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Submitted by Christine Gorman

From the Daily Examiner, April 23, 1891.

Entertainment at Hope River Hall

The general debating section of the Agricultural Society of Hope River gave a free-for-all closing entertainment on Thursday evening last. Among the large audience present we noticed a goodly number of strangers, who, notwithstanding the almost impassable roads, made it a point to be in Hope River for the occasion. Mr.
P. P. McGuigan, as President, with his usual genial and unaffected manner, does away with much of the usual rigid formalities, making strangers feel quite "at home."
It was doubtless owing to this, as well as the influence of his brother, Mr. John McGuigan (who, by the way is a member of the room committee and spokesman for
the ladies) that the Hall was graced with such an appreciative audience, and that so good a programme was gotten up. It was as follows:–

PART I

Address..............................................................F. P. Cullen
Song...................................................................Miss M. Murphy
Reading ..............................................................Thomas Penderghast(sic)
Recitation............................................................Miss Quinn
Song -"The Moon and I" .....................................John P. McGuigan
Elecutionary Exhibition.........................................James E. Fleming
Song - "Tread on the Tail of My Coat."................A. Steele
Reading - "A Model Housewife"..........................Miss M. E. Penderghast
Vocal Duet - "Never Take No for an Answer......Misses A. McInnis and M. Leonard
Recitation - "Turkish Dyes".................................Arthur Trainor

PART II

Address - "Progress"..............................................Mr. P. Reid
Song - "Katie O'Brien"..........................................A. C. Cullen
Reading.................................................................Robert Dunning
Vocal Duet - "We Know Our Worth"....................W. Penderghast and Miss S. Murphy

Recitation..............................................................Miss Kelly
Song - "Gathering Shells by the sea Shore"............ Andrew Dorant

The entertainment closed with the laughable farce, "An Old Time Breakdown."

The Misses McInnis and Leonard displayed voices of such exquisite richness and sang with such intense fullness of feeling that a gentle murmur of admiration ran through the whole assembly and attracted all eyes to the fair vocalists. Mr. Dorant sang in a voice wild and modulated as the strain of the song-thrush, but sweet and thrillingly distinct on every emphasis, and produced an effect on the assembly which, perhaps, a far more accomplished vocalist might have attempted in vain.Mr Cullen has a very peculiar way of singing. He made it a point to wind up each stanza in a nasal tone of at least three bars duration. It was generally conceded that if he had a good voice and would undergo a course of training he would make a singer.

Taking the performance as a whole, it was creditable and reflects not a little credit on the actors therein. When we next meet, we expect something really good, and with that hope separated singing : "Then Here's a Hand My Trusty Friend."

MARY LAMB

Hope River, April 21st, 1891.