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Leader (1850-1860), 24th December 1853, Edition 2 of 2, Page 20, Ctninitei'riul Mitiw.

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      Dakk Is This Christmas—Dark On Every Qua...

      While cholera is suspended for the winter , sanitary reformers are contending with old custom in the effort to make great artificial system ^ conform to those laws of nature , which reign on the mountain and the p ' rarie , m the river and the ocean . "We are asking ourselves whether the death entailed by a too protracted and effeminate peace is not worse than the summary death visited upon nations by war ; and we cannot yet answer . ; - ^ . The book of nature is still as dark for us as the sky of this mid-winter Christmas . But the one thing we know is , that destruction is ^ the servant of life , and that he who has failed to foUow the simple light which Gpd'bas raised like the pillar of fire in the broad wilderness of nature itself , shall be able , through industry or through destruction , to work out the blessing which mankind must attain ,-through blood perchance , through the sweat of the brow certainly ; but at all events shall attain , and shall foretaste m some degree , even in the midst of suftering . ^ It is the midnight of the year ; but while we gather round the fire , and listen to the howling of the elements outside , or to the howling of the elements in the East , we may comfort ourselves with the certainty that dawn follows midnight ; and if we have done the duty that lies before us , be it simple or great , we may . even in the midst of trouble , sanctify our own enjoyment by the faith that it belongs to that which is to come .

      1244 The Leader. [Saturday , R . ' — ¦ I...

      1244 THE LEADER . [ Saturday , r . ' — ¦ ii ¦¦ i ii '" _ ' ' "!__^_^_^ 211 ^!— L-ZL ~ —^_ J _^—^ —1— . ^_ TllZ-lL-l ^^ -L ^ ILI-L !^ Il ! -- _!_! - ! r ! l _—J-L !!** -. . 1 ' ' " ' —

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      Three Wednesday Evening Concerts. Since ...

      THREE WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERTS . Since the farewell of Mademoiselle Wilhblmine Clauss , and the departu re of Benedict , these Concerts have fallen into the miscellaneous and popular line to a degree below criticism . Last Wednesday evening , for instance , the performance was one of the most wearisome ever inflicted even on { in all-suffering British public . It was all " miscellaneous" except M endelssohn ' s ever welcome Midsummer Night's Dream , which was indifferently played . A solo on the double bass by Mr . Rowland deserves a word of praise for its cleverness . The rest of the concert was what Sam Slick would call " cautionary . " Madame Amadei sang , or rather dragged through the In siiarbara from Seneramide ( inseparably identified with the voluptuous tenderness of Alboni ) with a disregard to time quite exasperating . A lady of the name of Iampus sang Robert , toi quefaime , transposed a third lower ; and , by way of a climax and a contrast , Sir . Gengethe idol of the tavern—squeaked through his nose and teeth The Fairy Tempter , a third higher than it was written . A solo on the harp was as interesting as ftould be exDected . and the vianiste of the evening , a Miss Kate Rogers ,

      attempted Mendelssohn ' s Hondo brillante in E flat not discreditably . However , we had not the courage to remain to the close of the concert . Mr . Genge—that " popular British tenor "—was too much even for musical nerves hardened in the service of an ungrateful public . We have little to record about last week ' s Concert , and that little not so favourable as we could desire . The March composed expressly for the Sultan by Rossini , and which was announced with a flourish of trumpets to be strengthened by two military bands , turned out a very trashy affair ; apparently a mere pasticcio of leavings from some forgotten commonplace-book of the eminent and obdurate pig-fancier of Bologna . The only performance that compensated for the poverty of the programme , so horribly miscellaneous and " popular , " was the selections from Benedict ' s compositions , which were full of science , interest , and beauty , besides including songs which are household favourites of the English public . We crave leave to repair an involuntary omission , and to say a word or two on the Concert of the week before last , which , for many reasons , and especially for one , was the most interesting of the series . The first part was a repetition of the Mendelssohn night , which a fortnight before was so cruelly used by the fog . The FingaPs Cave overture , that grand reminiscence of the land of mountain and flood—passages of which sound , like the chant of the old sea-gods departing , was given with fire and spirit by an orchestra of very moderate pretensions , under the energetic baton of Mr . Benedict : and the symphony in which , as in an enchanted mirror of sound , the life , the

      history , the fatal . beauty , the skies , and seas , the plains , and groves and palaces ; the antique glory , the luxurious decay , the passionate aspirations of Italy are pictured—the Italian symphony held the Hall in rapturous attention But the special interest of the Concert was the fareweM appearance at the piano of the most divinely gifted , most delicate , and most sensitive musical genius an age of innumerable executants has yet produced . Mademoiselle Clauss repeated her performance of Mendelssohn ' s concerto in G minor and it was the opinion of the whole host of critics pr-esent in the Hall ' that never had she played more finely ; never was that marvellous touch more soft and full , more airy and tender , more round and melting : never was the expression more intense and passionate : never was the largo , with all its lingering and wayward melancholy , more sympathetically , more caressingly cadenced . Mademoiselle Clauss seemed resolved to bring admiration and delicht with her , and to leave despair behind . The career of this young celebrity is a lesson to students . When she first appeared in Paris a nd in London , two years ago , her childlike and gentle aspect , touched with the shadow of an early grief , conquered the affections of the public even before her accomplished genius secured their admiration . She became the darling of her audiences . But to calm and cold critics there was still much to be desired , and much to be feared , in that success and in that enthusiasm . There was still so much to learn , and if this uncritical applause should " spoil , " there would be so much to unlearn . All that genius could give was there indeed : feeling , touch , ovnrossinn . and that indefinable something called charm : but a thorough erasn

      of the composer ' s intention , an unfailing correctness of reading and certainty of hand , were often wanting- How fortunate for the young artist that she should have found friends as well as admirers , and that she should have had the sense and courage to listen to the judicious few who sometimes shook their heads

      when applause was the loudest ! She went away and studied , and came back and studied , never resting , ever aspiring . And now this intense devotion to her Art for the Art ' s sake , has its reward . Those sterner critics say that to all the charms and graces that only genius can bestow , she now unites that correctness grasp , and certainty , which nothing but severe , ardent , conscientious study can achieve . And she is only nineteen—this gifted and devoted girl—and she studies unrelaxingly , with that finer sense which ever sees a better beyond the best accomplished yet , and never rests content in the excellence of to-day ! Need we say that on this farewell night the exquisite performance of th & concerto in G minor was listened to in rapt and breathless silence , and that the gentle sorceress whose soul was in the chords was rapturously recalled by an audience that thronged the Hall , and would not willingly let their favourite depart ? Mademoiselle Clauss is now in Paris , where , at pressing , solicitations , she gives one concert . Before the New Year she will be on the wing to St . Petersburg , where imperial honours and triumphs await her . She has promised to return to us with the spring , when the swallows and the green eaves come again . _ - _ ¦ . „ ., , 01 inese concertsit hjjs

      One word about the miscellaneous portion , wsw . uu occasion , with few exceptions , a continual burlesque , little calculated to elevate the popular taste , but rather to convince foreigners of the deplorable absence of real musical intelligence in England . There was a British tenor hissing ballads , with occasional vociferations of " No ! by Heaven , " through his teeth and nose ; two commanding young ladies jerking out a duo , in that nervous and intense manner familiar to drawing-rooms , always accentuating in the wrong place ; there was a fine bass voice and manly style shouting with forty-lung power ; a confident and courageous debutante , who executed Rode ' s Variations with an audacity of incompetence worthy of a better cause . There were exceptions to this strange medley , in Madame Amedei we recognised at once the physique ot a powerful contralto , which is always supposed to be constructed on the principle of a steam-frigate—to carry an 84-pounder amidships . But wo also found a rich and sonorous voice totally beyond control : in a word , there was too much powder in her guns . Mr . Chipp the younger , who appeared nervous , played a fantasia on the violoncello , with an excellent tone and bow , but with a timidity that failed to do him justice . We protest against a horrible potpourrioverture— beginning with Euryanthe , going on with Don Giovanni , and ending WJin Masanielto . We are bound to say , with sincere regret in the avowal , that toe audience rapturously enjoyed all these vulgarities . Our only wonder is , wnert do the people come from who applaud such things ? M . Jullien gave " mis ^" laneous concerts : but the music , if only polkas , waltzes , and mazurKas , **» always the best of the kind , and always given in the best style .

      Births, Marriages, And Deaths. Births. O...

      BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS . BIRTHS . On the 2 nd November , at Itawul Pindee , in tho Punjab the wife of W . S . It . Hodson , Esq ., Commandant of tho Corps of Guides , and Assistant-Commissioner ; a daughter . On the 17 th December , at Oban , Argylcshiro , tho wile of Lieutenant John Ward , R . N . ; a son . On the 18 th , at 15 , Horford-street , tho wife of Thomas Somers Cooks , jun ., Esq ., M . P .: a daitf ; htor . On tho 18 th , at 6 , James ' s-squaro , tho . Lady Alfred Hcrvey : a daughter . On the 18 th , at Torquay , tho wito of Sir Paul Hunter , . Hart .: a son and heir . On tho 18 th , at 25 , Gordon-street , Gordon-square , tho wife of George d'Olier Gowan , Esq .: a daughter . On tho 20 th , at -M . Torrington-placo , Plymouth , tho wife of Commander B . II . Bunco , R . N ., II . M . ship l'rince ltcgout : a daughter . MARRIAGES . On tho 13 th December , at Tlmrloa , county of Tipporary , Major Gaisford , of tho Seventy-second Highlanders , hoii of tho very Rev . tho Dean of Christ Cluircli , Oxford , to Jano Vaughan , daughter of the Venerable If . Cotton , Archdeacon of Cashel , and widow of Major Montizainbert , of the Tenth Itegimont of Foot . Oh tho 17 th , by tho lliRht Hon . Ilev . Lord Thyune , William Lowthor , Pjso ., youngest son of tho Hon .. Colonel Lowthor , and II . B . M . Secnitary of Legation at Naples , to Churlotto Alice , daughter of tho Right Hon . Baron Parko-On the 20 th , at St . Thomas ' s Church , Itydo , IhIo of Wiu ; l » t , Frederick Charles , only son of tho lato Mujor-Gonoral Sir Charles Ashworth , K . C . B . and K . T . S ., to Elizabeth , daughter of Arthur Frederick , Esq . On tho 20 th . at Hunger ford Church , Berks , , T . G . Thonhtcd , E « q ., late bcjcoikI ofllcer . H . M . Customs , Sierra Leone , to Fredorica , daughter of tho late Captain Carpeutor , J . P . for tho county of Middlesex . On tho 20 th , at St . Alphege Church , Greoiiwich , R . V . Morrison , Msq ., Nineteenth Itogiment , only son of Richard Morrison , Esq ., and grandson of the lato ( sir Richard Morrison , of Walcot , near Bray , county of Wieklow , to Jane , fourth daughter of tho lato Colquho-. m Grunt , Knq ,, Staff Surgeon at Xante , and of Kinchirdy , Morayshiro , N . B .

      Deaths. At Simla, On Tho 26th Of October...

      DEATHS . At Simla , on tho 26 th of October , whither ho had gone to recruit his health after liis return from Burmah , Major-Gencral Sir Henry T . Godwin , K . C . B ., Colonel of the Twentieth licgiment , aged sixty-nine . On tho 12 th December , Eliza Dorothea , relict of Captain Sydcnham T . Wylde , and only surviving daughter of the late l'onystono Portlock Pourney , Esq ., of Ives-placo , Maidenhead , Berks , M . P . for Windsor , aged seventy-live . On tho lftth , at Alloa Park , N . U ., Philadelphia , the CounlcHs of Mnv and Kellie , oldest ( laughter of the late Sir Charles Granvillc Stuart Monteath , of Closeburn and Mansfield , Hart . On tho 10 th , at Eglinton Castle , tho Countess of Egliuton-On tho 17 tli , at Hazoloy , the lion . Prances Mary Waldegrave , infant daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Chewtou . On the 17 th , at Flcsk-lodgo 7 Killarney , after a short but severo illness , Major William Serjeantson Dalfibu . youngest son of tho lato John Dalton , Esq ., of Sloningford-park , in the county of York , and Pillingham Castle , in the county of Lincoln , aged lifty .

      Ctninitei'riul Mitiw.

      Ctninitei'riul Mitiw .

      Monkv M Akk15t And City Intelligence. Fr...

      MONKV M AKK 15 T AND CITY INTELLIGENCE . Friday Evening , Pecomber 2 . ' $ , 1853 . Bitsinkhh in the Stock Exchange has bom at a stand-still during the week , nsivo a few tnuiHacMonH in " Consols " a sensitive plant which looks vory languid and Hliaky thin morning . ihu impression gains ground that tho days of the Aberdeen Ministry are numbered , and that Lord Pallnor . stoti must be Premier eventually , despite of Court oppo Kifcion—at tho latter , by the way , one liourw mo . sfc irrovorend grumblings . Thoro have bocn mnno fow transactions in

      Peruvians , owing to . tho belief that tho senemo proposed bv tho Government of that country will fall to w » ° grounu , and the bonds Maintained in their original 3 " ^^ - ^ ports are rife this morning of the possible sudde" SXo of M . do Brunow and M . do KissLloff from Mieir wsPgJJJ stations , should tho now * of the entrance of tho % " ° " ; ts ( loots into tho Black Sea | bo officially « ° " ? ^ 3 yeV too , of serious disagreements at tho Cabinet Oouncuj torday , and a report wilder than all , of a 1 roneih »^» tins country , who is said to be endeavouring to Wro stOT for tho convoying troops from Toulon and Mawcuj ^ ay Constantinople , so that there is some rca ^"'^ cr a r » Hy percoivo , for Consols going to 04 sellers . However , i is likely onough to take place this afternoon , if nowm » . decided come to light . Mining Shares have been ^ P ^ J */ dealt in ; nomo of tho English copper min ?* *\ ' extent of ported to bo auriforoua-in some instances to tneml * QWm 8 o / , to tho ton-havo boon inquired fw . bouth wwo sols . Quiutrell Down , and above all . VcWmojo in ¦ { m . of the last havo been done at i , or fifty per cent . I £ , jan Laud Company Shams havo boon vory lamcuia . A" t ( J of Agricultural havo declined U per ; share , iVlio IMicnisl ' the Peninsular copper mines near Bilbao , »» " " indeed , of "Obernhof " lead mines are highly satisfactory . * b () jn tho ilrrt-montiouod mino-if thei Company s roP ° Coi ) SO , every particular corrcct-Burra J ^ ™ " nX ( Whenl Maria ) may hide their diminished lioaui » . ) f ) not At this time , SJH ) , Consols are 03 » . f ; but' »™ iy unlikely to occur before the hours of l » f ^ fortho open-Fouro ' clock . Market closes llrmor . Consols wi ing , mi , mi- h Caledonian . C 5 J , 3 ; Eastern Counties , « i . f j £ Ewh" * and Glasgow , f » 4 . ««; Great Western , 88 * , « . » 4 n th coft- ^ and Yorkshire , 07 , « 7 * ; T ^ don , Jlrighton , wid Hou , I ?| 1 rf Jti > , 100 ; London and North Wontorn , 10 . 1 J ,. 1 » V Wor < : eHK >[ . South WeHtorn , 78 , 79 ; Midland . ftV » 4 ; <* £ Jj \ ) iU Bout ) a «< lWolv « rl » ami » ton , 87 . : »; Scottish Contmw . " * $ J < tt j , Kastor . i , i \ i , ( W : York , Newcastle w > 1 I " « * , d JloBiWW ??' - York and North Midland , 474 . 48 | ; W" gSw , 11 /' | , ' 2 J , « 4 pm ., Kast Indian , 3 » , 4 J pm . j \ f ^ % ^» , 5 . J Dftto ( ltolWay ; . 7 , 7 *; Di £ to . ™{\ % % \ T ! ot towA pm . ; Namur and iioge ( with Int . ) , 7 * . » . i » ftri « » ' L ' ranco , 8 * 4 . »»; JParls »" , J # \ W & } %$£ n » nd Jto Orleans , W , « t ); I ' arls and Jtouon , 41 . 43 ; 1 «> w

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1853, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24121853/page/20/