Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-29
Stautttotl Speft0GoS.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 80, 1884.
Local Department.
a Fine Literary Entertninment


The combination of talent engaged and style
of the literary entertainment at the Baptist
church Friday night was rich treat to very
large audience which the attractive programme
called out. The number of persons in attend
ance was much larger than Anticipated, as two
political meetings were goinglon at the. same
time. 1t was announced that the entire school
of the wesleyan Female Seminary would
have been in attendance but for an entertain
ment there Also which had been appointed
before it was known that the evening had been
selected for the benefit of the Baptist parson d
age by the proceeds arising from this effort to
pay off Indebtedness. However, there was
large attendance of teachers and scholars ON
the virginia Female Institute and the
'.Staunton Female Seminary
Rev, Allan and Mrs. ,Curr Miss Cora Turner
Mrs. j. W. Byers, and Mr.. ]. ]. Shirley, in
parts selected for the occasion, SO charmed the
assemblage as to cause a general expression of
regret that the time, more thanttwo hours. oc-
-cupiedin the exercises seemed to pass so swiftly
by.
The lecture by Mr.. Curr came first, which he
commenced by reading from 10Th Psalm after
which his subject 1.-The Sea, a Highway, a
Battlefield and Grave, or the Sailor Ashore
andkAfioat," brought out the distinguished
lecturer in. descriptive scenery through all the
phases of sea life. History, narrative. the pa
thetic and the amusing came in graphic asso-
citation as he carried his hearers in imaginary
sailing over the bosom of the deep sea. The
history Of ship-building is the history of the
world. The sea has ever been the theme of
the poet and the painter, but the great epic
poem of the sea is yet to be written. Referring
to Noah's Ark, and after that, from the time
OF canoes and barks to the advent of the great
Z Eastern, were but a few of the points of the
lecture. which, TO be properly appreciated,
should be heard from the speaker in his own
gifted manner.
Mrs, Curr followed in reading 1.-THE Last
Hymn" Then came Miss Cora Turner rem
.dering when the Flowing Tide Comes in,''
in delightful tone and soft notes from the OIL
gan. Mrs. ]. W. Byers followed with IA Home
by the Sea-" sung in rich melody with the or
gan.
Mrs. Curr then gave the graphic and sor-
rowful Famine Scene' by LongfelloW. Hia-
watha aud his sufferings in the tortures of
famine, fever, and the death OF his loved min
nehaha" was produced with pathos deeply
touching.
Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep was sung
by Mr. ]. ]. Shirley with the accompaniment
by Miss Turner on the organ in fine STYLE
Mrs Curr's third piece christian Mariners
Hymn" furnished renewed evidence of her
fine talent and ability in her chosen depart
ment of this entertainment, so full of life and
its varied scenes, so full of sorrow and its
mournful realities, all leading up to the sacred
culmination-the 'Bible our Chart, and Christ
our Pilot
The church management had a fine supper
in the basement of the edifice, which was en-
joyed by many persons who tarried for the
purpose after the lecture and It's associated
entertainment had been concluded.
The sum realized was about eighty dollars.
which would have been more but for the other
meetings that night.