The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-23
Ii r e q A T u RE /.


There are very few people IN this country who
have not heard much OF p. 4. Gilmore, OF Boston;
and fewer still who will not remember the famous
peace jubilee and musical festival which he got
up there couple OF years ago. II was subjected TO
great deal Of ridicule and comment, and IL also
received great deal Of praise; bat whatever the
real merits OF tho affair may have been, none can
deny that 1t attracted large crowds from all Sec
lions OF the Union. and that the majority OF the
visitors went away satisfied that the nam.
moth entertainment was In all respects
grand success. In the mind OF Mr.. Gilmore 1t was
80 eminently successful that he Is now contemplate
Ing another stupendous pandemonium, which, In
point OF magnitude VIII render the one OF 1869 CON-
paraively insignificant. Instead OF q chorus OF 1f-
teen or twenty thousand there Will be fifty thousand
voices and probably all the available wind and
string instruments and booming artillery In Anne
RIGA VIII be secured as an accompaniment. The
Coliseum which is TO be erected viii nave capacity
for hundreds or thousands, anu the whole world
viii be invited to come and participate. Instead OF
consuming only four or five days 1t win occupy a
fortnight or three weeks, and everything else Incl
dental TO the grand powwow viii be on an equally
gigantic scae. The details nave all been conceived
and decided upon. ana now that there Is peace ON
the other side OF the water they viii be carried for
ward without delay. Probably, however, couple
OF years or more VIII eapse before the great event
will take place and during the intervening time Mr..
Gilmore will have ample opportunity to make hla
arrangements both IN this country and In Europe.
lie has not yet decided whether 10 select New York
or Boston for TIE scene of the great ovation, bur
is more than probable that he will settle upon tine
locality his former magnificent triumph.
During the past year Mr.. Gilmore has been en-
gagged In the preparation Of history Of the jubilee
winch took place in Boston In June, 1869. IL Is a
work OF nearly five hundred pages, and will be
issued In very few days. The writer begins with
graphic description Of the idea Of the great jubilee
when IL lrst occurred to him. ana then tells In
pleasant and entertaining way how all his friends
looked upon HIM as crazy when he disclosed to
them the secret Of his impressions of the project.
He felt however, within his own heart that the idea
was worthy OF the support OF the nation, and II car.
red out would receive the applause OF the world.
go where he would" he says, shat great chorus,
with Its thousands Of voices kept roaring in his
and the crash Of thousand instruments filed
the world around him with enchanting harmony.
Look where he might, the vision Of "A magnificent
structure, ted with a vast multitude from all parts
Of the nation, met his gaze" Tne primary object OF
the undertaking. all VIII remember was celebra-
ton IN honor Of peace At this time II was, how
ever still question whether or not there peace
throughout the country The public mind was much
disturbed by the unsettled condition OF affairs In
many OF the Southern States and serious difficulties
existed between President Johnson and Congress,
which resulted in his being brought before the trl-
bunl Of the Senate To answer the charge or mafea-
sance in ofce 1t Is sufficient to state that in the
early days OF The excitement attending the impeach-
ment trial. Mr. Gilmore was reluctantly forced 10
the conclusion that under the then EXIST lg circum
stances any movement TO celebrate the restoration
OF peace throughout the land'' would be looked
upon as il-Judged and out Of time. and should not
be attempted until the political aspects were more
favorable.
The excitement created by the impeachment trial
OF President Johnson had scarcely died away when
the Presidential campaign OF 1858 began From the
moment OF his nomination IL was evident that Gen.
era Grant would be called to the nigh Office sadly
made vacant by the tragic death Of Lincoln; but ms
popularity only made the contest the more exciting,
the enthusiasm OF the contestants increasing up to
protector had been looking as through heightened
vista for weary, weary days. gathering all his
when The political actors mad withdrawn from the
arena.
take place IN washington on the occasion OF the
Inauguration OF President Grant, and obtain an ap-
preparation from Congress to aid in carrying II for
ward. This suggestion was duly considered but the
prospects Of an appropriation were not nattering
the requisite NUMBER OF singers could not be gath
cred there, and the idea was abandoned. No reduc-
uon Of the musical talent could be entertained-the
AFFAIR must be carried out where 1t could ne carried
Many rsnds q ne naa made
known ms plans ADVISED HIM to start the enter;
greater wealth AMI population. as well as
desirable Tor such costly demonstration than
any other city In the Union. True, New York did
have many advantages over Boston. and proper
regard Tor the opinion OF mis- friends induced Mr..
Gilmore to Visit that city to see what encourage
PARK an0 looked at various unoccuped enclosures
up town. searching for proper site on which the
contemplated Coliseum might be erected. There
was plenty OF ground. Could the means and Innu-
ence 10 secure II be fOandy But means and Influ-
encc to secure the ground and erect the building
were not all that was wanted. There must
be music great music-tne most powerful Orches-
ira and chorus ever brought together one OF the
features OF the festival. TOO, to be chorus or
twenty Thousand children from the public schools
New YORK could supply this number without requir-
a N ftE q nur
aud the eject Of such chorus OF fresh young voices
with the accompaniment ola Thousand musicians,
even IN plain ana simple music, would be grand and
inspiring beyond description. But though all the
money 10 carry out the enterprise should DC sub
estimation OF the originator and fall short OF Its
purpose, If the great choral features could not be
introduced. Therefore, before making serious at
tempts to secure the pecuniary means he deemed 1t
advisable to make inquiry regarding some OF the
10 ascertain about securing the chorus OF 10000
children Mr.. Gilmore called upon Thomas boese.
then OF the Board OF Education OF New York.
swell, sir, what Is the good news from BostonY"
inquired Mr.. Boese after Mr., Gilmore mad introduced
himself Nothing special" replied the musical
missionary. .. have called TO ask o few questions
relating to music III the publlc schools; 10 learn to
what extent IT is taught III New York ana II children
receive sufficient instruction that branch to ena
bic them to sing well together IN large numbersn
"Weli" replied Mr. Boese. 1--WE employ many OF
the very best music teachers, and our children are
supposed to be as far advanced and as proficient in
music as those Of any other city,
"Quite enough, " SAID Mr.. Gilmore my reason
Tor seeking the information Is thls:-Here Is the pro-
spectus or musical festival II you VIII be Kind
enough 70 read ~ You VIII see that one OF the fea-
lures which II embraces Is chorus OF twenty thou
sand children, about winch wish To speak with
you.n
Upon hearing the announcement twenty thou
sand children MIR. Boese pushed his chair back
some distance, and, gazing at the speaker with a
look OF utter astOnishment commenced unfolding
the large sheet handed him. AS each conspicuous
headline met ms eye he looked from the paper to
his visitor with puzzled doubtful expression.
Mr. Boese did not take the trouble 10 read the de-
tails; he simply glanced hastily at the prominent
LIMESTONE thousand musicians Ten thousand
mixed voices In oratorl0 cnorls,' "Twenty thou |
sand children national aIrs," Building to hold |
nifty Thousand people," Expense about TWO hundred
thousand dollars,' "a million strangers Will visit |
New York; &C, &c. He had seen all thIs or all he
wanted to OF II, mad folded the paper. and was
his feet in far less time than one Of these lines
could be written.
''Beau- ii full ~ said ne, handing back the manu-
script, voice which fell upon his VISITORS ear
with an erect decidedly otherwise than beautiful.
.'Well." said the latter. completely n0npussed at
the state Of things, and making the best effort to
cover from the embarrassment which the reception
OF ms great idea" occasloned-'well, what do you |
think OF itf'