Although no official recognition was! taken in Shanghai of St. George's Day, the anniversary was not allowed to pass by without some other than a silent recognition. This was duo primarily to Mr. F.'L. Crompton, to whom we foreigners in this part of the world are indebted for doing much to keep alive the love of good: concert music. The idea of a promenade! concert in the Town Hall could not have been improved upon and, setting to work with his usual energy, Mr. Crompton soon arranged a programme which it would be difficult to rival anywhere else in China for general, amateur excellence. The con-cart was devoted entirely to patriotic music, but at the same tung there was not a verse sung which could in any way: irritate the feelings of those of our Continental friends who may have happened to be present. In complete accord with the, spirit of the evening was the decoration of the hall. Flags, mostly Union Jacks, and. streamers were suspended from the roof and hung from the walls, while the, bright effect was heightened by a coloured} electrical illumination of a most artistic description carried out under the superintendence of Mr. ¥F. H. U. Aldridge. Further beauty was introduced by Mr. A. Arthur, whose powers of floral decoration, always great, were never displayed in bet ter taste than in the grouping of the plants in the middle of the hall, in the} centre of which the Town Band, conduct-i ed by Signor Valenza, discoursed sweet music. The refreshments were provided in two rooms, one for the use of the ladies and the other for those of their husbands, brothers, and friends who desired to smoke. The comfort of the guests was well looked after by the honorary stewards, Messrs. R. B. Allen, H. 8. King, R. W. Little, Mayne, 0. E. Pearce, W. A. C. Platt, Wedemeyer, G. R. Wingrove, and A. P. Wood; Mr. Crompton supervised the whole of the stage arrangements. The audience, though not a large one, looked smaller than it really was on account of the seats being placed in a position to allow of an unrestricted promenade from the bottom to the top of the hall. It is a pity that such an excellent concert, on such an occasion, did not attract) more people, and we hope that if the concert in repeated next year greater support will be given to it.
The first item on the programme was most appropriately a grand Fantasia, introducing about fourteen of the best: Known national airs of the Empire, played with groat spirit by the Municipal Band. Then followed two patriotic songs: "Here's a Health to the King" and "A Cavalier Song," sung by Messrs. J. C. Busustow and B. G. Tours. These gentlemen were assisted in the choruses br Messrs. H. F. Bell, F. Van Pelt, T. Lemon, C. H. Butler, E. F.. Bateman, James Jones, and the Rev. W. G. Walshe. The choruses of men's voices sounded particularly well. in the large. building, And were received with much enthusiasm. The orchestra followed with the. first part of a march, entitled "Pomp and Circumstance," and then Mrs. McIntosh gave sri uisite rendering of Stromberg's lovely song "If all the Stars were mine." This song was eagerly looked forward to by S078 Wetntosh's many admirers, and was loudly applauded "The Coronation and then Mr. KO. L. Cockell, who is on tol his way home from Tientsin, ent audience with Sullivan's beautiful "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes."
Cockell probably has the finest tenor voice in the Far East, and at the conclusion of his song, received a tremendous ovation. its tumn, "The Pomp and Circumstance" march late then had another turn, and next Miss Buchanan sang "What does little, birch This was Miss Buchanan's firt appearance to a Shanghai audience, and we hope it will not be her last. She tainly did justice to Mr. Crompton' and repentant sen, training, and the audience did not_fail to show their appreciation of her effort.
The first part of the programme concluded with a violin solo by Mr. F. P. Pratt.
He chose for his solo two of Edward German's Henry VIII dances, and it is|tive as I unnecessary to say that they were played are married with the utmost skill and finish. Hiss Dap!
After an interval of ten minutes the the orchestra started the second part with an Intermezzo Forget-me-not" from Mae-beth. Mr. H. R. H. Thomas, whose soi are always popular, made a great hit with) "The Song of the Bow." Mrs. Lanphier's) #4" song "Pansies" was also a great success, ttt and the beauty of Mrs. Lanphier's voice leverly was emphasised by the violin accompani ment. The orchestra next gave a spirited valse entitled "City Life," and then first class petty officer Church of H.M$ Talbot gave an extraordinarily clever evkibition of Indian Club exercises with naval teutlasses, He made the blades curl and flash round him so rapidly that it seemed if ho must at Toast lose one limb before the performance was over. He revived an enthusiastic encore, and in respon he and one of his maxs-mates again ap: peared and went through some more clever evolutions. The immortal " for: Bowling" was well rendered by Mr. A. Stewart, and the orchestra followed with a pretty Intermezzo—"Dorabolla." Mr. Tyack Freud have given the next: song, but in! his absence Mr. Cockell reap and second song was received with ax much eclat as the first. "Home, sweet home song which always brings back so mans happy half-forgotten memories to th so far from the homeland s we dweller the East, was sting with @ sympathy and pathos which greatly moved her hearers by Mrs. MeInt fosh, and the programme concluded with Auld Long Sne" and God Save the Tt is not often that Briton in these Settlements har such chance of hearing the songs of the hon country as was afforded by Mr. Crompton lon Thursday night, and a similar concert on St. George's day would be a pleasure to be looked forward to every year. would tine Blinky new was encore thes tena bay aul dre
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.