Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-04-22
An s.Old Folks Concert by 'sLittIe Folks.',

We have written sketches OF speeches, ex-
hausted our adjectives on soirees, spread" our
selves upon concerts of various kinds, compli-
mented in highest terms entertainments as
different as the leaves on the trees, described
in glowing terms the loneliness of fair n,aidens
and the matches elegance of our youths at a
full dress ball, but never yet have we SO fully
recognized our inability to do justice to an en-
tertainment of any kind as we do when at
tempting to give an account of the charming,
delightful, ravishing and laughter-moving" Old
Folks Concert, given at Mozart Hall on last
Friday night, by the little folks,' for the ben
eft of the Trinity (EpiscopaD Sunday school.
From beginning to end, it was one continued
source of infinite enjoyment and amusement
to all who were present. From the graysst-
headed sire down to the merest dot of boy
Or girl the entertainment met with the hearth
est approval. AS we have intimated before,
mere description in words is wholly inadequate
to portray the unique charm and innocent
mirth provoked by the quaint appearance of
little children arrayed in the costumes of three
score and ten, and see them performing their
parts with the dignity and decorum of our grand
mothers and grandfathers. But such was the
case on this occasion, and we do not remember
ever to have seen an audience so thoroughly
charmed and delighted; no, never.
The entertainment began with the hymn Of
Coronation sung as chorus by some twelve
or fifteen children ranging from seven to fifteen
years, and was sung most charmingly and "
fectively.
Then followed the affecting ballad of Fan
nie Grey" sung as duet by. Armand Miller
and Nellie Haines. Both acquitted themselves
most excallently and were loudly encored by
the audience, who were just beginning to real
ize the charm and quaintness of the entertain,s
ment; and their delight seemed to know no
bounds when that little mite of child, Blanche
Taylor, was perched upon the piano stool, and,
with correction of execution that astonished
all, played her own accompaniment whilst she
sang ever so sweetly, "Neat Little Foot"
In the duet of the "Quaker," the sedate-
ness of Walker McChesney when he sang,
Madame have come courting.' could only
De equaled by the merry rejection of Lucy
Kinney when she rippled in song her heartless
chorus, as she told him, "If you can't catch one
fish, go catch another
The vocal solo of 'Merry Zingara," was most
exquisitely rendered by Lizzie Kosrber, a young
miss of thirteen summers, whose voice is Of
care excellence and great promise.
Nothing could have been more quaint than
vas the duet of Mr.. and Mrs. Jones, as sung by
Fannie Catlett and Natalie Johnson.
An instrumental piece, the name of which
we failed to learn was played remarkably well
by little Miss Lucy Tuck. For ono of so few
summers she displays a remarkable musical
talent and gives promise Of becoming a fine
performer.
The "Old Arm Chair was sung by Miss Ida
Taylor in most charming manner, which
would have done credit to singers much Older
than she.
n a ri I nj 9 " q WI ol .
army Of little children, was most enjoyable,
and was highly appreciated by the audience.
The duet of "Come when the sunlight sleep
eth' was most charmingly sung by little jean
cite Burnett and Gertie Cushing.
If the audience had been delighted with the
performance up to this time, what can we say
of their feelings of enjoyment when the min
strels came upon the stage? Their very ap-
pearance was provocative of mirth, and the |
characteristic manner in which they sang that |
old plantation melody of "Jim Crack Corn, I |
don't care" completely carried away the audi |
ence They were Brock. Catlett, Frank Foster, |
Charlie Catlett, Frank Simpson, and Walker |
McChesney, the soloist. The manner in which !
the bones and tambourine were handled would |
have excited the envy of any minstrel troupe |
in the land.
A recitation by Oracle Yost, a little dot of
some six or seven years. was one of the most |
naive and charming incidents of the evening |
The entertainment closed with the singing |
by the chorus of the 'Gloria in Excelsis" pre- !
vious to which by request, Mrs. F. B. Berkeley |
sang, Buckley CLARA; Miss Bette West,
Charlie, Come Back Again; and Mrs. WIN. L.
Bumgardner, "Within a mile of Edinboro"
Too much praise cannot be given to the pa
thence, perseverance,, and excellent taste and /
judgment shown by the lady managers who |
got up the entertainment, They were Mrs. N |
P. Catlett, Mrs. VIM. Hunter Mrs. Orlando |
Smith, Mrs. W. L. Bumgardner, Misses Lizzie |
Woodward and Fannie Talns.
After the entertainment, most excellent |
supper was set forth in the basement, which |
was most literally patronized.