The New York herald., 1870-05-18
A Graad sassIsal PssslvaA

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A Graad MusIeal PsssivaA
The children Of Fatheriand who have IN
recent years come among us In such force that
their language is now spoken and many Of
their pleasant ways are adopted BY large
ratio OF our entire population, have introduced
no pleasanter custom than the holding Of fire.
quent singing jubilees or 'saengerfests," which
bring together delegates from their musical
societies residing in all parts Of the country,
and, amid innocent mirth and joyous song,
rivet and brighten the links of brotherhood
that run through from State to State. This
yoar the North American Saengerbund, or
Singers Union, will celebrate it's seventeenth
general convOoaHon at Cincinnati with especial
splendor. The bund is made up of such sing
ing associations in all the length and breadth
OF the land as adhere to It's regulations, and 1t
now numbers no less than ninety five Of these.
Among them are many Of great strength in
numerical and artistic completeness and of
high distinction in social standing and musical
achievement. New York State and city are
represented by some Of our finest societies.
Cincinnsi is a place especially well chosen
for q celebration so peculiarly characteristic of
the German element Its beautiful situation
on the banks Of one Of our loveliest rivers, the
Ohio, noted in the earliest explorations Of the
West, and the fact that it is so largely occupied
by people of Teutonic race, whose vineyards
and pleasure gardens crown nearly every sur
rounding height, combine to make it jnst the
spot for a jovial celebration of this kind Gin
cinnati and Milwaukee brewage Of the malt is
quite as famous in its way as the sparkling
catawbas of Ohio or the wild scuppernong
vintage Of the Carolinss, and on more than
one hillside sloping down to the "Belle Ri
Were" the clustering grapes yield juices of
which the Rhine and the Moselle need not be
ashamed. So, in the pleasant middle of the
leafy month Of June, viz, from the 18th to the
Goth, the Teutonic songsters will gather in
from every quarter to awaken the fauns and
dryads of these sylvan haunts, if any have yet
migrated thither, with the melodies Of other
days and distant lands.
Their Cincinnati brethren have not been idle
meanwhile, but have prepared for their recep-
tion during the allotted hours Of the regular
musical exercises, q noble hall two hundred
and fifty feet in length by one hundred and
ten in breadth, with an inside area of
twenty-seven thousand five hundred square
feet, and sufficient accommodation for one
thousand five hundred singers, three hundred
and fifty instrumental musicians and two thou
sand Of an audience. The hall Is surrounded
by spacious galleries and provided with every
convenience, the stage for the orchestra and
special singers alone being fifty-eight feet wide
One hundred and twenty windows admit ample
light by day, and immense gas chandeliers will
illuminate the scene a gsorno by night, while
surrounding gardens and refreshment saloons
supply delightful and elegant retreats. The
front Of the building outside is imposing, with
its two towers of one hundred and nineteen
feet in height and twenty-four in breadth. one
on either side of the main entrance; its rich
adornment, its harmonious color, its futtering
banners, and the sparkling fountains that pre-
cede the broad paths leading to the vestibule.
But we merely hint at description, concern
ing which our German home exchanges are
full Of cheerful comment. Our main thought
is to express the satisfaction that the recur-
renee of these truly pleasing and useful festi-
walls Of hearty enjoyment and melodious vocal
ism conveys. Whoever journeys westward
from the Atlantic shore in the bright summer
days at hand may trace the path of our
German element as he goes, by the rich culti-
vation of the fields it has titled, the bloom of
the orchards it has planted, and the graceful
beauty of the vines that 1t has taught to climb
the mountain side Of land so recently the
domain Of the primitive forest. In some
regions, especially should he journey through
Pennsylvania and Ohio, he may hear the echo
Of the voices of Fatherland, from morning
until evening, sounding in song from the road
side, nor will it leave him should he pursue
his journey to the Pacific border. The many
charming and softening influences thus infused
along with the spirit Of sturdy honesty and
well considered thrift, into the great sum total
of our American life, find peculiar and appro-
pirate utterance in the vocal festival, its gay
artistic decorations and its social merry
making. The countrymen Of Goethe and
Schiller; of Haydn, Beethoven and Men
delssohn; Of Wieland, INLAND, Koerner and
Freiligrath singing their chorusss beside the
Ohio, will freshen the springs of good feeling
around them here and gladden. many yearn-
ing heart beyond the seas with hope Of hap
pier days in the free land of the West.
Seward ON Manifest Destiny.
The distinguished Sage Of Auburn on Mon
day made the first speech since his return