Feast of Roses

“Last night Steinway Hall was crowded to its utmost capacity, the occasion being the second and last rendition of a local cantata entitled the ‘Feast of Roses, or the Crowning of the May Queen.’ The entertainment was given under the leadership of Professor T. A. Benjamin, and partook of the nature of a juvenile oratorio, with marches and tableaux ‘by one thousand young ladies,’ varying from eight to eighteen years of age. All were attired in appropriate costumes, and the performance consisted of solos, choruses, dances, recitations, &c. These children are selected from the various public schools of the city, and have been in training but a short time, having had but five or six rehearsals. A Maypole, erected on the stage, formed the great centre of attraction to the juveniles, and a May dance after the (supposed) orthodox fashion was given with considerable skill and elicited repeated outbursts of applause.”