Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-05-17
Our Boston Letter.

Festival Of the Handel and Hayden Society, the
Reunion u the Army Of the Potomac, the annual
conclaye Of the Grand Army Of the Republic, the
meeting Of the participants Of the Burnside
expedition, the Cavalry reunion, beside other
minor military reunions Enough, surely, and
more than enough Our hotels have been
crowded to oycrfowing, aud the hospitalities of
our private citizens have been stretched to their
lurthcst limit
OF course | cannot he expected in the brief
limits Of one letter to give any extended account
or all that transpred at these Festivals, reunions
and conventions. The theme is too big for the
space. IL not for the abilities Of your humble cor
respondent but will give condensed accoant
Of some Of the most prominent Of tho occurrences
OF the week, which Glanced io fall under my per-
.onal observation.
uE FESTIVAL on nm HANDEL tNp HNntN
SOCIETY.
This society embraces the very hest musical
talent to be found in all the " Hub, and this
was the second triennal festival which it has held
1t commenced on tuesday afternoon at Music
Hall lhe chorus consisted Of about seven bun
drcd voices, under the leadership ofthe celebrated
+ Carl Lcrrohn II any one supposes because the
chorus numbered only about one-tenth of that att
Gilmore, Peace Jubilee, that this was paltry
affair. We pity their ignorance 10 the first place
Music Hall is not ike the Grand Coliseum build
ing chorus Of seven hundred voices confined
to the pent up Utica OF Music Hall is large
enough, can assure YOU, and the music Of this
chorus made a much more decided and agreeable |
ri
the jubilee chorus Again, Mr. Gilmore chorus
was unwicdy, and never attained (nor never
could attain that unity which Mr. Lcrrahn :
chorus secured he seemed to have them entire
Is under control and they sang as one person most
Of the time
The first day performance brought out as
soloiSts Mr.. Cummings a London tenor, whom
we didn I like much, and Miss Carey, whom We
did ike and Ma lame RudersdorH London
solost, Prussiau by birth, who had remarka
by pure strong voice, and remarkably disa-
greeabe manner while singing
Wednesdays performance attracted much
larger audience than that of the day before The
orchestra was superb, consisting OF one hundred
pieces, culed from among the best players in the
country, under the direction of Theodore Thomas /
We were given at this concert the same soloists
as yesterday, with the addition of Miss Adelaide
Phillips, and decided addition it was too She
I, one of the most charming singers have ever
yet had the pleasure of listening to. The pro-
gramme embraced some of the best German com
positions, and was well rendered and well received
by the audience. In the evening Mendelsshons
-" Elijah was rendered, aud we think it not too
much to say Of it, that it certainly has never been
better done, ut least in this country Madame
Rudersdoril was the centre Of interest during the
evening, and won hearty encomiums both for her
excellent singing, as well as for the zeal and
spirit with which she entered into it,
The concert On Thursday afternoon was Of
miscellaneous character and did not attract so
large an audience as to be exp cted OF desired
but brought out some fine singing by Madame
RudersdorG and Miss Carey, and some excellent
piano playing by Miss Krebs In the evening
Ilandel's Oratorio Of Israel in Egypt" was given
which, unfortunately, was unable to attend
Fridays entertainment consisted OF a thor
oughly enjoyable concert in the afternoon but
none in the evening, \ capital programme is
announced for to-day The Festival will close
Sunday evening with the Messiah and we
think all will allow that, as a whole it has been
grand success, and proud season Tor the Old
Handel and Hayden Society
rnE REUNION OF The ARMY or The POTOMAC
This reunion took place at the Globe Formerly
Selwyns) Theatre, Friday afternoon. The thea
tire had been appropriately decorated for the occa-
sion ana on each side of the stage were dropping
the national colors, and brass field pieces were
placed there with stacks of arms Gilmore band
was IN attendance, The Society was called to
order by General Meade, the President, and after
prayer, the Grafton was delivered by Gov Fair
child of Wisconsin. The General commenced by
saying that he thought it would he well for the
Society to have upon its record as full an account
as it could gather Of the part taken by the Army
Of the Potomac in suppressing the great rebellion
His address was spirited account of the organ
zation Of the army, and history of its dongs
down TO the time of the first battle of Bull Run.
, 1t was able production, and especially valuable
as a matter OF history.
. The Grafton was succeeded by music, aud then
followed the poem Of F. Bret llarte, which We
give below
1t was read in the absence Of the writer by Mr.
James T. Field. Of the late firm Of Fields, Os-
good Co.