The Newtown bee., 1888-08-03
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1888.
The Library Benefit.

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 The Library Benefit.
 Never was the Town Hall crowded with q larger or more happy audience, al n local entertainment, than that which enthusiastically applauded the grand Ii. brary benefit of Saturday night. Every seat and all the standing room was taken by about 800 people. The stage had been adorned with greens, antique armor, weapons, and armored knights kindly loaned and placed in position by MT F. F. Ronalds. They were genuine relics of the middle ages purchased by MT Ron- aids at a cost of $2000 and only required careful inspection to convince one of their historical interest and antiquarian value. Over the stage hung the orna- ment from which once draped the cur tains of the French throne. The living pictures with which the evenings enOy- ment opened were set off by a frame pre- pared specially for them that added great ly to their fine effect. But what can be said of the taste and patient industry with which Messrs l.. H. and F. NJ. Burr wrought such fine results! The complete finish of detail, the wonderful adaptation of each figure, costume. and pose to it's historic or literary original, the rapidity and precision with which each picture came upon the stage bespoke the gentle manly artist, the untiring stage manager. The young ladies. too, entered into their share of the program with spirit and with faithful preparation of robes and proper ties. Which was best? Who may decide, when each was so true to the country represented? Here bounds ''Virginia, "a fair young girl,
 With her small tablets in her hand and her
 Satchel on her arm,
 robed, like the Roman Virgin, in white. with bands of blue and her flowing locks partly hanging over her right shoulder. Here follows Priscilla, ,"typical Puritan maiden.
 open wide on her lnp lay the well worn Psalm
 book of Ainsworth,
 as she sits beside her flax wheel in an antique chair loaned by the Misses Glow CT, with white cap on her head and robed in black bodice and grey skirt. Soon appeareth Grecian "Helen," stiller than chiseled marble standing there, with her hand clasped upon her breast. Silver bracelets and armlets glitter on her shapely arm and the border of her white dress, which is set off by sea green overskirt, is bedecked with silver. Voluptuous "Cleopatra,
 queen, with swarthy cheeks and bold black
 eyes, sits in barbaric splendor on a crimson background, her person loaded with jew elry and on her head the Egyptian head dress, suf'mounted by asps on either side of globe. Fair ''Elaine''
 Guarded the sacred shield of Lancelot, loaned by MT Ronalds, her costume the faithful reproduction of an old print. Most of the costumes were faithful cop ies of prints, engravings or actual fash ions in dress. Elaine wore the dress of the early English maiden, vision of pink and yellow, with loose sleeves, flow ing hair, silver chaplet, collar and girdle and lilies in her hand. Jephthah's Daughter, as She stood before her fathers gorgeous tent, wore the oriental robe and turban. Mar guerite,
 In her the flower of the sex is found represents an old engraving, with lace cap, dress of white, blue silk bodice, the sleeves puffed with blue and a blue bag by her side.
 Fair Portals counterfeit
 wears the red robe of doctor of law, with Oxford cap and holds scroll in her hand. sElsie,"
 sweeter than the mint and fairer than the is a picturesque figure, with her dog by her side, as she sits by the wheel, dress ed in a red short petticoat, black vest, blue apron, white stockings, slippers and the striking white Danish cap. Most difficult of all was the pose of the "Maid of Saragoza," as you
 Beheld her smile in Dangers Gorgon face, about to draw a rare Persian dagger, loaned by MT Ronalds, her rich red, yell low and lace costume heightened by al Turkish scarf. She appeared the second time with the dagger drawn and raised aloft. Gentle Evangeline, churchward bound, Down the long street she passed with her
 chaplet of beads and her missal, a dream of white, relieved by blue and wearing a Normandy cap. ssAnne of Geierstein" stands forth with alpenstock in hand, clad in red and blue;
 And all the beauty of the place
 Is in thy heart and on thy face. ssEllen,n lady of the lake,
 In listening mood she seemed to stand, with polling staff in hand, her garb of white set off by scarlet overskirt and Scotch plaid scarf. Fitting close was furnished for the pictures in pathetic Joan of Arc.
 Around thy brow glory she hath thrown. Chained to the martyrs cross she hung, her white robe relieved by sash of roy al purple, while her whole figure is brought into brilliant view by red fire. The poetical selection with which each picture was introduced to the audience was most appropriate and was well read by Mr c. II. Northrop.
 The old Folks concert, though partly given before, was by no means dull. What entertainment could be with little six-years-old Arthur Platt, ,decked in blue and yellow and wearing a tall white hat and Miss Sophie Hammond, charming in pink and short puffed sleeves, among the aoloists? The costumes were mainly those worn before and what tale they might unfold, could poke bonnets, calico gowns and colonial suits give tongue to their history! One of the new suits was the exquisite satin dress worn by Mrs E. J. Hall, an heirloom cherished by Mrs Philo Nichols. Mir c. F. Beardsley would make a prime end man in any show. Mir K. J. Hall has richness, in every sense of the word, in that grand voice. Mrs E.F. Hawley's voice is always sweet. Mrs c. $. Platt is born actress, as we'll as mu- sician-but why enumerate? The home talent, led by that faithful, constant man and musician, Prof c. s. Platt, consisted of Mrs c. F. Beardsley, Mrs E. J. Hall, Mrs F. r. Hawley, Misses Tanie San ford, Maggie Leonard, Jennie Otis, Elm ma Terrill, Bessie Nash, Messrs Charles G. Peck, Charles H. Peck, Jr, Robert II Beers (dressed in Turkish costume loaned by Mir Ronalds), II. II. Curtis Charles B. Johnson and those already named. They were assisted by Mir Will liam Tomlin of Bridgeport, the tenor ant singing master of the evening, represent ing Father Kemp; Mir II. w. Beecher Q G.... IN,.sl liant in the suit of British grenadier without the towering hat and Mir Jame McElroy of Bridgeport. The quartet were taken by Messrs Hall and Tomlin Mrs c. S. Platt, Mrs E. F. Hawley, Mir K. J. Hall, Miss Tanie Sanford. M James McElroy assisted in the last quai tet. Arthur Platt's "Oh, Susannah'' wa