PETERSFIELD, Saturday, October 26.
OUR WINTER AMUSEMENTS.— With the approach of winter it is pleasant to see signs of continued vigour in the different societies of which this town can boast. The Petersfield Singing Class is now in full force, and we hope soon to be able to criticise their performances. The Amateur Dramatic Society has held its annual meeting, elected officers, committee, &c., revised rules, and fairly started in its course of usefulness; their first rehearsal meeting was held at the Dolphin Hotel on Tuesday evening. The latter society, deserves something more than a mere passing paragraph, and at the present time, in recommending it to the cordial support of our readers, we think it not out of place to give a retrospect of its career. About three years ago a few gentlemen started the idea of a dramatic entertainment, and from the success attendant on this, their first effort, has sprung up a most useful and important society. If, we remember rightly the Cricket Club was the first recipient of its profits, in the purchase and presentation of a spacious tent, the welcome shelter of which so often saved us a drenching during the season matches. Next the enlargement of the Cricket Ground itself, and the placing of seats for the convenience of spectators were the joint results of a second attempt. It is, however, in the last year's success in the more sacred cause of charity that we should specially refer. By the co-operation of our resident gentry, and a course of economy on the part of the society, it had the pleasure to be enabled to present to the funds of the Hants County Hospital and the Chichester Infirmary the handsome donation of £20 each, thus securing to the poor of the district the right of sending two inpatients annually for a period of ten and seven years respectively; and also a further sum of £17 to the fund for the relief of the sufferers by the Barnsley Colliery explosion. That their efforts in the historic act must have been in themselves worthy of success, that very success itself first proved that their future will be alike brilliant and useful. We may, therefore, augur well for the coming season. They have won our esteem and regard, and the most inveterate enemy to ordinary theatrical displays can scarcely cavil at the doings of a society whose motto might fairly be "doing good." We understand the public charity schools of our town will be the recipients of this year's profits, which we hope will be, as heretofore, a good round sum.