Cairneyhill Soiree

FIFESHIRE JOURNAL, THURSDAY 23RD JANUARY 1845

CAIRNEYHILL SOIREE

We have attended several soirees this season, but we have not been present at any other social meeting of the kind which gave such general satisfaction as the one at Cairneyhill on Friday the 17th inst.

We were first attracted by the young ladies who managed the tea equipage at different places of the room with so much grace and activity – the smiles and nods that accompanied the putting in of the sugar into the cups, and the pouring out of the tea. and then the superabundance of cream that was put into the tea. It was something quite superior to the affectation and stiffness with which some of our town ladies acquit themselves at tea operas.

The Rev John More occupied the chair. The Rev Mr Gibson, Dunfermline, gave an eloquent and instructive address on the ‘Pursuit of Knowledge’ – the Rev James Young gave the second address ‘On China and the Chinese’. This was perhaps the best adapted address for a soiree ever we heard. It was instructive and, at the same time, light and humorous.

After this address Mr Shields sung ‘Wanted a Governess’ in first-rate style – Professor McMichael gave the third address ‘On the reflex influences of Mission’ in which were many striking illustrations and much poetical feeling. After which the duet ‘All’s well’ was sung – Mr Thomas Johnstone, who has been several years teacher in the village, gave the fourth address ‘On the principle of benevolence’ in which he made some allusions to the disinterested benevolence of a few individuals in the district.

Mr George Morris, the present teacher in the village, gave the fifth address ‘On virtue’. Mr Morris is a student of divinity, and, judging by the eloquence and judgement displayed in his address, we augur that he will soon be an ornament in that profession to which he aspires. The Rev Mr Walker gave the last address ‘To young disciples’ which would have been rather good for the pulpit or a revival meeting, but was rather out of place for a social meeting.

Between the addresses there were songs, recitations, duets, and immediately before Mr Walker’s address a humorous glee, which ill accorded with its solemnity. When soiree addresses are to be of a very serious nature, hymns or anthems should be sung rather than songs and glees; but when these are introduced, the addresses, though instructive, should not for such striking contrast to the pleasantries of song.