SeThe charming young ladies who with the Sid of one mere boy performed at.the Lyceum on Thursday afternoon the operetta
and composed by Joseph L, Rosekel, need The Hours, written by Shapeott Wensloy have no doubts about their attractiveness, for they certainly drew the largest audience that has ever been seen in the Theatre. Stalls, pit, dress circle, boxes, and gallery were crammed long before the overture began, there was hardly an inch of standing-room even to be found, and itis no exaggeration to say that dozens were turned away unable to get avena glimpse of the stage or hear a note of the music, The performance began with a piano solo, an Zinpromptu by Chopin, by Miss Mary Royersoo, and her tasteful execution elicited a storm of applause. Some thirty little Kindergardeners then ranged themselves on the stage in front of the curtain, and sang with vigorous and appropriate notion, in perfect time, a descriptive song called' Little Orators," which really brought down the house. Even the smallest of them showed a perfect appreciation of the words they were singing, and their imitations, all doing it at exactly the same moment, of the features of various orators were amazingly amusing. An encore was inevitable, and in response to the unanimous call, "Master David Campbell, who has not yet seen half-a dozen summers, sang with irresistible comicality the classical ballad, "That's the way to the Zoo," the chorus showing the most complete enjoyment of the words and acting them as they sang with perfect precision. Misses Annie and Elsie Johns then played with great spirit a piano duet, Tambour Batant, bj ell' Acqua, which was also very much enjoyed. Then came the operetta, with the following cast Master Willie Anderson, -Miss Mabel Limby. 8 Lily Graham, Queen of the Night... Miss Hilda Petersen.
ing... "Miss Ruth Andersen.
And there was a large chorus of attendant Hours, each group being costumed to match its Queen, the Dawn in pink, the Noon in yellow and light blue, the Evening ju heliotrope, and the Night in black. The designing of the costumes, nnd the stage management were the task of Mrs. Peterson, who also accompanied the operetta throughout on the piano, and who must have been justly proud of the triumphant success achieved by her pupils. The story of this pretty little musics) play was given on the programme as follow "The rising curtain discloses Ola Time standing upon a bank, with Dawn partly visible on the left and Night in the act of departing on the right. Old Time complains of fatigue, and seeing that all things Bee apparently in working order, descents from his place for the purpose of having "forty winks." 'Thereupon everything wrong. Dawn, Noon, Evening, and ght all appear at once, and each, summoning her attendant hours, claims to be Queen' and leader of the Day. Finally Old Time re-appears, and sternly puts all in order once more."
All the young artistes were exquisitely aressed, with wings, and wreaths, their costumes covered with spangles, and the effects in the coloured lime-light, as the groups formed, sind. broke up, snd rearranged themselves in fresh combinations, were enchanting. Young as the singers were, the songs and: the. choruses.were admirably: given, and: it was' difficult to.decide' which Queen, "where all"were' 's0 good, bore away the palm. The operetta was only too short,- and not the least charming number was the dance of woven paces and of waving wreaths, which preceded the finale. A more pretty spectacle we do not often see in Shanghai.
After the curtain had fallen amid a storm of applause there was an interval of a few minutes and then it rose again to show the stage covered with tables loaded with pri books, which were most gracefully dletrbuted by Mrs. Hykes, after Dr. Hykes had made the following address For the very excellent entertainment to which we have listened, we are indebted to Mrs, Petersen, who has spared neither time nor energy to make it ti dali success which I to vote it.
Before passing on to the second part of the programme—the Distribution of Prizes desire as the Chairman of the School Committee to express our, obligations to the kind friends whose generosity. has made this occasion possible and which has contributed so materially to the success of the school. The fact that the Masonic bodies in Shanghai contribute valuable prizes year after year shows that they have not lost interest in the institution which owes its existence to the unselfish exertions of the craft. Other friends continue to manifest their devotion to the school in the same practical way.
The report has been printed and_will be in your hands in a few days. therefore not necessary for me to refer to more than a few points in connection with the school.
Under the able management of the Head Master, Mr. Lanning, and with the aid of his efficient corps of teachers the school has had a very prosperous yea. The attendance has been the largest of any year since it was started; and, Lam happy to say—and I am sure our city Fathers will be glad to hear—we close the year with a balance on the right side of the account. rant which was voted by ers has enabled us to purchase led apparatus and appliances, to complete the furnishing of the school (the desks being now ordered) and to engage a new teacher for the Boys' Department. The new teacher, Mr. Goodcell, isan American, n graduate of the Univer: ty of California, and he comes tous with the highest possible testimonials both as to character and scholarship. He will be here early in January.
It is the purpose of the Committee to add a higher grade in the Girls' Dopartment and they hope to do the same for the Boys' in the near future.. We want to make the Shanghai Public School worthy of the place and the people, and with your assistance, we shall do it.
The Prize List was as follows 1.—The "Zion Chapter" Scholarship—
1 Rachel Ezra, 4 vols. Girls' Own Annual, re, General Hi snd Dictionary. peiAds Petrwon, 4 vols. Girt? On Annual, The St. Andrews Bursaries tionary, Tennyson, and General History.
1 Hilleoat Arthur, 1 vol. and $100.
2 Minnie Lamond, 1 vol. and $50.
3.—The Colin Jamieson" Memorial Prizes for Chinese—1H. Bojesen, 4 vols. Stent's Dictionary, History of China, Chinese Characteristics, Giles's Glossary.
2C. Bojesen; 3 vols. Stent's Dictionary, Cycle'in Far Cathay, Chinese Stories.
3 T. Brown, 2 vols. Stents Dictionary, His-ory of Ohina (Macgowan).
4.—The Ancient Landmark Lodge Prices—1 Ruth Andersen, 2 vols. Doré's Elaine, and Inthe Yellow Sea.
2 Alec. Clements, 3 vols, Pang at Bay, The Land of the Lion and the Ostrich, Lords ofthe World.
5.—The Thorne" Scholarship—1 Elsie Johns, 3 vols. Tennyson, Shakespeare's Life and A Gazetteer. gazing, The Orchid' Seekers, Lords of the World.
6.—The Science and Art Medal.—pro-sented by F. M. Gratton, Esq.)
1 Bella Ferrier, The Medal.
7.—The Shorthand Prizes.—(Presonted by A.W. Danforth, Esq.) ary, Boys' Own, and Every Boy's Be 1 Violet Loam, 3 vols. Pitmns Diction-2' Willie Wallace, 3 vols. Pitman's Dictionary, Girl's Own, and Sunday.
8.—The Tuscan Lodge Prize.—(Value Tis, 25.)
1 Theodore Moorehesd, 10 vols.
8 vols. Popular Educator.
1 vol. Story of the Heavens.
vol. The Three Musketeers.
9.—The Yangtsce Price.—(Presented by an Anonymous Donor.)
1 Mabel Limby, 3 vols. English Literature vols.) and Charles Lamb's Works.
2 Shirley Limby, 5 vols. French Revolution, Fall of Rome, Soldier Tales, In the Yellod Sea, Phe Rover's Quest.
10.—The 5; French. Prizes, (Presented by L.
1 Katie Bond, 3 vols., Longfellow, Sunday, ander Stegen, Esq.)—sod Epglish and French Dictionary.
2 Amabile Clerici, 5 vols., French Authors The Three Musketeers, and a French and English Dictionary.
11.—The History Prize. (Presented by H.
History of our oun Times.
MessdorcDavis, 4 vols, Fastin. McCarthy's Gye, Esq.)—
12.—The Piano Prize—1 Agnes Smith, The Strand Musical Maga-sine,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.