The Albany Register

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE INSTITUTE.

—The literary entertainment given at the Albany Collegiate Institute last Friday evening, was largely attended, and deserves more than ordinary praise. The programme consisted of choice selections of music, of declamation, recitation, oration, tableau, literary paper, and farce. These were uniquely arranged in the happily conceived programme, and while all of the performers were good in the execution of the part or parts assigned them, some succeeded in reaching the excellent. The "Opening Chorus," by a select number of pupils, headed by President Warren, was well sung, eliciting hearty applause, as did every performance thereafter. The "Salutatory," by Will. Simpson, was an excellent production, entirely appropriate. Barring a manner of speech somewhat too rapid and some mistakes in pronunciation, the delivery was quite pleasing. A "Solo and Quartet"—"Nellie Mae," was sung by Ella Barrows, Cora Irvine, Prof. Sox and Pres. Warren. Miss Barrows sang the solo, Miss Brown playing the instrument. "Very sweet" remarked a lady near us, and so thought we. An oration, by O. H. Irvine, in the subject matter and arrangement, was extra good, but marred slightly by an imperfect commitment, and an awkward gesticulation. A piano solo, by Miss Maggie Foster—"Fisher's Hornpipe, with Variations,"—suited our musical ear to a dot—time was good and the execution rapid. Declamation—"Regulus to the Carthagenians," by I. P. Hackleman, gave good satisfaction. The young gentleman has a good voice, and his expression in the main

Duet—"My Darling has Fallen Asleep," was sung by Misses Monteith and Cannon, Messrs. Westlake and Darby. Miss Minnie Monteith taking the solo. Miss Alexander played the piano. The music gave good satisfaction. "After a Crastination of a sennight at the Habitance of my Cogitation," a concatenation of verbosity by R. A. Foster, was too much for our intellectual perspicacity to diagnosticate. We suppose it was a prescription for the Epizootics, and was ably doctrinated. The College Journal, read by its editor, J. T. Tate, contained many excellent productions, which were well read by Master Tate, though a little more spirit infused into the reading would have improved it. A piano duet—"O Dolces Concento, with variations," executed by Misses Tate and Brown, was a difficult piece, skilfully performed. The young ladies are both accomplished artists on the piano. Recitation—"Angels of Buena Vista," by Miss Jennie Hamilton, was well committed; and though the fair speaker possessed a clear enunciation and pleasing voice, she failed to personify the intense tragic element of the piece. "The Sea versus the Land," were two well written essays, written by Misses Libbie Althouse and Jennie Conner. They both indicated careful research. Duet— Mother, Oh, Sing me to Rest." by Pres. Warren and Miss Cora Irvine, was musical. Oration, by James Darby, on "War," was an excellent production, well delivered. Instrumental Trio,—Piano Duet and Violin,—by Pres. Warren on the violin, and Misses Brown and Barrows on the piano, executing "Grand Fantasia," on Mocking Bird, was a richness of harmonious melody. The audience required its repetition.

Recitation—"Fitz James and Roderic Dhu," by Miss Libbie Halbrook, was well delivered. The graceful speaker was quite self-possessed in her manner. A Tableau, we omitted to mention in its place, representing "Queen Isabella presenting her diamonds to Columbus," was a pleasing, if not an exact representation of that event. Miss Price, as Isabella, looked queenly. A Farce—"We are All Teetotalers." was the most perfectly acted "funny piece" we have seen since we left "Suckerdom." Hackleman, as Jedediah Maple, Miss Finlayson, as Aunt Sarah Jane, Miss Foster, as Hulda, as we got it, and the gents who acted the other characters—the two lubberly boys and the visiting nephew, were each above the average in the rendering of the character assumed. The representation of "Aunt Sarah Jane," was especially excellent. The hearty laughter that roared from the audience during the continuance of the piece, was a flattering testimonial of its success. This was followed by a duet—"Come Sing your Lesson," by Pres. Warren and Miss Barrows, which was rich. A Tableau—"Innocence," representing a sleeping child with its guardian angel bending over it, was both solemn and beautiful. The Valedictory, by Miss Clara Price, closed the exercises. This was a choice production, rich in thought and graceful in style, and exceedingly well spoken. It was an appropriate ending to so good an entertainment.