Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-09
The Distracted Gentlemen who Have
10 ReOrgaAiZe tho ChOirs.
From The Sprin1lielh

From the Springfield MdSS.) Union.
Have any of our readers noticed, within q
few days, the anxious, DISTRESSED look OF
some of our citizens? They carry the same
woe begOne countenancas into their Offices
and stores, and their wives and intimate
friends bear testimony TO inward groanings,
sleepless NIGHTS, and ominous symptoms of
insanity. We are not sure that the present
bad weather may not be due to the awfully
cloudy faces OF these hitherto respected fell
low citizens. An offer 10 help them finan-
ctally has been refused, an examination into
their bank accounts found everything all
right, and their Judgment of the future of
business in this city is by no means a hone
less one. In the name of compassion-what
aileth these our friends and neighbors?
They, propose no spring visit TO Florida;
they have endured this fearful winter WELL
and yet their appetites fail, their sleep has
departed, and anxious friends whisper con-
corning them and propose all kinds OF spring
bltters and timely tOnics.
Well, concerned reader, they are simply
the musical committees of the churches in
town. whose singing year ends with buster
ing March. They have undertaken to do in
one month a more difficult task than the
pacification of Louisiana. 1t requires more
ability and skill to gather an average choir
and keep IL In peace than TO manage any
department of the government; and il re-
Quirss vastly more ability and adroitness
and money than are usually found in human
men TO gather a choir that shall prove itself
SATISFACTORY TO The musical disaffected OF the
Onglegations.
There was, antediluvianally, when singing
was called praise, and supposed to be an ac-
ceptable part of worship, providing it had
heart, if not skill, providing a little soul
poured itself along the words, even though
the tenor flatted and the soprano failed 10
reach high @. Now ii is performance; If
not so considered by the choir, it is listened
to by the congregation precisely as taey open
their ears TO the Barna6ee troupe. In bshal
OF these suffering citizens, these heroic men
or the nineteenth century, these men muir
muring at the providence which denied them
harInonlus throats. and are yet striving to
make harmony where there is a good deal OF
d1scord, we insert without charge the follow
ing advertisement:
WANTED An erganist who can play high or low +,
soft and loud, heavy and light, playfuy and mena-
use every stop in the same hymn or anthem, still
keeping in mind the above requistions He must
never overcome the delicate nerves, he must never
fail to rouse the robust. Also, quartet that can
playfully and menaciEgly at the same time, tenor
never Hating, soprano never fatting, in short,
and the most critical ear. and the most harmonious
ear, and the most common ear.
Having obtained this musical combina-
ton, We might add i'm behalf of these dis
tracted gentlemen gathering nightly in
solemn and painful meetings, one more ad-
vertisement. Were there a minister at hand
we would submit IL TO clerical revision:
WANTED.-A congregation which looks upon sing
ing part Of the worship in a Christian sanctu
airy, which regards hymns and anthems Of praise
addressed 20 God and not TO itself, which will treat
much of the criticisms thrown at a choir as of the
same character and no better than profanity which
will accept heart and soul in the music in place OF
Of sincerity; in short congregation whose critical
faulthnding members will pray for that grace which
tries to put itself in the place OF the musical commit
God.