Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-01-31
THE NORMAL.
CELEBRATION OF ITS ANNIVERSARY

SchOol-Music and Literature-CoDgress-
man Beltzhoover on the Suffrage.
Last evening the Normal literary So
ciety, the junior literary society of the
state normal school at Millersvillc, ccle-
brated its twenty-tlird birthday, the
chapel, as is customary OH these occasions,
being filled with a large and intelligent
audience, comprising many Of the best
known ladies and gentlemen in the cduca-
tional profession in this county, with a fair
sprinkling of lawyers and doctors and others
who are wont to return to the bosom of their
alma mater on the occasion Of these pleas
ant episodes of the scholastic year.
Last nights entertainment was if any
thing of a higher order of genuine merit
than usually distinguishes these anniver-
sary celebrations. The literary features
of the programme gave evidence of
careful and intelligent preparation, while
the music, always given the prominence
on the programme here that its unusual
degree of excellence fairly entities it to,
was fully up to the high standard the
school and society have set up to guide
their efforts in this direction.
The programme opened with chorus,
g How good is He the Giver," by the
Lyrian slee club, led by Mr.. ]. Glass Sam
pie, which was given in a manner that won
the hearty approval of the audience, the
chorus being admirably balanced and
thoroughly well trained.
j. Howard Jacobs, esq, of Reading, the
president of the occasion, delivered a brief
salutatory address prcfaced by few hu-
morous remarks, in which he took occasion
to refer to the creditable career of the
Normal society during its nearly quarter
century of existence. There is ample rea-
son for its old-time members to recall with
pride its earlier days, as they now survey
the result of the many years of patienG
toll in an organization that promises be-
fore long to be the leading literary society
of the state. The lesson taught by the
origin and growth of the Normal literary
society applies to the life of the ordinary
coupled with honest ambition are the two
factors that lead to ultimate success. The
speaker would have each one his hearers
who stand now on the threshold of life to
carry this determination with them: that
in whatever course they marked out for
themselves they would be leaders in the
race.
Mr.. J. Glass Sample sang II fear no
foe PinsutD in capital style. His
voice is bass of excellent quality and
power.
4 pretty original poem, ''Time's Cn-
finished Volume" was read by Mrs. S. L.
OberhOltzer, of Cambria Station, Chester
county. The composition was marked by
a depth of conception and beauty of ex-
preston that won the undivided attention
of the audience during its delivery. Mrs.
Oberholtzer read with pleasing intonation
and good Judgment, and the prolonged
applause which rewarded her effort at it's
close was deserved tribute.
Piano SOLO" Venezia NapOli (Gon-
doliera)-Miss S. d. Watson. This lady
is gifted performer, and her execution of
Liszt's difficult composition was marked
by a brilliancy and accuracy of touch and
Il complete understanding of the authors
conception.
Normal oration-''A Chosen Genera
tion B. N. Lehman, Media, Pa. This
was i'll the nature Of an inquiry into the
origin of the Saxon ancestry of the English
people of to-day. Their characteristics and
habits constitute the foundation upon which
is reared the structure of British national
ity. In :: narrative that was marked by
picturesque beauty of conception and
poetic dictiOn the gentleman led his hear
ers far back into al age where the lamp of
history casts but a feeble ray to enlighten
the gloom which seems to mock the
strained gaze of inquiry. AS an histori-
cal narrative the address was interesting
and instructive, being marked by scholarly
research and determination to get at the
truth, while the suggestion that in the
lost tribes of Israel, we find the prototypes
of the Enslish-speaking people of to-day
furnishes, as he remarked, food for thought
and a bOundless field for investigation.
g feel thy presence where'er stray"
(Graben-Hotfman),a charming vocal duet,
was rendered by Miss A. V. PEBBLES and
Mr.. J. Glass Sample in manner that won
the appreciative recognition of the audi
ence in prolonged burst of applause,
which was acknowledged by the rendition
of another beautiful selection. Miss Pee
bless voice is a soprano of admirable tex
ture and range, and chorded finely with Mr..
Samples rich tones.
Miss Mary McCurdy, of Philadelphia, the
recitationist of the evening, favored the
audience with three selections the first
being the courtship scene from Shak-
speare's drama of "Henry w. which
was given with fine effect, the frequent and
rapid change of intOnatiOn from that of
the bluff English wooer to the broken tones
of the shy French maiden being done in
capital style. This was followed by a pa
thctic selection, Warden, keep a place
for me- and the series was concluded
with Moseley's amusing composition,
Glove in Balloon, which brought down
the house in frequent peals of laughter,
and Miss McCurdy was forced to respond |
to the overwhelming encore with another
humorous selection entitled 'The Morn
ing After the Ball." Miss McCurdy is an !
elocutionist of high order of ability, her
voice showing fine cultivation and her |
manner being thoroughly composed and
attractive.
A piano duct-Concerto, G minor (Allc-
l. r. H.