The record-union., 1896-12-20

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rained almost incessantly there was
large and appreciative attendance, and
the programme was declared to be one
of unusual excellence.
Since the days when the Ladies'
Choral Society and McNeill Club, under
the direction of Kinross, used OCCASION
ally to combine energies and talent in
the production of light opera, interest
in the work has seemed not only to flag,
but entirely die out. And yet it was a
pleasant work, as all the old members
who took part will testify to-day. Ev-
cry one enjoyed it; it was educational
as we'll as pleasurable. OF course it
cost something to produce the operas,
but when it comes to counting the cost
of things / am reminded of a society
of this kind in a little country town
which accomplishes an astonishing
amount of operatic work considering
the difficulties with which one would
suppose it would have to contend. The
place is the little town of Pacheco. and
the society counts on its membership
roll about forty names! with dues fixed
at 81 for the gentlemen members and
70 cents for the ladies; this is of course
per month. The members come in once
a week from miles around in every di-
rection, rain or shine; the elements
hold no terrors that could make them
Miss one rehearsal. A professor comes
UP from San Francisco to instruct them
every week and drill them in the work
in which they are engaged. The soci-
ETY. pays him and it's pianist we'll for
their services. Twice a year an opera
is produced. The costumes are sent
ur from the city, and an orchestra
engaged to assist. 1t is said by those
who have seen some of the best that.
the work done by this country choral
society is really creditable, and that
people come from Martinez. Danville
and even from Antioch to witness the
performance They have up to the
present given "The Bells Of Corne-
VILE" Patience" Pirates of Pen
zance." and are now at work on Pin
afore," which is, l believe to be given
in January. If these people, under diff
f1cultieS which cannot fail to beSet them
under the circumstances. can go ahead
with this good work as they have, sure
ly in city like Sacramento some very
superior material can be found
among our choral societies which can
be used with the best possible results,
if only the leader can be found who
is determined enough to see it through
and magnetic enough to hold the inter-
est of the young people.
Our old friend Irma Fitch has so far
recovered from her recent severe ILL
ness that it may be she will give us
the pleasure of listening to her sweet
voice now and again this winter. She
will not, however, go into any consid
cradle work in the music line till
spring. as she is not yet fairly out of
her physicians care.
She is looking quite her old self once
more, and expresses the keenest pleas
ure on being among her old friends
in Sacramento again. Her voice has
proflted by the long rest she was forced
to give 1t, and is larger even than be
fore and has lost none Of its old time
bird like sweetness. 1t may be that
we shall hear her az Christmas. as she
is 10 have the offertory in the Congre-
eational Church choir on that day if
nothing happens to prevent
Through the instrumentality of Mrs.
f r. Dray club has lately been form
Cd in our city which is to be styled the
Tuesday Literary Club meeting, as
IFS title would indicate, on Tuesday
afternoons. and listening to well-Writ
ten addresses by Mrs. Purnell and dis
cussing literary affairs of the day. It's
President is Mrs william Beckman, its
Secretary Mrs. Preston Lykins. Last
Tuesday afternoon meeting was held
at the residence OF Mrs. Edward
TwitcheIl, when the following members
answered to the roll call Mrs. James
Budd. Mrs f. r. Dray. AIRS. o. p.
Wills, Mrs. Ben Crocker, Mrs. Fred
Birdsan Mrs William Beckman. Mrs.
j. Frank Clark, Mrs. Mary Cushman,
Mrs. Helen Hopkins, Mrs. A. A. Cod
dard. Mrs. Cy. Hubbard. Mrs. Edward
Twitchel Mrs. l.. Tozer, Mrs. a. c.
Tufts, Mrs. II. NJ. LaRue, Mrs. Jessie
Titus Mrs. McMorry. Mrs. S. Pope,
Mrs. c. A Neale. Mrs. L. A. Terry.
Mrs PurneH. Mrs. Preston Lykins.
A gentleman who lately visited the
Folsom State Prison, on returning
home, described very accurately the
different points Of interest, remarking
particularly upon the death chamber.
where all executions are now made.
He said: 1T makes the nerves of a
strong man shrink just to stand inside
those four walls. A prison within a
prison, there Is no possible chance Of es-
cape for a criminal condemned 10 death
from the fate awaiting him" From this
on we began to draw comparisons be-
tween the modes of execution now and
III years gone blythe death by electric
ity and that by the galloWs tree as 1t
used to be some years ago, and yet not
so long either, really. gloomy sub
ject for oonv versa;ion. you think. oh.
well. perhaps, but life Is made up of
light and shadow. We cannot always,
even II we will. have pleasant themes
to think upon.
Our conversation put me in mind OF
an incident that occurred some fifteen
or maybe twenty years ago. / cannot
recall the year. but it was when ] was
still IN my milk and porridge days. and
/ we'll remember how deeply affected
was by the event which led TO the in
cident of which / am about TO tell
you. 1t was the hanging of Mortimer
Men seldom realize how small fry hang
over before them. but the little folk
II,