The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-14
A Creditable and Delightful En-
tertainment.

The entertainment given at Burwell
Hall last Friday evening under the aus
pices of the ladies of Henderson College,
was one of the most delightful affairs OF
the kind our people have yet had the
pleasure of witnessing. 1t was credita-
BILE alike to those who got it up and
those who participated in it. The pupils
were assisted by some of the young gen.
tlemen of the town and the verdict of
the audience was that all did WELL Much
as they deserve it we can not particu-
larize, and as each one may not be men
toned individually, we willnot be partial
to any in this report. The proceeds were
for the benefit of the Oxford Orphanage
and we are pleased to know that the
affair was success financially as other
wise.
The soirie consisted of songs, recita-
tons, vocal duets and solos, The feature
of the evening was the Mistletoe Bough
of 1892, consisting of tableaux and the
Nlinuet. In witnessing the dance of the
Mlnuet we, uncOnsciOusly, laid aside the
austerity of wisdom, and put on that
genuine holiday spirit which is tolerant
of folly and and anxious only for amuse-
ment. In this they followed the quaint
dress of antiquity. The bride was ad-
tired in beautiful and becoming cos
tune of white satin. The superiority OF
her charms was felt, and it might be
said of her,
"This is the prettiest lass, that ever
Ran on the green sward nothing she does
or seems,
But smacks Of something greater than
herself
Too noble for this place.
The gallant figure of the groom, and
the splendor OF his attire, might have
| charmed her eye but it could not capti-
vate her heart. Mistletoe with it's white
berries was used with profusion, to the
imminent peril of all the pretty maidens.
Altogether the entertainment was q
brilliant and pleasing affair, and those
who did not attend missed rare treat.
A talented young lady, writing of the
last named feature, says:
| We felt an interest in the scene from
| the consideration that these fleeting GUS
toms, which echo back the jovialty OF
| long departed years, are posting fast
into oblivion. They recalled the pictures
my fancy used to draw in the May morn
ing of life, when, as yet, only knew the
world through books. One of the least
pleasing effects of modern refinement is
the havoc it has made among the hearty
old customs. 1t has worn society into a
more smooth and polished but certainly
less characteristic surface. There is more
of dissipation and less of enjoyment.
Society has acquired a more enlightened
| and elegant tone; but it has lost many
of its strong local peculiarities, its home
bred feelings, and honest fre-side de-
lights. These customs have passed away
with the barOnial castles and stately
manor-houses in which they were cele-
brated The world has become more
worldly, and the question arises-Are
| the follies of men to be washed away, or
exploded by broadside OF honest laugh
ter? 1t is certain that the tears people
shed for themselves are apt to be sin
cere; but | doubt whether we are to be
| saved by any amount Of vicarious salt
water. On the other hand, man has q
wholesome dread of laughter, as he is
the only animal capable Of that phenom-
enon. Whether, as Shaftesbury will have
it, ridicule be absolutely the test of truth
or no, we may admit it to be relatively
so, inasmuch as by the reductto ad ab-
| surdun it often shows that distract truth
may become falsehood, if applied to the
| practical affairs of life, because it's rela-
ton to human nature has been over
looked. Moreover, we side rather with
your merry fellow than with DR.. Young
when he says:
Laughter, though never censured yet as
sin,
Is half immoral, be it much INDUCED"