The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-04

Musical Entertainment by. h Pupils
OF Hampton Normal School-Effort
TO Rinse Money TO Erect New Build-
-
HAMPTON, VA, January %, 1873.
ID the Editor Of the State Journal:
I wish all your readers could have been
here last Saturday evening, when the
champion Students" gave q concert, pre-
liminary to q proposed tour through the
northern states, and perhaps afterwards to
England. Their object is to raise one
hundred thousand dollars to erect suitable
buildings for the normal school. Those at
present used are many of them merely
tenporary constructions, and entirely iL-
adequate to the rapidly growing necessities
Of this admirable and useful institution.
This corps of singers, seventeen in mum.
Der, are undergraduates of the school, and
their spirit Of enterprise in this
matter is truly remarkable. Indeed, when
one reflects a moment it seems a very brave
thing to do, instead Of sitting down quietly
and expecting to be helped, these boys and
girls, for they are scarcely more, have re-
solved to help themselves. They have de-
voted months to musical culture of the most
severe and exacting nature. going through
with the fatigue incident to thorough daily
drill with energy and spirit, and never
ALTERING in their determination to do their
best to secure to their less fortunate
brothers the advantages which they them
selves enjoy.
If only these new buildings can be COM
pleted within this year, the number of pu-
pills may readily be nearly doubled. APP
~plicants are pouring in from every
quarter, and have. alas! to be refused for
want of room.
The school is under admirable manage
ment, and is in excellent working order.
Teachers and scholars arc tremendously
united in working towards the great ends
of universal civilization and true freedom.
But to return to this Saturday
evening concert, which / suppose is a fair
sample of those about to be offered to
Northern audiences. 1t consisted mainly
of the songs and hymns belonging distinc-
lively to the colored people. The rapid
alterations. and queer transitions. from
sad to lively, from devotional to humorous.
were ct times irresistibly ludicrous, and then
again almost painfully pathetic. The train
ing has been careful and iudicious, with no
misplaced Italian fouris6es and roulades,
Great attention has been paid to preserving
the original simplicity of expression in
these songs-and whoever listens to them
for the first time, will surely want to hear
them again.
To educate colored teachers to go, one
might say, as missionaries to their own
race, is certainly a roble object-none
more so-and the means about to be en-
ployed to this end, while they are almost
unique in the worlds history, must come
home with touching power and pathos to
every thoughtful heart. Let every one
cheer these Hampton Studentsn in their
arduous but noble undertaking, remember
ing that in SO doing he that watereth shall
also be watered.O
The opening concert of the series is to be
given in Washington, at Lincoln Hall. the
evening of February IL. Afterwards the
cities Of Philadelphia, New York and Bos-
ton will be visited, and a trip across the
water is in contemplation at no very distant
date. Truly, yours,
MARGARET WILSON.