Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-02-27

the course The Apollo club have never
sung with greater force and spirit than on
this evening and the young men were in the
midst of one of their best selections when the
alarm of fire was given which necessitated
the postponement of the lecture for half an
hour 1t is quite unnecessary to say that
this citizens course has been a success in the
highest sense, and, at an insignificant cost in
money, has rendered to many hundreds Of
our people a great amount Of pleasure, en-
tertainment and instruction We concur in
the hope expressed by DR.. Gale, in ntroduc.
ing the speaker last Thursday evening, that
early next December we may sec another
similar course begun.
FIRES.
A small barn on Elliot street belonging
to Martin Martin, was destroyed by fire about
5 o'clock on Thursday evening of last week
Besides a quantity of hay, etc, the barn con
tanned a COW and horse, neither of which was
saved. There was $50 insurance Oh the prop
erty. The fire was probably the work of an
incendiary, and James Manning was arrested
for the deed Monday, on the testimony Of one
of the neighbors but proved by several wit
nesses that he was elsewhere at the time. and
was released.
At a late hour Saturday night, fire was dis
covered in the barn Of Eugene Frost on Flat
street. A general alarm was raised but the
flames were e1tinguished before the engines
arrived. This, too was undoubtedly an in
cendiary fire. and was set in small pile of
hay on the barn floor in close proximity TO
the hay-mow, which, fortunately, it did not
reach.
James Miller's house, on Frost street. mar
rowly escaped destruction by fire last Satur-
day aft rnoon, between and > o'clock. Fire
was discovered in one of the closets and $40
or $50 damage was done to house and cloth.
ing before the flames were discovered and
subdued. 1t is thought that the children got
possession Of some matches in the absence OF
the parents, and hence the fire.
Ellen Donahue's house on Elliot street. was
slightly damaged Thursday afternoon of last
week, in consequence of the chimney burn
ing out
THE DOCTOR OF ALcANTARA
The Brattleboro opera company, in their
presentation of Woolf and Eichberg's opera
of The Doctor of Alcantara" on Wednesday
evening, under the direction of Mrs Sprague-
Holbrook, assisted by Miss Merrill of Keene.
were greeted by an audience, which, although
moderate in numbers, was thoroughly appre-
ciative of the very excellent manner in which
the opera was brought out. The opera itself
Is pleasing bit of comic nonsense, spark
ling with gems of light and taking" song
and chorus, set in a spirited dialogue, and
Astounding in the most absurd and surprising
situations. The cast Of the opera on wednes-
day evening was very admirable, and the set
ting and general makeup has not been sur
passed by anything given on our local stage.
MIR. Willis, as the Doctor, sang and acted
with great spirit, and as the central figure in
the opera left little to be desired Mrs. Hol-
brook as the foolish and conceited old wife
and mother Miss Stevens as the daughter.
and Miss Merrill as the maid sang in excel
ent taste, and gave their parts with fidelity
throughout. Miss Merrilrs part, in particu-
ar Is most eXacting one, but she developed |
genuine spirit and freedom in her acting, |
md proved herself quite equal to the occa-
non. Mr.. Walker as Carlos, was not only as |
handsome as young Spanish gentleman
hould be, but he succeeded to perfection in |
making known the extent of his love, and in |
displaying the rare depth % of his tender
nd sentimental nature. Nothing in the |
Whole evening was more effective and irresis
lble than the scene between Carlos and the
lother, when he sang and acted with such
mpassioned feryor, the song II love, Hove"
he minor parts Of the Senior Balthazar
nd Don Pomposo were well given by Messrs.
herWm and Silsby. The porters, Messrs.
'hilds and Clary, made their dialogue and
uetto over the basket very amusing, and the
horus, although small in numbers, was gen.
rally prompt and effective in its singing.
he support furnished by the orchestral club
'as excellent Such minor breaks and draw
acks as, on Wednesday evening, were iney-
able in first night" performance. will he
DIRECTED in a second presentation and the
pera, viii, tonight, deserve a crowded house.
THE TOWN HALL BUupISG-wHAr IT Nrpns
Besides the transaction of the yearly rou-
ne business, the warrant for next TUESDAYS
nnual town meeting calls for attention 10
My two items of special business, one of
lese relating to the town hall and town hall
aiiding and the other to a provision for the
aymeht OF the towns railroad liabilities.
he article relating to the town building
Mould receive careful and intelligent atten-
on Tor 1t Is matter which concerns the f.
Ancial Interests of the town as well as its
ood name and credit As has been repeat-
lily said in our columns, aud as is well
lown to all observant persons the town
aiding and especially the hall, has, through
series OF years, been allowed to fall into n
ate OF neglect and generally bad repair
men has now become a positive damage TO
g building, and is the means of depriying
OF the very considerable revenues which |
s"imstely belong to it. By this means the
A-payers suffer positive pecuniary dam !
e, which IS every year becoming greater
take the hall to begin with Some very
cessary repairs and renoyations have been
gun there which are good so far as thew
we gone, but if they stop where thew ara
e1 "re Oh little account, and the money i
eht on them might as well have been saved
Oegihhlng, we are informed by the 60 -
'tnen' the roof needs some sort of repairs, /
ooaoly close sheathing inside the rafters a
prevent the snow from blowing in melt, q
g ana staining the ceiling, Then the cell.
and walls should be gone over with in q
at ana Inexpensive style of decoration the :
'ge scenery and decorations should be thor. I,
ghiy renovated and made decent and re- >
eolable, the hall floor should have such at :
n'ion az 1t may require, suitable chande- \