The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-03-23
ST. PATRICK S DAY
FESTAL OCCASION
Superb Program Draws Vast
ASSembIage at Salt Lake
Theatre.
PRETTY PRATTLING BABES
ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALTY
Diminutive Actors in Little
Events Receive Enthusiastic
Applause from Hundreds.

(Miss Bonnie flanagan in Salt Lake
Tribune.)
Just a Shamrock from Killarney
| Not one. but dozens of them, worn
by animated, flushed wee damsels at
the Salt Lake theatre last night, for it
was the feast of st. Patrick and the
children, Irish children, every blessed
baby Of them, helped to celebrate the
day.
Before the hour of o'clock the gen
erous capacity of the Salt Lake theatre
was taxed as it had never been for the
first night of some long-heralded New
York success, and along the stalls, in
the loges and the boxes, each seat oc-
cupant wore a little green badge. Ev-
erybody knew everybody else, and
when the curtain rolled up to the roll
licking strains of Peggy and Her
Low Backed Chair" stir of anticipa
tion-and the babies did the rest.
At the left of the stage a huge en-
blazoned> shamrock glittered. On the
stage 200 baby girls sang and danced
and perhaps the Celtic audience failed
to appreciate the efforts of the little
maids! MY Girl From the Shamrock
Isle" went with verve and spirit that
was sustained throughout every one of
the numbers given.
The star, the center of the limelight,
was little George Cronin, an embryo
little man. in cunning wee white trous-
ers and blouse. He sang Waltz Me
Around Again. Willie" and Every
body Works But Father" and though
the audience didn't know the reason
why, he sang them so well because they
happen to be the songs that George
knows best.
Digging two little fists in his trouser
pockets TO hide his nervousness, he
faced the big audience and sang, and
the thunders of applause that answered
his efforts scared him off the stage for
he is only baby of 4 years old.
Ethel and Master Boyd O'Donnell
sang ooh, Mrs. O'Harrahan," and
dainty little Marguerite Locke, looking
like a mighty gay little angel, sang
Beat the Drum" But the feature of
the big st. Patrick's day celebration
was the chorus. sung by the children
from Kearns' st. Anne's orphanage,
the children for whose benefit the con-
cert was given.
You're a Grand Old Flag" was
their effort, and the theatre rocked with
the applause given these motherless
ones. who had come down from the
big red brick orphanage to take part in
the festivities. At different times dur
ing the evening nearly 200 children
filled the stage, waving flags and hold
ing flowers, and no fairy scene could
have equaled the sight of the midgets
in their pretty vari-ColOred finery, NOV
ing about the stage in a kaleidoscope
of colors.
The boys of st. Lawrence choir, in
Kilkenny hats and knee brooches, sang
THE Irish with great gusto. And |
then scores of little tots, the youngest /
lacking years of age, toddled onto the |
stage and sang "Once 1 Was Baby"
giving characterizations of sweet |
hearts, old maids, husbands and grand
mothers. with irresistible JUNCTION.
While the children were intended to |
be the feature of the evening, the eio- |
quent appeal of the old Irish melodies, |
given by the quartette from the Cathe- |
dral choir won all hearts. The ever |
neart-gripping strains of Believe Me, |
If All Those Endearing Young |
Charms" Kathleen Mavourneen,"
Killarney" and gems of Tom Moore, |
sung by Miss Ryan, Miss Holland, H. |
c. Brown and ]. w. Curtis, received an
ovation, while THE Minstrel Boy"
given by Charles Kent, came in for the !
appreciation it deserved.
St Mary's Junior choir also helped |
Miss Mulvey's harp playing was ac-
corded generous handclapping.
The final number, Columbia" was
sung by the grand chorus of children,
stars and green harps floating down
upon the childish heads.
One Cf the numbers that found most
favor with the older members of the
audience was Nearer, My God, to
Thee" sung by white-robed maidens.
Tiny Charles Williams gave Waiting
at the church. while a diminutive
Miss with a long veil was a pensive
picture of a maid bereft.
Miss Nora Gleason, who for weeks
las patiently drilled the children, held
an informal little reception after the
the center of congratula-
ing friends. She accompanied all the
numbers. assisted by Van Midgley and
Verge Klink. incidentally, the per-
'ormance netted the orphans a snug
little sum: but it was a great way to
the day. and every son of the
Emerald Isle who was there was glad
lie came.
Lynn S. Gillian in Salt Lake