The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-19
Tne Gem Iiterary Entertainment.

| A coodly number of people assembled on
Friday evening, April 18th, to witness the
first anniversary of the Gem Literary Society
| Of Warheldsburg. At O'Clock the curtain
was drawn, with the Society arranged on the
stage, the ladies being dressed in white. After
Prof Kraft had played few strains of mel,
| ody, the president G. Harry Gist, arose and
welcomed the audience in few remarks. He
| commended the Society to the encouragement
of the community, and expressed the sincere
hope that the progress of the Gem would be
| commensurate with the wishes and desires OF
| its most Jealous members. He was followed
| by C. Robert Miller. who delivered the ami
versary Grafton, on ''The American Youth.
Mr.. Miller touched principally upon the re-
| sponsibilt:es that would rest in few years
upon the American youth, and the manner in
which they may be successfully discharged,
A full chorus by the Society, entitled Free
dom, God and Right" was rendered with
great spirit. ''Spoopendyke's Suspenders,
by Louis NJ. Sellman, was certainly read with
credit. The next was a tableau, which, like
all the tableaux of the evening, was beautiful.
| The fine selection of the tableaux was due to
the good taste of Miss C. Belle Poole. They
were all lovely, especially the last One-"The
Reapers and the Flowers" A flood of white
light pouring upon kneeling and suppiant
children dressed in pure white made this
IaDleau very Deautllul ana HUecllHS. DOiOY
Nearer Ny God to Thee" was creditaDly
rendered by Geo. w. Pennington, after which
came the rehearsal Archie DEAN by Miss
Gertrude E. Stoner. 1t was one of the best
of the evening, and was delivered in clear,
distinct tone, imparting to it great deal OF
feeling and pathos. The essay Classical Ed
ucation,'' by Miss Bette Barnes, was well
written and highly complimented. "Churn-
ing for a Prize farce, was acted with ease,
Misses Emma Forrest and Effie +. Poole
taking the female characters, and Messrs.
Louis M. Sellman and Chas. +. Manahan the
male characters. The roles were well taken,
and, judging from the close of the farce,
Charley churning was not without its reward.
This was followed by full chorus by the So
ciety. The Grafton by Samuel L. Otto, wis
dom is the Principal Thing" well deserved
the praise that was aeeordedit. He said man
was a mere pigmy without knowledge, and
deserves to be eensured if he should fail to
acquire it in this land. He elaborated at
some length upon the advantages of learning
and disadvantages of ignorance, The essay
s'Music of Yesterday by Miss Nora Cor
such, followed and it deserves to be specially
noticed. The theme she selected was appro-
pirate, and was treated in q simple, graceful
style, and merits to be ranked among the very
best renditionS of the evening. The rehearsal
of "The Tramp by Prof Kraft, was per-
sonated almost to perfection. The sad story
of the tramp's misfortunes was told in very
pathetic manner The farce ''The Naughty
Bow kept the house in a roar of laughter
Miss Florence Owings, who personated
widow seeking husband, is worthy of much
praise for the manner in which she acquitted
herself, and her comical imitation OF the
lovesick widow was much enjoyed by the
audience. Miss Emma Snader deserves Gpe-
cial mention for her fine imitation Of. med
dlesome gossip. "The Last Hymn read by
Miss C. Belle Poole, created quite contrast
of feeling in the audience. Their laughter
was changed into solemnity, and the low,
sweet tones in which the "Last Hymn was
sung melted the hearts of the audience and
inspired them with thoughts of future and
higher life. This was followed by duet by
Misses Gertrude E. Stoner and c. Belle Poole,
entitled SIN the Starlight, which was rem
dered in sweet melodious tones, both the
young ladies having fine voices. The farce
i'The Fellow That Looks Like Me- was cred
itably acted by each character, especially that
of Cupid, taken by Edwin L. Stonerl His
almost perfect imitation of the darkey at
tracted the special attention of the audience,
and his acting throughout the play was greeted
with loud shouts of applause and outbursts OF
laughter Miss Gertrude E. Stoner and Mr..
Louis NJ. Sellman deserve special mention for
the creditable manner in which they perform
ed their parts The entertainment was then
closed with a duet by Miss Gertrude Z. Stoner
and Prof. Charles C. Kraft, entitled ''St.
Patrick's Day Parade This duet certainly
deserves high praise, and was appreciated very
much by the audience.
The musical part of the programme was
under the immediate charge of Prof. Kraft, of
Westminster, who is entitled to the thanks of
the Gem Literary Society for his kind assis.
lance His musical talent is well known, and
his performances added much to the pro-
gramme and to the entertainment of the
audience. His selections were fine, display
ing a great deal of musical taste, and the Gem
owes a great deal of its success to his produc-
tons and the uptiripg energies of the Critic OF
the Society. Every part of the programme
that received her special attention was readily
observed to be superior, and we are sure that
the Gem unites in vote of thanks to these
two for the special interest they manifested in
the entertainment, and hope to have their
services in the future. This is the first enter
tainment given by the Gem, and, Judging
from its success, it is destined to exert very
great influence toward the social and literary
culture of the community. 1t is well worthy
of the patronage and encouragement of the
neighborhood. The Society is constantly in
creasing and improving. They feel inspired
with the hope of being literary society in
truth as well as in name. &.