Mexborough, Swinton Times, March 31.
Entertainment
On Thursday evening week, a very interesting entertainment, consisting of music, and recitations, was given in the Board Schools, Conisborough.
The Chorus consisted of over 80 children, and they were assisted by members from the church and chapel choirs, and other friends.
Admission was by ticket, and so great was the demand that the room was found not to be large enough for the occasion.
The chair was taken up by Rowland Hills, Esq (chairman of the board), who on the proceedings in a few well chosen and felicitous words. The proceeds were to be given in aid of prizes for the scripture classes.
The first hymn was heightened in effected by the strains of music faintly heard from a room in a distant part of the building. “Sweetly those strains melodious come from the distant chapel dim.” The effect was very good.
The anthem by Sir John Goss; “O taste and see,” Psalm 34; versus eight, nine, 10, was well rendered.
The old, but amusing story of the “Three black crows;” which, altered, turned out to be something as black as a crow, was recited by Frank Piper and Ethel Reilly in a spirited style recited to the “Milk Maid.”
The “Fire Brigade,” was taken a very heartily by the children; by the rapid waving of red and other colour papers, the mass of children on the platform were able to represent the flames of fire.
“Call John,” gratified the audience so much, that an encore was called for.
The “ABC” was splendidly done, the master, and the scholars instead of finding it a drudgery, appeared to enjoy it immensely, and some other parents who, with their children, were on the platform, quite enjoyed the fun of being at school again.
The dialogue on “etiquette,” in which three boys figured as Granpa Joseph and Charlie and three girls as Grandma, Lizzie and Nellie, gave quite amusement, and the instructions given by grandma from a well-known book on morals, might be useful as well as amusing.
The brothers, G.W.and F.Oxley, presided at the harmonium and piano, and Mr Ferdinand acted as conductor. At the request of the chairman, Mr J Wigfall proposed, and Mr C Kilner seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Ferdinand, to the musicians and to all who had in such enable an effective manner, contributed to the enjoyment of the evening.
The singing of the national anthem concluded the 24 separate parts of the programme.