Life, as we have been so: frequently assured in sundry aphorisms, is full of uncertainties, but the Shanghailander by this time has comte tu Jouk upon an invitation to the annual smoking concert of the Shanghai Cricket Club as about the most certain assurance of "a good time" as he could possibly have. The concert given on Saturday on the Cricket Grouyd cannot but accentuate this conviotidn, for it can be truthfully said it was one of the most successful entertain. ments of the kind that his been given li Shanghai. An all-round excellence characterised the various items of an excellently drawn up programme, so that anything like criticism is disarmed, and one has to furbish up the adjectival store of language do justice to the artists, When the began to arrive on the Cricket Ground—which they did, by the way, quite half.
-hour before the advertised time—they saw before then a pretty scene. The entrance was the starting point for a very effective scheme of decoration. Electric are lumps furnished a light which cannot be surpassed for such occasions, and the unties kinterns of divers shapes and imparted an ait of utmost gaiety in bination with flags and devices. Around the limits of the ground, at intervals, towering arrangements of lamps relieved the gloom of the distance, But naturally the real centre of attraction. was the large marquee in which the concert took place. This had been constructed in front of the pavilion, and with flays, late. electric light, evergreens, and many ingenious devices, it presented a tasteful appearances to the assembling guests. 'The platform upon which the artists performed was a red-cloth covered dais added to the front of the Pavilion, and just in front, at a low er) level, was the spot' allotted to the Chair. The thoughtfulness of those responsible for the arrangements wus evidenced by a profusion of matting covering the flour, which removed any possibility of risk from damp arising from the ground. There were many other little points in which the geal of the organisers was shown, and Mr. Gumpert, the universally popular Hon, Sec., deserves. warm congratulation for the success of an evening, which owed such a great deal to his painstaking endea-yours, A litle after nine o'clock Mr. Arthur Anderson, the President of the Club, took the Chair, and the heartiness of the reception accorded to him, when armed with a stump instead of the Chairman's orthodox hammer he opened the proceedings with a genially conceived speech, testified to his general popularity. The first item was 8 piano duet "Galop Brillant " (Kirehner) by Messrs. F. L. Crompton and Gilbert Davies, which was followed by the "Toreador " song from Carmen, creditably snug by Mr. James Jones. Mr. W. Adams Oran: is invariably happy in his choice, and his singing of Mascheroni's For all Eternity " (with a violin obligato by Mr. R. W. Lund!) was so much appreciated that an encore was insisted on, in which he was also heard to good effect. Then Mr. Charles Wedemeyer, who was in excellent voice, rendered Thy Daily Question," and electing as his encore piece the clever chansonette which he introduced at the Recreation Club Concert he gave it as only a born comedian could do, Mr. J. Maun, whose name was down on the programme for a song with a promisingly humorous title, momentarily disconcerted his audience with a decidedly serious song, but he warbled it so expressively that they pardoned the mild deception—if we may be allowed to call it such, Messrs. Lahlein and Lundt, like excellent musicians played a violin duet ' Horst clu das miichtige Klingen" (Broch), and the President vacating the chair pro tem, gave the ever popular "Ehren on the Rhine," and an encore, the compliment of which he well deserved. The next item in the programme was ant cipated with more thin ordinary interest from the fact that it was evidence of local inventive talent. Mr. Crompton had set to music Moore's " March nor Heed," and though it had been performed before it came as a novelty to the majority present. Mr. J. H. Craven was the vocalist, and the Yeelio obligato was by Mr. R. H. Hearn. Tt went capitally. The music has an artless grace about it which Mr. J. H. Craven interpreted very successfully, and the encoring of the last verse, and the call for the composer were compliments thoroughly deserved. After singing the Basque Muleteer," Mr. F. W. Such, in respon toa general call, gave the string of capital topicalities, which to the refrain of Wink the other eye" we became familiar with during the Inst burlesque. The first part was brought to a close by Mr. W. Bates, who soon had his audience well with him when he sang an eminently topical and up-to-date ditty dealing in x genially comic way with "Brokers." So well was this effort of his appreciated—and some of the verses were certainly very witty—that he was induced to sivg " Lum-tum-didly-um," a title which may not be expressive, of itself but which is no worse than a more notorious recipient of universal popularity. The second part was opened by a visitor, Captain Cotesworth, R.N., who sang "Tu Cellar Cool," and the applause which he received was not only meant as a compliment to him as a visitor, but as a desire to hear more of his repertoire, He rendered " Father O'Flynn" as the endow. The next item on the programme was an exceedingly funny sketch or stump speech" in which Mr, *Piefke" armed with bat of enormous proportions and attired decidedly ovtré cricketing style recounted his adventures in what he regarded as the match of the season—Feebles v. Duffers. The drollery of the dialogue and the clever little shafts directed at the foibles of many our fellow-residents were done ample justice to, and his remarks were punctuated with hearty laughter. Mr. Stokes, after rendering very pleasingly "The Kine's Highway,"
ye "The Old Brigade" as an encore, and then Mr. T. Brown sustained his reputation asa skilful elocutionist by relating. "The Stage Driver's Story" of Pret Harte. Ie was now getting late, but not for an instant was the harmonons current of the evening allowed to ebb. Mr. G. E. Bur-gone hat z Ina Garden of Roses," Mr. Such, in some very clever verses, sung of the *Woosung Bar," and it is to be hoped it will be at Jast removed as he fore-shadowed. The Dear Home Land" having been sung by Mr. R. P. Dipple, and "Big Ben" by Mr. G. Appleby, brought us to the last item on the programme. This was a very diverting musical sketch by Mr. Charles Wedemeyer, who in the appro-sang, danced, propounded some good conundrums, and so far as he was physically able represented a whole nigger troupe, with wonderful success. Then amidst general cheers the company dispersed, xt an hour which we will nut tuo exactly define, The general verdict was that a most enjoyable entertainment: had liven provided, and all in any way responsible—and prot minent amenyst them were Mr. Gumpert and Mr. J. A. Sullivan—deserve hearty praise. In conclusion the invaluable services of Messrs. Crompton, Gilbert. Davies, Sullivan and G, D. Scott as accom: pauists "ust be placed on record,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.