They gave, December 21 and 22, Les Huguenots; December 23 and 24, Bohemian Girl; December 25, Maritana. [Illustration: MRS. MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON On Her Fiftieth Anniversary as a Public Singer, June 12, 1896 Sixty Years of Age and Still in Good Voice] After the close of the season Mr. Squires and Miss Escott gave a farewell concert in Pacific Hall in which I participated and sang with them the celebrated trio, Protect Us Through the Coming Night. On May 16, 1870, the Handel and Haydn Society gave Rossini's Stabat Mater in Sacramento, Prof. Hugo Mansfeldt, leader, assisted by the societies of Sacramento. The chorus was 500 strong, the soloists were the best to be secured, assisted by Henry Heyman, violin soloist. Herr Wenderlich, _bass_ W.C. Campbell, _bass_ Samuel C. Mayer, _tenor_ Matthew Anderson, _tenor_ Mrs. Marriner, _soprano_ Mrs. S. Little, _soprano_ Mrs. J.M. Pierce, _soprano_ Mrs. McNeil (of Sacramento), _soprano_ Mrs. M.R. Blake, _contralto_ Miss Hewlett, _contralto_ Miss K. Stone, _contralto_ Cornet solo, Mr. Dick Kohler and full orchestra. Anvil chorus, with artillery accompaniment. The undertaking was a financial as well as a musical success and added one more wreath of laurels to our musical advancement in 1873. Also in this year the celebrated violin virtuoso, Camilla Urso, came to San Francisco on a tour. The Mechanics Pavilion then stood on the square of Stockton and Powell, Geary and Post streets, and numerous entertainments were given there. The musical festival had been successfully opened with Camilla Urso as soloist, and on the second day she tendered the society a benefit concert. The programme, a noted one which should be preserved, is as follows: MUSICAL FESTIVAL TENDERED BY CAMILLA URSO in aid of The Mercantile Library of San Francisco at the MECHANICS PAVILION FIRST PART 1. Overture, Ali Baba Cherubini Grand orchestra of 150 men. 2. Glory to God on High (from 12th Mass) Mozart Oratorio chorus, 1,200 voices. 3. Symphony in C (Andante and Allegro) Gade Grand orchestra of 150 pieces. 4. (a) Sleepers, Awake, Choral from St. Paul Mendelssohn (b) Prayer of Moses in Egypt Rossini 5. Grand Concerto for the Violin (orchestral accompaniment) Beethoven CAMILLA URSO PART II 1. Chorus, The Heavens are Telling (from the Creation) Haydn Oratorio chorus of 1,200 voices 2. Overture of Freischutz Weber Grand Military Band, 150 men. 3. Hallelujah Chorus from "Messiah" Handel Oratorio chorus of 1,200 voices. 4. Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore Verdi