'backward; No. 42 STRATFORD, ONT., FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1927 Vol. 4 Delightful Recital By Talented Artists An indeed happy choice of artists was brought to the city under the joint auspices of the Perth County Music Teachers' Federation and the Teachers' Association, on Friday evening, in the persons of Pearl Steinhoff-Whitehead, mezzo soprano; Scott Malcolm, pianist, and Geoffrey Waddington, violinist, all of Toronto. Hach artist delighted a large aud- ience with their groups of _ selec- tions and the numbers given were of uniform excellence. This was. es- pecially true of the instrumentalists, who gave a very brilliant perform- ance. Pear] Steinhoff-Whitehead is not a stranger to Stratford. Her voice rang clear, never at any time taxing her audience with those _ piercing tones sometimes heard. She pos- sesses a pleasing personality and great interpretive ability, entering whole-heartedly into all her songs. ©" We rather wished she had sung her second group in English. Seott Malcolm, youthful pianist and composer, is destined to become ene of the outstanding pianists of our day. His handling of such numbers as Chopin's 'Fantasia in F Minor" and Kreisler-Rachmaninoff's "Liebes- freud," certainly proved him, to be master of his instrument. His play- ing was often marked with a very beautiful singing tone and his fortis- simo passages were strong and mas- terly, always well controlled. Geoffrey Waddington is truly a violinist. He brought forth full rich tones, displaying some very brilliant work in many of his numbers. Particularly was this noticeable in his Kreisler's "Tambourine Chinois" and 'a Chasse," which were given with verve and_ splendid rhythm. His silver-like tones and accuracy of pitch in double stopping proved very delightful. In every number he had fine sympathetic support from his ac- companist, which always means much to the success of the violinist's work. Miss Cora Ahrens and Miss Marsg- aret StevensOn acted aS accompan- ists. In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of des- truction. We see no white winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction. A hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently toward a calm and bright land, so that they look no more and the hand may be a little child's. (From George Eliot's ner') "Silas Mar- Pertinent Patter BY THE PHILISTINE interesting the dismis- sal of W.A. Dover, general manager of the BroOks Steam Motors. Coming on the heels of many rumors concern- ing that firm this incident has con- siderable significance. Mr. Dover con- tends that the reason he was forced to leave was that he was being asked 'to do something which was not right and further gives it as his opinion that it is the intention of Mr. Brooks to close down this plant and move the whole business over to the United States to the new factory, recently purchased near Buffalo. So far Mr. Brooks has not given any statement on the matter, It is highly important that Such statement should be forth- coming for if the plant is to close here it will mean a big loss to Strat- ford and incidentally a bigger loss to the Canadian investors in the com- pany if the affairs of the Canadian corporation are closed up. Comse- quently developments concerning the Brooks plant are being watched with more than usual interest by citizens of. all classes. most perhaps This past week's occurrence was * * * Returns are still somewhat in- complete for the Chamber of Com- merce membership drive but it ap- pears that a fair measure of success has rewarded the efforts of the cam- paign committees and the loyal can- vassers. The campaign was given a good send off atthe banquet on Tues- day night when over 100 citizens at- tended and half of them signed mem- bership cards before leaving the ban- quet room. F. Wellington Hay was the speaker of the evening and was very happily introduced by his late opponent in the Iast Federal _ elec- tion, D. M. Wright. There was a good feeling manifested and the interest taken in the campaign has been tak- en as a good omen tor the future of the re-organized body. That some such organization is necestary in the city seems to be conceded and there has been a change of heart toward the organization in many quarters of the city. It now remains for the new membérs to get together and vwiect a strong slate of officers to carry on the affairs of the organization. * * * One part, at least, of Wellington Hay's address at the C. of C. banquet on Tuesday, was of particular inter- est to the city and that was the state- ment regarding the C.N.R. He gave the meeting the message from Sir Henry Thornton that no change was contemplated here unless it was a change for the better. Further in- formation is promised about the sit- uation of the C.N.R. here later but in the meantime the statement that Stratford is not to lose any portion of the shops comes as a welcome con- tradiction of the many rumors which have been current for some. time past. bd * * * The other night the Stratford Con- cert Orchestra, under the leadership of H. A. Clark, gave another recital in the City Hall. The auditorium was not filled to capacity but there was a fair crewd in attendance and the concert was of high calibre. The efforts of Mr. Clark and his orches- tra are to be highly commended and the progress made by this compara- tively young organization should be a matter of pride to its members for the concert presented the other night was of a standard that much older organizations might well envy. There were, of course, weak spots but to expect anything else would be folly. On the other hand there were times when the orchestra reached high points of excellence as for ex- ample inethe selections from Verdi's opera, "Il Trovatore." bd * * While the heavy snowfall the latter part of last week gave motoring somewhat of a setback the season is pretty well advanced for this time of the year as the dozens of cars Seen around the streets daily indicate. Time was when at this time of the year to get outside of the city at all was something of a feat and certain- ly to get anywhere with a car was a physical impossibility. The contrast provided today by the smooth hard highways is most striking. Several contracts for paving have been let in this district again this year which will mean detours but if the weather is good an early start can be made and the roads ought to be open be- fore the summer is very far ad- vanced. The stretch at Freeport bridge will prove the greatest inter- ruption but it is likely that this work will be rushed and artificial means of curing the concrete used so that it can be opened quickly. There will be two more sections of the Huron road finished, possibly three, but two at any rate, this year so that there will be detours practically all the summer on that road. However that will pretty nearly finish the paving of the main roads in this district unless a start is made on the London road, Have You Mailed Y our Contest Letter Y et Have you sent in your essay on "What I want most for my Home?" It must be in by next Wednesday, April 6th. The "Mirror" will pay $5 cash for the best reply. Just take something about your home or something that you wish you had in your home, that in your opin- ion is the greatest joy and comfort to you and your family, and write us about it. Make a story of it. like this --What made you think of wanting it? What did everybody say about it? Does it save you work or give you pleasure? Did it give you a thrill to see it come into the house? How did you save up to buy it? Or did you buy it first and pay for it later, on the "Budget Plan."? Make it snappy--make it ibereinn ing--tell it well and that $5 cash prize is yours. from St. Marys on. No word of this is yet forthcoming nor of the taking over of the road from Mitchell North, which was announced last fall. * * * Stratford music lovers on Wednesday night gave a warm welcome home to Pear] Steinhoff-Whitehead, a former Stratford girl, now widely known as a mezzo-soprano singer and residing in Toronto. She came back to the city to sing at a recital under the joint auspices of the Perth County Music Teaches' Association and the Stratford Teachers' Association and brought with her Scott Malcolm, pianist, and Geoffrey Waddington, violinist, from the Toronto Conser- vatory of Music. The visitors were assisted by Cora B, Ahrens and Mar- garet G. Stevenson, who capably of- ficiated in the difficult role of ac companists for the evening. The pro- gram was one of much merit and was received very favorably by the large audience which filled the city hall au- ditorium to capacity. Mrs. White- head's voice was heard to advan- tage in the varied program which | she sang. It included the recitative (Continued on page 4) WANTED--An experienced Cloth- ing and Gents' Furnishing Sales- man, must be good window dres- ser. Apply Box 84, The Mirror. REAL ESTATE INSURANCE.