opened with a prologue,
By Mr. James +. Clements, 10 which be stated
that the concert was for the purpose OF aiding
in fitting up the Sabbath school room OF the
church The programme was as follows:
Solo aud chorus, Spirit of '76," Miss Ella
NJ. Cameron singing the solo with asplrit fully
,oual to the sentiments of the song. Song,
The Child's WISH" by Miss Aonie Collins.
THE Curtew Must Not Ring 10 night, read
by Harry H. Douglass, in an eloquent and ap.
pr ecia,ive manner. "Hints 10 3 Nutshell, .
dialogue, by Harry Topley and Edgar Corbett.
Recitation, "Whatis Right" by Miss Annie
Munson. Recitations aud chorus, by the ln
iaut class, Misses Flora and Jessie Topley ac'-
ing as the speakers, producing pleasing effect.
Recitation, "Ooe Hundred Years Ago, Frank
Schutr. Dialogue, of to the Gold Mines, by
Masters Arthur Bailey and Charlie Munsou.
"Auld Lang Syne," by the "Oid Folks. The
happy family of MIR. +. 6. Schutt six 10 rum-
Der, dress, 10 the cost umcs OF I6, the Oldest
lively years of age) leading, and beating time.
THE Orphan Boy, short clay, rendered by
fao
sic Mix, Minnie Ball, Mamie Bailey aud l.. '|ian
Munsou, in such mauuer as to demand the
highest appreciation of the audience. Sounds
from Home, !" an instrumental duet, organ and
violin. played by Mr.. Geo. Babccck and Mrs.
j. C. Brown, 10 an artistic mauner: The 900
lorr," qusrtette rendered 10 their usual ap-
prcciatlvc style, by Misses Eta Cameron and
Fannie Sypherd, aud Messrs Alonza u Hayes
aud James Z. Clements; recitation, Brother
Watkins Farewell Sermoo," by little Oracle
Douglas, who was encored 10 the most enthusl-
astic manner recitation, "Ab,u Ben Adhem."
by Jam, Fl. Birch; ''The Quaker Courtship,"
diologue, suog BY Lillian Muuson and Willie
Cameron, was highly rellshed "rhe Beautiful
Star" duet and chorus, by Lillian aud Annie
Muusou and others. A star of glass, rejecting
the prismatic colors, was suspended over. the
stage, making pleasing and appropriate scene.
Too much praise cannot be bestow ID upon Miss
Faune Sypherd for the able manner at which
she presided at the organ.
Mr. James E. Clements, with fitting remarks
10 behalf Of the Sunday school, present. Mas
t:r Fred. Mix with handsomely bouud book
cutited "The Boys Annual as prize for
having sold the most tickets which concluded
the exercises.
A GHosrLY MANsIoN.--It would seem as
if some terrible misfortune is sure to follow all
10 official life who pass any time 10 certain
mausion which should be haulted II gloumy as.
$ Citations could invite the presence OF ghosts.
When General Belkuap first came to W ashlng-
ton he took apartments for himself aud wife 10
what is, aud possibly will always be, Known as
the Seward House," or Club House, these
titles connecting it with two Of the tragedies
among the many sorrowiul IN idents with which
II Is associated And the record OF the soJuurn
in Washington of cx Secretary Bekuap adds
other associations of tragic character to Its
gloomy history, though bis second wife did t
die there, nor did his present wife pass III
than two mooths there. Joho &. Speucel,
when Sccre ta,y of War, resided there, and his
s,u was hung, for mutiny, to the yard arm o.
the vessel on which he Was cruising. mcm-
Der of the Cabinet who pcrished 10 the fatal
explosion which, during Tyler administration,
converted pleasure party on the Potomac
into funeral of statesmen, also had lived
in that house, though | believe he resided
elsewhere at tho time Of his tragic death.
The attempted assassination u that house OF
Secretary Seward, the death therein OF his
lovely daughter, and the killing of Barton Key
immediately after he left its lhreshold are some
of the other melancholy associations OF the old
house, built with piizc money by Commodore
Rogers the father OF the wife of Gen. Meigs
\ singular and very sad coincidence connec ed
with the death of Mrs Carrie Beknap, it will
be we'll to recall now. Mrs. Grant continued
her receptions throlg THE spring OF 1870, and
also invited number OF ladies', both natrons
and maids, to receive with her.
At the last reception 10 that year Mrs. Carrie
Bclknap and Miss Maggie Beck, both hand
some and popular kcntuckians (the latter lady
the daughter of James Beck, then Representa-
tive in Congress from hisState, and DOW Senator
elect were the receiving party. Before anoth-
erpnbc reception was held at the White House
the fowcred covered cofhus containing the re-
malus OF both Mrs. Bekoap and Mrs. Corco-
ran, nee Beck, the latter i bride of few weeks,
wearing her wedding robes as shroud, rested
side by side iu the chapel at Oak Hill. The
two died within few days Of each other
Wash. Neaos.