Page:Item 6 1854.pdf/65

From Historical Hastings
This page has been proofread


also have had Middleton's six week's successful performances, and during that time no less than three circuses, one of them (Marcartes) making a grand entry with a car blazing with purple and red, and drawn by 20 fancy horses. Also, as a counter attraction, Haswell's Panorama of the last war." The News might also have added that at the White-rock Bazaar were morning entertainments in Magic and Mystery every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; and evening entertainments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Henry Russell, for the second time, appeared at Hastings to give his entertainment on August 12th to a full house. Ginnett's Circus entered the town on the 11th of August, and in its procession was a large number of ponies, on which children rode to personate the tale of Cinderella. Then, within a week there were no fewer than three numerously attended "Gypsy Fêtes" two at Ore Valley and one at Belmont. There were also cricket matches, whilst among the excursions was the annual one to the Swiss Gardens at Shoreham. This took place on July 7th, and consisted of about 350 persons, accompanied, as usual, by a band. During the week which ended on 19th of July, Hoffman's unique Organophonic Band gave daily performances to good audiences. There was a "Juvenile Gipsy Party" on the 22nd of June at the Tivoli Tea-gardens, attended by about 80 boys and girls. This was another of the "field days" which Mr. James Ives personally conducted. These gardens were always open for fêtes and tea-parties, music and fireworks being occasionally introduced. Not to classify strictly as an entertainment, the Regatta already described; it certainly afforded an additional attraction to the invariable or variable interest evinced in the boating and bathing, and the arrival and unloading of vessels; and as touching maritime affairs, one interesting sight was the appearance in the Hastings roadstead, after a series of easterly gales, nearly twenty French fishing boats, besides several brigs and schooners, which, with a strong wind and lively seas presented a very animated scene. Well might the Hastings News ask "What! No Amusements!" But to conclude this sectional narrative of events, there was the organ recital of Blind Musicians on the 17th of June. This musical performance was on the St. Mary's Chapel organ by three of the four children of a labouring man named Cramp, of Fairlight, who had been blind from their birth. The youthful triplet had been under the training of Mr. George Lindridge, their names and ages being Emily, 17; Ellen, 13; and Tommy, 11. Their performance, separately of five pieces each astonished and delighted all the large number of persons at the recital. It was my privilege or opportunity on two or three occasions to dandle the two elder children, as infants, on my knees when I was visiting their-