The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-09
For the VIRGINIAN.
Celebration of Longfellow 8 Birthday

On the evening of the 9th of Feb, an en-
tertainment of great literary merit was given
by the young ladies of the Wesleyan Female
Institute in honor of the br hday OF Henry
Wadsworth Longftllow Their deep apprec
alton of this poet was manifest, for never have
we seen greater enthusiasm than that which
charact rized the exercises.
The Concert Hall was most beautifully deco
rated with evergreen wreaths and garlands.
which were arranged in graceful festoons about
paintings on the wall The curtains wer,
drawn, revealing three Young ladies artlstical-
ly entwining garlands around one engraving
of Longfellow which formed the central pic
ture of a beautiful group, and above which, in
evergreen letters, were the words. Feb 9th,
1907" First Oh the programme was the in
strumental solo, Last Rose of Summer" exc
cuted with much expression by Miss jamie
Connor Then an essay, read by Miss Powars.
of Texas, was glowing tribute to the great
poet-soul. She styled him the greatest OF
American poets, and spoke of his poems as
sweet strains waited to us from the harp OF
VIZ WIN, ahu SSuoibso iiOih ONSiy hSoio "hSh
the strings are touched by beauty, vibrating
and thrilling with enchanting music Her al
fusion to "Hlawatha's farewell to Minnehaha"
was sweet and touching, and in pathetic and
eloquent tones she quoted the last lines OF
The Famine"
Longfellow's most beautiful poem, "Evange-
line" was touchingly narrated by Miss Con
nor, of s. c., partly in her own words, and
partly in those of the poet. Miss Connor's
manner was easy and natural. Her voice pc
culiarly suited heI piece, and the hearts of all
were touched by her feeling description of the
search of Evangeline for her lost lover how
after years of wandering Evangeline became
Sister of Mercy, and one day in the hospital
saw an old man wrinkled and bent, and in
him recognized the lover of her youth-and
The Bridge was sung by Miss Florence Stu
art, whose voice was sweet and clear
Miss Carrie Timberlake, of Va, read the
beautiful poem, "Sandalphow," the Angel of
Glory who
"Gathers the prayers he stands
And they change into flowers in his hands,
Into garlands of purple and red;
And beneath the great arch of the portal
Through the streets of the City Immortal,
Is waited the fragrance they she'd.
Then came the story of "Miles Standish's
Courtship," partly read, partly rected by Miss
Maggie Gist, of S. G. With humorous gravity
she describes Miles who wishes to woo the
fair Priscilla, but is more afraid of "a thunder
ing note point blank from the mouth of a
woman" than of cannon. This friend, John
Alden, loves Priscilla, but for the sake of
friendship consents to WOO her for Miles. The
maiden would land asks why Miles himself
comes not; then, smiling, says, "why don't
you speak for yourself, John?"
Paul Reveres Ride" was well recited by
Miss Maggie Youell. of Va. This was fol-
| lowed by an instrumental solo by Miss Pow
ars.
1.-THE Launching of the Ship" WAS then read
In concert by twenty young ladies whose
voices acquired such unison as TO seem almost
one.
After the concert reading, Miss Lizzie King.
of Va, I'm behalf of the young ladies who
have this evening displayed only a few of the
many rare gems of our greatest American
poet" thanked the audience for their "kind
attention, for the appreciation of their efforts
to celebrate the birthday of one whose poetic
genius has klndled our souls into glowing ad-
miration, has awakened and thrilled into being
responsive echoes from all our hearts" She
also expressed the obligations of the young
ladies to Miss Cora Turner, who at their So
lctation, sang "Tbe Day is Done" which
concluded the exercises Of the evening. Miss
Turner is one of Stauntons sweetest song
birds, and never had she a more appreeiatlve
audience than on the 27th ulto. She kindly
responded to the encore and sang Sing Sweet
Bird" In her beautiful clear voice
| The exercises were interspersed by quota
| tions from the poet of the evening, rected AT
their seats in the hall by the young ladies' who
afterwards read in CONCERT.
We feel assured the poet himself could not
have been otherwise than pleased with the
rendering of his poems,