The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-07

BOSTON, May 6, 1868.
| To the Editor Of the Press:
The Handel and Haydn society have be-
gun their trennial festival They give the
public music for breakfast, music for dinner
and music for supper. Long before eleven
O'Clock yesterday morning the lovers of music
began to wend their way to the hall and soon
every seat was filed. At the same time the
female chorus singers began to make their en-
trance. They came in single file, portion
entering at the left side of the great organ
| and others at the right. After these were
seated the male chorus performers entered in
the same manner and then came those who
| play upon instruments. Soon all the seats
were filled with the performers and then came
| Madame Parepa-Rosa and Adelaide Phillips,
who were greeted with applause by some
three thousand people.
The President of the society made few re-
marks, saying that three years ago the Handel
and Haydn society celebrated its fiftieth an
niversary and thanking the audience for the
sympathy they manifested this morning. At
the close of his remarks he alluded to the
busts of Beethoven, Mozart and Palestrina,
which Charlotte Cushman had given to the So
ciety. He said they would now be unveiled,
and at that moment the covering was removed
and these splendid busts were presented to
the view of the audience. All eyes were turn
ed upon them and shouts of applause echoed
through the hall. They are placed over the
second balcony in the rear of the hall, facing
the organ.
Soon after the ceremony Martin Luther's
Choral was commenced with orchestra, cho-
rus and organ, and tremendous volume of
music arose from seven hundred voices and
over one hundred instruments, supported by
the immense organ. This was followed by
Memberships Ninety Fifth Psalm and his
Hymn of Praise Parepa, Miss Phillips and
Mr.. Simpson were the principal vocalists. All
this music is of profoundly religious charac-
ter, and it was performed with great power
and much feeling. / need not inform the
readers of the Press how Madame Parepa and
Miss Phillips performed their parts. The rem
dering of their roles left nothing TO be wished
for, and they were admirably sustained by the
organ, the instruments and the chorus singers.
This evening Sampson" will be performed.
1t is well to speak in praise of bridge that
carries you safely over, even if it be toll
brids e. That the railways between Boston
and Portland are well managed there can be
no doubt. These roads are well equipped and
admirably manned. The tracks, for this sea-
son of the year, when the frost is coming out of
the ground, are quite smooth. Perhaps no roads
in our country have been more fortunate than
these so far as fatal accidents are concerned.
They are managed well for the stockholders
and well for the public.
The St. James Hotel, just opened here, is
on grand scale. 1t is now to Boston what
the Fifth Avenue hotel has been to New York.
Situated in front of Franklin Square, beau
tiful park ornamented with trees, fountains
and walks, it occupies an airy, healthy spot,
and is destined to become place OF frequent
resort 1t has a frontage OF nearly three hun
dred feet and is seven stories high, including
the basement. 1t is built of brick with gram
lite trimmings, and makes a fine architectural
appearance. Within it is admirably arranged
for public house. The rooms and halls are
spacious and well ventilated The furniture
is very handsome and everything is new and
clean. That it will be well kept the name of
Stetson is a sufficient guaranty. L hope, trust
and believe the Falmouth hotel in Portland,
when opened to the travelling public next Ju-
ly will fully equal the st. James. The name of
Olcott House would have sounded more must
cal to my ears; but after all almost any name
sounds well when a house is well kept, as that
no doubt will be. No matter what name you
give the rose it does not thereby lose its fra
GRANGE. and so the name of public house
well furnished and well kept, will sound well,
whatever il may be. B.