The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-06
CHURCH SINGERS IN AEoRE
The Curious Way that nm Operate Company
was Made Up Of Church ChoIrs.

hear Plnaforo" not because it was sung by
choir singers. but because 1t was Pinafore."
Once there. the wayfarinR man though
a fool discovered that. whether choir singers
or not. Philadephians or not this company
was decidedly amateurish. showing in
everything they did especially in acting and in
the speaking parts. a lack Of dramatic educa-
ton. and an awkwardness that was almost lu
dicrous. However. their voices. particularly in
the choruses. were fresh and good. and the COM
pany generally sang well together.
" None Of these stories that have been told
about us have been correct" said Miss Henry.
the Josephine OF the company. who is. by the
way. Mrs" when remember the
manner In which the scheme originated
and think where we are now. 1t seems
like dream. Ono night Miss Ruther-
ford. Mr.. Sturgis and Mr.. Snyder and
myself-wo all sang in church cholrs-were at
the South Broad Street Theatre listening to
Pinafore.' when II occurred TO me thnt itwould
performance. saidto Miss Rutherford. viii
you sing B,M0cup II I'll sing ,JosephineP She
said, yes and the two gentlemen agreed to
help get 1t up SO we went to work. and Mr..
Snyder and myself began looking around Tor
snTTs cam sn9w ar OF shoes s ,n9 al Wore
month we gave two performances in the Anna
teur Drawing Room, little hall that will hold
friends. We were so successful that we went
from there to st Georges Hall n place much
like. your Stenway Hall, and gave five more
Their step. and the idea Of going upon regu-
lar theatric stage was entirely out Of our minds
While we were at St Georges Hall Mr.. Cor
man heard us, and made us an offer TO give
three performances. one at Potsville. ono at
Wilmington. and one at Burlington all near
PHILADELPHIA. Aftor some hesitation we nc
copied. Then he wanted us to come to New
York to theatre. Then we did stop TO think;
Not one OF us had ever been on u stage not
even In amateur performances. except Mr.: De
LANCE. who had done little amateur acting
and had once sang in an amateur perform
ance Of Martha in Washington. Our friends
were all shocked at the idea OF our appearing in
not on "a theatre stage. Oh no, never. i can't
imagine now how IL was that we all decided to
come. but one said. II you'll go. ] will and
then another, until at last. the whole company
decided TO come.
was very much alarmed. I did not thinkI
could possibly go before n New York audience.
and how l should endure the criticism did not
know. But We came. and here we are. think
II one Of us had backed out. the whole thing
family and we have very Jolly times but
firmly believe that II one OF us should be Obliged
10 withdraw. from Illness or any other cause.
and a stranger should be put in as n substitute.
that would be the end OF the Church Choir Pin
afore Company"
Yes, indeed-well. nearly all OF US. | was
the leading soprano at St Stephens Episcopal
Church. but have resigned. Oh. no. did not
have to. When / decided to come here / asked
the Music Committee u they had any objections
TO my singing. IN Pnaiore.' They said no.
duties. But / found that i was not able
TO do both particularly as. great prepare;
the music was always very heavy there. l had
only been studying year, and my voice would
not stand the work Of both Pinatore and
church singing. / received the highest salary
paid in Philadelphia. but gave 1t W. ind
,PinAfore' quite as remunerative. Miss A. "
traito in the North Presbyterian Church. Dr.
A2new's Mr. sturgis. Rdlph hdcksrd,e. Is the
Mr.. Snyder ia our original Captain COrcOrdn
but no has had bad cold for two weeks and
Mr.. A. y. Palmer has been singing in his place.
Church in West Philadelphia. Our stage mana
ger Mr.. Coleman. is DR.. Agnew s organst DR..
Agnew. you know. Is very much opposed to
theatres and is now preaching a series OF ser
mons against them. His choir goes up from this
theatre every Saturday night to sing in Phila-
Miss Stevenson. the Hebe. took my place in
DR.. Agnew's church. some time ago, when
left to 20 TO St Stephens. She Ia not the heir
ess that some Of the newspapers say, but she is
worth, sso,pe, ,hiR9S9 .Bpi she and Miss Ruth
with US Mrs. Beatty. the leading Amf. was
recently an alto, in Trinity Church; she Il
member OF an old Quaker family. Then In the
| Miss Jennie BELLS Miss Richardson, and Miss
Ross who are choir singers. Miss Bells sings
| in the Church 81 tho Atonement. Miss Richard
| son in the Third Reformed. and Miss Ross in
| the Temple Presbyterian Church.
| Yes" said Mr.. Snyder. who WAS present a
| pleasant. business-like young man. with hair
q little gray, and I'm sort 81 Godfather a
| these girls and have 10 report 10 their parents;
| Nj IS Bells is attending the Normal school. and
| her mother Is very much afraid she Will neg
| lect her studies and thus not los able TO gradu'
ate You know what pretty. Jolly girl she is
| She is that one of the chorus that stands IN
front She is eyer SO mGea p9Fe SSS IN x tn,
| Mr. F. W. Hun n hardware merchant IN Phia
delphia. He used to 70 home every day 70 ct
evening But he found that he couldn't stan,
H. and 50 quit. He now sings AZ a SUBSTITUTE
Tor me in Or. Agnew's church since have nae ma,
| the musical director in Christ's Church in Ger
mantown, a Unitarian church. But he, wa
dismissed when he began 70 sing In Plnaiore
| chorus. He sang in Trinity. other member
Of ne chorus Are Snor nSKT ns sne sp3 In 81
Judes. Mr. S. W. Snyder is the bass Of III
Church Of the Atonement. and Mr. II. I
s s1"RaSr after w %u' came s''Rsr s s
% T Tg6t n aS%G 10 ws sHs 10 hs Of
20 home on the midnight train on the Boun
Brook road. There are thirty OF US stopping
| one hotel Now don't tell where the hotel is Q
we shall have a crowd there Already the ladie
have been annoyed by the young men who cor
catch glimpse Of them. Mr.. Fulton has bee
! | obliged to have policeman stationed there
obviate the nuisance. ,
Certainly" said Mr.. Snyder. There's m
Mr.. @. Il. snyder's GARD showed that he We
| head OF G. b. Snyder CO., wholesale colnlnl
| sion merchants at 1875 North Water stree
/ | Philadelphia, Dealers in potatoes. apples al
""TRe Adniral" said Mr.. Snyder Mr.. Lou
4 | De LANCE is dentist in fact, he went hon
| the other day to take his degree in the dent
| department OF the University Of Pennsylvanl
. | and he has an Office. Almost all OF us are
: business, and go back and forth often. NJ
l. | Keller went home four times last week.
| How long do YOU intend 10 Keep THIS thif
| 2" asked the reporter. 49, -,
| :" cant tell. " said Mr.. Snyder. Some OF u
ladies think they have had about enough
| 'Pinafore' and AS our friends are very an6io
| 10 have us come home we may 20 soon: IN
!. | saw: Come right home and give Pinatore ,
the Academy OF Music. and We'll pack II I
II YOU They are very much opposed to going
b | "A Theatre but will not hesitate 10 20 70 u
II Hcadsmy OF Music They don't call that
IS theatre, you know. and all the deacons al
elders can go there and hear thelt chur
II | choirs sing Pinafore.' So we can 90 that mu
e | good any way. for everybody ought TO hear II
Omeers OF the Crieketers Association.
!, PHILADELPHIA. April 5.-The Crcketers a
ISOLATION of the United met at the Penn Club
IS afternoon The following elected onicers for
- ensuing year; A. A. Outerbridge OF Philadelphia fn
N | dent. J T. souer OF the st George, New York, VI
u | yicePre.ident: Harry Lee Of Baltimore Second VI
d. | President, j T. Green Of the belmont secretary
n arIafan n fha n.