Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-28

and sung her advertised solo and an encore
with good taste. Gottschallk's lovely
song, 30, Loving Heart, trust on" was
pleasingly rendered by Miss Stevens, who
was loudly called upon for an encore by the
audience, with whom she evidently is a ia
vorite. Miss Stevens possesses sympa-
thetic voice which with careful and we'll
directed study, promises TO develop into a
full, rich, and sufficiently powerful soprano
voice. But perhaps the most nearly
perfect performance of the evening was the
piano solo given us by Miss Harris, con-
sisting of a movement from one OF Schu-
berps Sonatas. The depth Of feeling which
characterizes NJ ISIS Harris playing, lent an
Undesirable charm to the beautiful melo-
dy underlying this movement, while her
mastcrly touch brought out with singular
clearness and precision, what might easily
have been obscure and uncertain under the
fingers Of less artistic performer. And of
Miss Harris we will add that she is an I'M
usually sympathetic accompanist, follow
ing in entire self-forgetfulness every shade
of expression of the singers. Miss Will
XII MS who, we believe, generally plays for
this society, accompanies finely, as we all
know, and Mr.. White performed his part
admirably at the organ, as usual.
THE OPERA OF "MARITANA."
Decidedly Brattleboro is in luck this
winterl Entertainment follows upon en-
tertanment, in rapid succession, each
better than tho preceding one, until, as
climax 1--WE speak only of the past, the
Boston English Opera Company is an
nounced, which, by a correct and graceful
rendering of Wallace's pleasing opera Of
Mariana, took the most sanguine members
of really select and critical audience COM
pletely by storm Tuesday evening, oilectu-
ally removing, before the end of the Ange-
lus,-most exquisitey rendered by the cho-
rus, near the opening of the opera, what
ever doubts may have lurked in tho minds
of few croaking pessimists with regard TO
the merits of this company. The mir Of
ease and artistic refinement which distin-
| gui shed the representation from beginning
to end, was delightful beyond expression.
There was no undue straning after effects /;
each individual member Of the company
was fully equal to the task assigned him,
and here lies the secret of all real, lasting
success. The musical director, Mr.. Leon
Reach, is n host in himself, and made his in
1uencc felt throughout the opera in such a
| way as to sensibly lessen the feeling Of want
one always experiences in the absence OF
an orchestra. Miss Dora Wiley, who OBJ
tanned signal success in the part of Mari
tana, possesses a charmingly fresh and we'll
schooled soprano voice, which she uses nat
III. a. 4
the articles employed 10 conceal the weak
| points Of less perfect or worn-out voices.
This charming singer was warmly applaud
ed throughout the entire opera, and rapt-
urously encored in the aria, "Scenes that
are brightest" in Act ". Miss Hattie
Moore, both as Lazarillo and the Marchion-
ess, completely bewitched tho audience
with the graceful case and abandon which
characterized her acting, while her voice
and style of singing, alwas pleasing, were
especially so in the duet, "Holy Mother
guide his footsteps" sung with great efiec
by Mariana and L1zarillo in the final act
Mr.. Harry Gates sustained the role of Don
Cesar most admirably, and kept his hear.
crs in a state of constant delight by his ar
tistic Interpretation ofthe musicwhich suits
his unusually pure and high tenor voice 81
per foctly. But when he took high c in thu
ong, "Let me like Soldier fall" tho en-
thusasm Of the audience knew no bounds
while the graceful recognition duet in Ac
", so iaultlessly reformed by Marian;
and Don Cesar, was received with scarcely
lie IS overwhelming applause. Mr.. II. X
White, Jr., shows much skill in the man
agemcnt OF q fine baritone voice, and wa
admirable in the somewhat difficult role o
the intriguing and finally bafiled Don Jose
Mr.. George II. Titus enacted the part of
Captain of the Guard and OF tho King 0
Spain. In the latter role his bass voice. 81
effective in the choruses, came out magnif
iceutlv in the aria in Act III, and in tn
duets with Mariana and Don Cesar in tn
last act. Mr.. George A. Fitch also sustaine,
two roles. as the Alcade and the Marquis d,
Mon tciiori, and identified himself com
pletely with the cowardly Marquis withou
OVERRIDING his part. The costumigg Of thi
opera is elegant and appropriate, and th
scenery all that could be desired.
MISS TowNsLEY AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH
| hIss l. IL IpNholNl Nbii'ulNhNNN ilN
labors with tho Baptist church on Sunda,
evening, when she preached a sermon from
John ": 3j:-
Say mot ye, there are yet four months. ard the
eometh harvest; behold, say unto you, Lift up you
eyes, and look on the fields; for they Q white o.
ready to harvest.
The following is brief abstract Of the dis
course:
OF the numerous Interesting lessons +
be drawn from the text, tho first is founC
in he word already. Procrastination is
DEATH blow 10 progress. The boy who ha
to be called four times to breakfast will
never succeed in life; the woman who con
tinually puts of and neglects her house
hold duties never has the good will of he
neighbors, and it is said of the man VIII
halts and wavers before concluding an i'm
portant matter of business until the oppor
tuhity is lost, that no lacks faculty" Got
looks down on the man who delves and la
bors only to accumulate the things of thi
world while he puts off attention to tn
immortal interests of the soul, and say
"thou fool" The next lesson is in the in
; junction to Gift up your eyes" To ever,
so III the text says "lilt up" Tie man VIII
continually looks down into his own sou
: can never grow. II will never do for us t
: sit down and mourn because the cause @
? | Christ languishes. The wall of those VIII
constantly lament that the work of th
t church does not flourish, that all their ell
forts come TO naught, that they are not ap
! preciated, savors much of injured limo
: cence. An effective point was made il
|
the speaker suspected many Christian