AT WINNIPEG—The Anniversary Fete was an occasion to
J. ^-cling long in the memories of those present. That the Retail Store did itself credit in the big event is a deep satisfaction to all. both public and staff, who participated.
The staff banquet, at which the Governor was the guest of' honor at the Fort Garry Hotel, was a felicitous and successful function upon which
the Company deserves congratulation. Following is a draft of the programme arranged for the entertainment of the Governor and his associates:
Opening Orchestration—Selected.............
................. ................Fort Garry Entertainers
Song from "The Maid of the Mountains”
.....................................................Miss Fay Trott
Violin Solo—"Souvenir,” by Franz Drdla
.....................................................Miss Fay Trott
Address—The Chairman Geo. W. Allan. M.P.
Introducing
SIR ROBERT KINDERSLEY. G.B.E.
The Governor of The Hudson’s Bay Company. Song—"There’s a Long, Long Trail’’ ...
............................................................Mr. Bouey
Chorus by entire gathering.
(Words composed for the occasion)
VERSE I
Looking backward through the ages,
See the heroes come.
Writing on our country's pages
Love of right and home.
Woods and plains ring out the story,
How those pioneers came.
Men of might, whose might was right.
And only fear could shame.
Chorus
There's a long, long trail a-Winding,
Down from the long, long ago.
When the knights of old sought Hudson's Bay
Through ice and snow.
And to-night we all are thinking
Of how those braoe men and free.
Each fought the fight with all his might.
And built our Company.
VERSE IV.
Haiti thou flag that stands for progress,
In our western lands.
Where H.B.C. means qual-i-ty.
Goodwill always stands.
Proud are we of our great leader.
Sir Robert Kindersley,
And pioneers of our Dominion,
The glorious Hudson's Bay.
Presentation of long-service medals, followed by musical entertainment, offered by concert professionals.
An important contribution was made by the Company’s own talent to the programme. The general committee entrusted the entertainment programme to the retail organization. The Hudson’s Bay song, of which a part is printed above, was rendered to the accompaniment of an ingenious mechanical effect. The first word of the last chorus of the song was the signal for the lights to be extinguished. There, over the stage, the Governor’s ensign, a sheer white silken flag, floated in an artificial breeze. While the spot light played upon the flag, on large mirrors at either side of the stage magically appeared life-size likenesses of the Company’s first governor, Prince Rupert, and of the present Governor, Sir Robert Kindersley.
The Hudson’s Bay Company’s musical chorus (all talent from the retail store staff) earned fitting applause in its rendering of a novelty promenade. During this number the whole chorus marched down into the auditorium and with the aid of tiny tissue paper streamers, enmashed the audience in a gay net of many colors.
Among those directly responsible for the successful features of this programme were:
Miss Bens Mr. W. Robinson
Miss McEwan Mr. G. R. Macgregor
Misses Watson, Budden, Bowling, Shaw, Lyons, Booth, King, Mitchel, Burstow, Harris and Clark.
Vetted?
No